For all the criticism lobbied against U.S. automakers, there is one area where the American car makers take the lead: FFVs. Flexible fuel vehicles [FFV], which are powered by a fuel comprised of up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, are produced and marketed by American manufacturers at volumes greater than their Asian or European competitors combined.

DaimlerChrysler's list includes their Town & Country and Caravan minivans, the Ram pickup truck, and the Stratus and Sebring sedans. Ford's Taurus, Explorer and Ranger are the blue oval's FFVs while for GM, various pick up trucks and SUVs make up their offerings. Isuzu, Mazda, Mercedes, Volvo, and Nissan all produce FFVs, while Honda and Toyota do not.

General Motors, for its part, has already produced more than 1.5 million flex fuel vehicles and has promised to build upwards of 400,000 per year in coming years.

Are flex fuel vehicles the solution to all of our problems? No, of course not. However, despite an average drop in fuel economy of approximately 10% per vehicle, fuel prices are about 30% lower. In addition, there aren't enough stations serving ethanol yet, but that is certain to change.

For more information, please visit the Live Green, Go Yellow for GM's flex fuel site; as well as the American Lung Association's Clean Air Choice site; and the Flex for the Future web site to learn more about how we can reduce our nation's dependency of foreign oil.