GM will expand its ethanol-capable fleet to include the Chevy Uplander crossover sport van and Chevy Express and GMC Savana vans, GM spokespersons announced at a Fleet and Commercial Operations event in Nashville this week. “E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline, burns cleaner than gasoline and it’s a homegrown energy source that can help reduce our dependence on oil,” said John Gaydash, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations (FCO) director of marketing. “E85 has been a very popular choice among fleet customers because its infrastructure is growing and becoming more common, and because E85 vehicles are an affordable fleet option.” For the 2006 model year, GM offers nine E85 flexible fuel vehicles, including the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Impala, and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. GM plans to add more than 400,000 E85-capable vehicles to the fleet in 2006, and plans to have 3.5 million E85-capable cars and trucks on the road by 2010. GM has also announced partnerships with state governments, oil industry, ethanol producers, and retail outlets in California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas. The automaker is working to advance the building of up to 130 new E85 ethanol fueling locations by the end of 2006.