Operate Your Vehicle on an Alternative Fuel
You’ve seen them; cars with “flexfuel” or “FFV” (flex fuel vehicle) on them. Hold on! Don’t end reading because you deem your vehicle is too ancient to be a FFV. Ford Motor Company sold its first FFV in 1995. Other manufactures sold FFVs as early as 1998. And, according to the Energy Information Administration, there are currently more than four million FFVs on United States roadways. You may be driving one and not even know it. More on that later.
First, what is a FFV? This is a vehicle that will run on E85, an alternative fuel. E85 simply means 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
An FFV will run on either E85 or gasoline without any modifications or adjustments. In other words, if you fill your vehicle up with E85 and head out on the road, but can’t regain an E85 filling station, simply pull into a regular gas station and fill up with gasoline. There will be no difference in the performance of you vehicle. Then when you do find an E85 status, you can fill up and be on your way without any problems.
What is ethanol? Ethanol is an alcohol. It is also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol. It can be produced from many grains and fruits and even wood. But, corn is the most common plant used to produce ethanol in the United States. Brazil utilizes sugar cane. One of the benefits of using ethanol is it produces less carbon dioxide than gasoline. Another advantage is, unlike gasoline, ethanol will degrade in water, making it safer for the environment.
You may reckon this is a fantastic alternative fuel, but worry about all the food crops that will be ruined. There’s no need to worry. Most ethanol in the United States is made from field corn; the corn used for cattle feed and not human consumption. Also, one bushel of corn produces about 2.7 gallons of ethanol and 11.4 pounds of gluten feed, which is twenty percent protein, and 3 pounds of gluten meal, which is sixty percent protein, and 1.6 pounds of corn oil.
If your vehicle was designed to run on E85 there is no reason to worry about it ruining your engine or anything else. Matter of fact, E85 is better for your vehicle than straight gasoline. There are a few companies that sell kits so you can convert your vehicle to run on E85. You can buy and install a conversion kit if you have a fuel injected vehicle. Flextek list prices at $389.99 for four cylinders, $464.99 for six, $519.99 for eight, $669.99 for ten and $719.99 for twelve cylinders.. Full Flex Gold also sells flexfuel kits for about the same price.
To find out if your vehicle will run on E85, commence the fuel door and look for a decal stating “E85″ or “Ethanol Fuel.” But don’t despair if you don’t collect one. Not all FFVs have one. Check your manual to see what it says. But, according to Alcohol Can be a Gas! by David Blume all vehicles will run on 50% alcohol.
To watch if your vehicle will run on flexfuel go to National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. The U.S. Department of Energy states as of 2008 there are more than 1,600 E85 stations in the United States.
The ticket for E85 is normally less than straight gasoline. If you want to bring E85 to your area, you can contact the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, 3216 Emerald Lane, Suite C, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone: (573) 635-8445, Toll-free: (877) 485-8595, Fax: (573) 635-5466.
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Tags: Alternative Energy Kits, Alternative Fuel Kits, biodiesel kits, electric cars kits, hydrogen fuel kits