Flex Fuel: Will You Bite?

All the talk about gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles overlooks another area where fuel economy can be achieved. No, I’m not talking about diesel engines and I’m not even thinking about hydrogen power. Instead, corn-powered vehicles are taking hold. That’s right, ethanol, a fuel that has a history of more than a century, may be the fuel of the future. Is ethanol a good choice as a fuel source? I’ll let you be the judge of that!

During the days when Henry Ford was building cars, he designed his Model “T” to run on ethanol, a fuel usually derived from corn. His idea was to give the driver the choice between gasoline and this particular alternative source of energy. However, historically low gasoline prices made the need for ethanol quite moot at the time. Why fuel up with ethanol when gas was selling for a quarter or less?

For its part, the US government has long held that ethanol is a good fuel source and has mandated that vehicles built since the early 1980s have the ability to run on E10 ethanol, a blend consisting of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Since the 1990s, another type of ethanol, E85, has received a lot of press coverage. This fuel is made up of 85% ethanol and only 15% gasoline. That’s right, a truly alternative fuel source derived from corn.

With E85, only specially designated models can run on this type of fuel. No, they’re not weird-looking vehicles like the Honda Insight, but rather everyday vehicles, including the Dodge Durango, Mercedes C240, Chevy Silverado, and other select models specially equipped to accept E85. These FFVs, or flexible fuel vehicles, are distinctive models that can run on E85 or unleaded gasoline. They can also run on any ethanol/gasoline blend from 85% ethanol/gasoline blend down.

E85 affects fuel mileage for the typical vehicle with fuel economy dropping by up to 10% depending on model. At first glance, this may seem like a bad thing until you consider the following:

1. E85 fuel prices are much lower than pure gasoline. Depending on the season, up to a third less. So even with reduced fuel economy, many drivers are saving up to 25% on their weekly fuel bills.

2. E85 burns clean. Remember, this is a primarily corn-based product. With only a minimal amount of gasoline used, E85 is better for the environment as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

3. E85 reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The biggest problem in America today when it comes to energy consumption is our over-reliance on foreign oil. E85 is grown in the USA thanks to our abundant and extensive corn belt. By using E85, you help farmers in America’s heartland instead of oil-rich sheikhs in the Middle East.

Currently, in some areas of the country, E85 stations are few and far between. However, as the number of E85 models being built continues to grow and consumers accept E85 as an alternative fuel source, more stations will be built. E85 availability is high in the center of the country, so motorists have more options there. Regardless of pump availability, an FFV can run on straight gasoline when E85 is not available.

So will you take the “bite” and buy an FFV? Maybe a few years ago I wouldn’t have considered one, but with rapidly rising fuel prices, concerns about global warming, and frustration over our dependence on foreign oil, an FFV is worth everyone’s consideration.