Sylvie Willis
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are cars that can run on either traditional or ethanol-blended gasoline. The most common form of ethanol-based gas is E85, which contains up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Ethanol is typically derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass, and is seen as a more environmentally friendly fuel option. FFVs have one fuel system and are similar in appearance to traditional cars, with some manufacturers opting for a yellow gas cap or yellow ring around the filler to indicate that the car is an FFV.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Automotive drivetrain that can run on either traditional or ethanol-blended gasoline |
| Synonyms | Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), E85 vehicles, flexifuel vehicles, total flex, tri-fuel cars |
| Fuel | Gasoline, ethanol, methanol, natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen |
| Fuel combinations | Gasoline and ethanol, gasoline and methanol, ethanol and CNG |
| Fuel proportions | 10% to 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | Lower gas mileage, worse fuel economy, 25% to 30% lower mile-per-gallon rating |
| Fuel cost | Ethanol is cheaper than regular gasoline |
| Fuel availability | Available at more than 4,200 gas stations in the US, 44 states |
| Vehicle appearance | Similar to traditional cars, yellow gas caps, yellow ring around the filler, labels on fuel doors |
| Vehicle manufacturers | Ford, General Motors, Chevy, Volvo, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Renault, Audi, Nissan, VW, Mercedes, Toyota |
| Vehicle types | Cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, light-duty trucks, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid |
| Vehicle markets | Brazil, the United States, Canada, Europe (Sweden, California) |
| Environmental impact | Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, reduced foreign oil imports |
| Tax benefits | Tax credits for consumers, financial incentives for manufacturers |
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What You'll Learn
- Flex fuel vehicles can run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol
- Ethanol is typically derived from renewable sources
- Flex fuel vehicles are available in the US, Brazil, Canada, and Europe
- Flex fuel vehicles have an internal combustion engine
- Flex fuel vehicles can be more cost-effective than traditional fuel-powered vehicles
Flex fuel vehicles can run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are based on dual-fuel systems that supply both fuels into the combustion chamber at the same time in various calibrated proportions. FFVs have one fuel system, and most components are the same as those found in a conventional gasoline-only car. The engine control module (ECM) controls the fuel mixture, ignition timing, and emissions system. It also monitors the operation of the vehicle, safeguards the engine from abuse, and detects and troubleshoots problems.
FFVs can run on any combination of gasoline and ethanol, whether it's 100% unleaded gas or 85% ethanol. The most common form of ethanol-based gas is E85, which contains up to 83% ethanol content in the summer months and a reduced amount in some regions during the winter. E85 is a combination of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Ethanol is typically derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass, and it is seen as a more environmentally friendly fuel because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps cut dependence on fossil fuels.
Modern flex-fuel cars can contain 10% to 85% ethanol, and the vehicle will determine the most efficient proportions. Ethanol blends provide improved combustion, which releases fewer pollutants, and using E85 means drivers use less oil. While E85 often reduces a vehicle's mile-per-gallon rating, it can increase the vehicle's power and performance, and ethanol costs less than regular gasoline, so the savings should offset the mileage loss.
In addition to flex-fuel vehicles running with ethanol, there have been successful test programs with methanol flex-fuel vehicles, known as M85 flex-fuel vehicles, and P-series fuels with E85 flex-fuel vehicles.
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Ethanol is typically derived from renewable sources
Flex-fuel cars are vehicles that can run on either traditional or ethanol-blended gasoline. Ethanol is a renewable fuel typically derived from biomass, a collective term for various plant materials such as corn and sugarcane. In the United States, 94% of ethanol is produced from the starch in corn grain. The use of ethanol in gasoline blends has been shown to improve air quality, reduce carbon and vehicle emissions, increase energy independence, and lower fuel prices for consumers.
Ethanol has been blended into gasoline in the US for over 40 years, and its widespread use has had a positive impact on the environment and the economy. More than 98% of gasoline in the US contains some ethanol, with the most common blend being E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline). This blend is designed to reduce air pollution.
Ethanol is also available as E85, or flex fuel, which contains 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on the region and season. E85 is used in flexible-fuel vehicles, which can operate on any combination of gasoline and ethanol. The use of E85 reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 44-52% compared to gasoline and helps reduce emissions of air toxics, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxides.
The production of ethanol from corn has improved over time, with producers getting 15% more ethanol from a bushel of corn than they did 20 years ago. Additionally, the environmental impact of producing ethanol has been reduced significantly. Since 1995, natural gas and electricity use at dry mill ethanol plants have decreased by nearly 40%, and consumptive water use has been cut in half.
In addition to corn, ethanol can also be produced from other renewable sources such as switchgrass, miscanthus, and biomass. The use of biomass in the production process further reduces the amount of fossil fuel energy required, resulting in lower levels of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
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Flex fuel vehicles are available in the US, Brazil, Canada, and Europe
Flex-fuel vehicles are available in the US, Brazil, Canada, and Europe. In the US, flex-fuel vehicles are also known as "E85 vehicles", and they are distinguished by a yellow gas cap with the label "E85/Gasoline". By the end of 2021, there were about 27 million flex-fuel vehicles in the US.
In Brazil, flex-fuel vehicles are known as "total flex" or simply "flex" cars. Brazilian carmakers modified gasoline engines to support ethanol characteristics, and Brazilian flex vehicles are optimized to run on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100% hydrous ethanol fuel (E100). Brazil has the largest fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in the world, with about 30.5 million flex-fuel cars and light-duty trucks and over 6 million flex-fuel motorcycles registered in the country by March 2018.
In Canada, there were about 1.6 million flex-fuel vehicles by 2014. Ford delivered the first flexible-fuel plug-in hybrid SUV to Canada in 2008.
In Europe, flex-fuel vehicles are known as "flexifuel" vehicles. Sweden leads the European market, with about 243,100 flex-fuel vehicles. Automakers in Europe use badging in their flex-fuel vehicle models, similar to those in Brazil.
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Flex fuel vehicles have an internal combustion engine
Flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) have an internal combustion engine and are capable of operating on gasoline and any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. FFVs have one fuel system, and most components are the same as those found in a conventional gasoline-only car. The engines themselves aren't very different from any other car's internal combustion engine, with the major changes coming down to modifications to the car's fueling system. Modern flex-fuel vehicles can contain 10 to 85 percent ethanol. The most common commercially available FFV in the world market is the ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle, with about 60 million automobiles, motorcycles and light-duty trucks manufactured and sold worldwide by March 2018.
The gas/ethanol mixture is known as E85, and according to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are more than 4,200 public E85 stations in 44 states across the country. For E85 fuel, ethanol amounts to 51% to 83% of the blend, depending on the time of year and geography. In this context, you can think of pure gasoline as E0. Flex fuel vehicles can run any mix of these blends up to E85. It also means you have to think less about what you put in your tank. That's because flex fuel vehicles can handle any gas-ethanol blend (up to 83% ethanol) entirely on their own.
The term flexible-fuel vehicles is sometimes used to include other alternative fuel vehicles that can run with compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG; also known as autogas), or hydrogen. However, all these vehicles are actually bi-fuel and not flexible-fuel vehicles, because they have engines that store the other fuel in a separate tank, and the engine runs on one fuel at a time. Bi-fuel vehicles have the capability to switch back and forth from gasoline to the other fuel, manually or automatically. The most common available fuel in the market for bi-fuel cars is natural gas (CNG).
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Flex fuel vehicles can be more cost-effective than traditional fuel-powered vehicles
Flex-fuel vehicles are capable of running on traditional gasoline or ethanol-blended gasoline. Ethanol is typically derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass, and is seen as a more environmentally friendly fuel option. It cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions, helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
While flex-fuel vehicles may have lower gas mileage than traditional fuel-powered vehicles, ethanol is usually much cheaper than gasoline. This means that the savings from using ethanol should more than make up for the loss in mileage. Additionally, flex-fuel vehicles can seamlessly mix fuels without any input from the driver. The vehicle itself determines the most efficient fuel proportions and adjusts its operation accordingly.
Flex-fuel vehicles also come with tax benefits. Consumers who drive these vehicles receive tax credits that can significantly reduce or even eliminate their tax obligations. Furthermore, manufacturers of flex-fuel vehicles receive financial incentives from the government in the form of credits toward their Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements. These credits allow manufacturers to sell less fuel-efficient but more profitable SUVs without incurring federal penalties.
The availability of ethanol fueling stations is increasing, making it more convenient for flex-fuel vehicle owners to fill up. As of 2023, there are over 4,200 stations in the United States that offer flex fuel. The growing popularity of flex-fuel vehicles and the increasing number of ethanol refining plants indicate a move toward adopting ethanol as a more economical and environmentally friendly fuel source.
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Frequently asked questions
A flex-fuel car is capable of operating with more than one type of fuel. The most common flex-fuel vehicles can run on traditional gasoline, ethanol-blended gasoline, or a mixture of the two.
Ethanol is an alcohol-based biofuel derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugarcane, or switchgrass. It is seen as a more environmentally friendly fuel than gasoline as it produces fewer pollutants and cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions.
E85 is a blend of 51% to 85% ethanol and the rest gasoline. It is the most common form of ethanol-based fuel and is also referred to as flex fuel.
Flex-fuel cars are better for the environment and offer improved combustion, releasing fewer pollutants. They also provide consumers with more options and flexibility when it comes to fuel sources and prices.
Ethanol contains less energy than gasoline, so flex-fuel cars will generally get worse fuel mileage. Flex fuel is also less widely available than gasoline, with only a small percentage of gas stations supplying it.
