Rajan Wilcox
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are capable of running on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of the two. The first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927. Since then, flex-fuel vehicles have become increasingly common, with more than 21 million flex-fuel vehicles registered in the United States by the end of 2017. Today, several car manufacturers offer FFVs, including Ford, GM, Chrysler, Audi, Nissan, VW, Mercedes, and Toyota. These vehicles offer an alternative to traditional gasoline-powered cars and can help reduce reliance on imported oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First commercial flexible fuel vehicle | Ford Model T |
| Year of production of the first commercial flexible fuel vehicle | 1908-1927 |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in the United States | 21 million |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil | 2nd largest fleet in the world |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil (as of 2017) | 21 million |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in the US (as of 2017) | 21 million |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in the US (as of 2013) | 11 million |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in the US (as of 2005) | 4.1 million |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in the US (as of 2001) | 1.4 million |
| Car manufacturers that produce flex-fuel vehicles | Ford, GM, Chrysler, Audi, Nissan, VW, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen |
| Models that can run on any blend between E20 to E85 | Kia Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan |
| Models that can run on any blend from E20-E25 to E100 | Volkswagen, Nissan |
| Models that can run on any blend from E20 to E85 | Peugeot, Renault |
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What You'll Learn
Flex-fuel vehicles in the United States
The fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in the United States is the second largest in the world, after Brazil. By the end of 2017, there were more than 21 million 85 flex-fuel vehicles registered in the country, up from about 11 million flex-fuel cars and light trucks in operation as of early 2013. The number of flex-fuel vehicles on US roads increased from 1.4 million in 2001, to 4.1 million in 2005, and rose to 7.3 million in 2008.
Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on gasoline or a mixture of ethanol and gasoline, with blends of up to 85% ethanol (E85). They are identical to gasoline-only models, except for a few engine and fuel system modifications. While FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85, they typically get about 15%–27% fewer miles per gallon when fuelled with E85 due to ethanol containing less energy per volume than gasoline.
The demand for ethanol fuel produced from field corn in the United States was stimulated by the discovery in the late 90s that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), an additive in gasoline, was contaminating groundwater. This shift contributed to a sharp increase in the production and sale of E85 flex vehicles since 2002. Flex-fuel vehicles are common in the Midwest, where corn is a major crop and is the primary feedstock for ethanol fuel production. The US government has also been using flex-fuel vehicles for many years.
The first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927. It was fitted with a carburetor with adjustable jetting, allowing the use of gasoline or ethanol, or a combination of both. In 1982, Ford began development of a flexible-fuel vehicle, and between 1985 and 1992, 705 experimental FFVs were built and delivered to California and Canada. In 1993, Ford started production of the M85 FFVs, and in 1996, a new FFV Ford Taurus was developed, capable of running on either methanol or ethanol blended with gasoline.
Several car manufacturers offer FFV systems in their vehicles, including Volkswagen, Hyundai, Mazda, Jaguar Land Rover, and Nissan.
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E85 flex-fuel vehicles
E85 fuel is typically cheaper than regular gasoline, but vehicles using it tend to travel fewer miles per gallon due to ethanol's lower energy content. Despite this, E85 is considered a cleaner-burning fuel that contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lessens the dependence on foreign oil.
Some car manufacturers that offer E85 FFVs include Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, and Renault. To identify if a vehicle is E85 compatible, look for a badge with "Flex-Fuel", "FFV", or "E85" on the rear, or a yellow fuel cap or ring around the fuel filler hole.
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Ford flex-fuel vehicles
Ford has been a pioneer of flex-fuel technology for nearly three decades, revolutionizing the automotive industry. The first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927. It was fitted with a carburetor that allowed for the use of gasoline or ethanol, or a combination of both.
In 1982, Ford began developing a flexible-fuel vehicle to address the lack of refueling infrastructure, and between 1985 and 1992, 705 experimental FFVs were built and delivered to California and Canada. These vehicles could run on either gasoline or methanol with just one fuel system.
In 1994, Ford introduced the Taurus, the first mass-produced flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) capable of running on gasoline, ethanol, or a mix of both. This ethanol version of the Taurus became the first commercial production of an E85 FFV. Ford has since expanded its lineup to include a wide range of flex-fuel models, offering both personal and commercial vehicles that can accommodate flex-fuel blends.
Some of the current Ford models that can use flex fuel are the F-150 Pickup, Explorer, F-Series Super Duty Pickup, and Chassis Cab. The Transit cargo van also offers a flex-fuel engine option. These vehicles are equipped with sensors that can detect the fuel mixture in the tank and adjust engine performance accordingly, making them adaptable and environmentally friendly.
Ford also offers other alternative advanced fuel options, such as compressed natural gas, propane autogas, and biodiesel, showcasing their commitment to providing diverse energy alternatives and environmentally friendly transportation options.
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Flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil
Brazil has the largest fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in the world. Introduced in 2003, flex vehicles became a commercial success, dominating the passenger vehicle market with a 94% market share of all new cars and light vehicles sold in 2013. By mid-2010, there were 70 flex models available in the market, and as of December 2013, a total of 15 car manufacturers were producing flex-fuel engines. Since their inception in 2003, a total of 30.5 million flex-fuel cars and light-duty trucks were registered in the country by March 2018, with over 6 million flexible-fuel motorcycles.
Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles are optimized to run on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100% hydrous ethanol fuel (E100). Pure gasoline is no longer sold in the country because these high ethanol blends are mandatory. Therefore, all Brazilian automakers have optimized flex vehicles to run with gasoline blends from E20 to E25. The Renault Clio Hi-Flex and the Fiat Siena Tetrafuel are the only two models specifically built with a flex-fuel engine optimized to operate with pure gasoline (E0). The flexibility of Brazilian FFVs empowers consumers to choose the fuel depending on current market prices.
The first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle capable of running on any blend of gasoline and ethanol was launched by Volkswagen in March 2003. Called the Gol 1.6 Total Flex, it was the first flex vehicle to have only one fuel tank for both fuels. An improved flex motor generation was launched in 2009, which eliminated the need for the secondary gas tank. A key innovation in the Brazilian flex technology was avoiding the need for an additional dedicated sensor to monitor the ethanol-gasoline mix.
The success of flex vehicles, together with the mandatory E25 blend throughout the country, allowed ethanol fuel consumption to achieve a 50% market share of the gasoline-powered fleet in February 2008. The use of ethanol blends with gasoline was made mandatory by the Brazilian government after the 1973 oil crisis, and neat ethanol-powered cars (E100 only) were launched to the market in 1979. However, ethanol production and sales of ethanol-only cars tumbled in the late 1980s due to falling gasoline prices and a shortage of ethanol fuel supply.
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Ethanol-powered cars
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) can run on pure gasoline, pure ethanol, or a blend of the two. The first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927. It was fitted with a carburetor with adjustable jetting, allowing the use of gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of both.
In 1982, Ford began developing a modern flexible-fuel vehicle to address the lack of refueling infrastructure. Between 1985 and 1992, 705 experimental FFVs were built and delivered to California and Canada, including the 1.6L Ford Escort, the 3.0L Taurus, and the 5.0L LTD Crown Victoria. These vehicles could operate on either gasoline or methanol with a single fuel system. In 1996, Ford released a new FFV Taurus model capable of running on either methanol or ethanol blended with gasoline. This ethanol version of the Taurus became the first commercial production of an E85 FFV.
Since 2008, almost any type of automobile and light-duty vehicle has been available with the flex-fuel option, including sedans, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks. For the 2011 model year, many of the models available were trucks and sport-utility vehicles that achieved less than 20 mpg-US when filled with gasoline. The demand for ethanol fuel produced from field corn in the United States was stimulated by the discovery in the late 1990s that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), an additive in gasoline, was contaminating groundwater. This shift contributed to a sharp increase in the production and sale of E85 flex vehicles since 2002.
As of 2017, there were more than 21 million E85 flex-fuel vehicles in the United States, up from about 11 million flex-fuel cars and light trucks in operation as of early 2013. The number of flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roads has increased steadily over the years, from 1.4 million in 2001 to 4.1 million in 2005 and 7.3 million in 2008. E85 flex-fuel vehicles are particularly common in the Midwest, where corn is a major crop and the primary feedstock for ethanol fuel production. Additionally, the U.S. government has been using flex-fuel vehicles for many years.
In August 2023, Toyota unveiled the world's first 100% ethanol-powered car, a variant of the Innova. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that ethanol is an indigenous, eco-friendly, and renewable fuel with promising prospects for India.
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Frequently asked questions
A flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) can run on gasoline, ethanol (blends up to E85), or a combination of the fuels in the same tank.
Ford, GM, Chrysler, Audi, Nissan, VW, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Renault, and Jaguar Land Rover.
Check your owner's manual, the fuel door, or the fuel cap to see if your vehicle is E85 compatible. Look for a "flex-fuel" badge on the body, a yellow ring around the filler, or a yellow filler cap.
Ethanol blends such as E85 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As ethanol crops grow, they capture CO2. Ethanol blends provide improved combustion, which releases fewer pollutants. Using E85 also means using less oil.
Yes, E85 has been associated with reduced fuel efficiency. The EPA states that flex-fuel vehicles return mileage that is between 15 and 27% worse than a regular gas-fueled engine due to the lower energy content in the fuel.
