Rajan Wilcox
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to 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. FFVs can also run on regular gas or a combination of both fuels in the same tank. Ethanol is usually made from corn, but some producers also use cane sugar or agricultural waste products. FFVs are common in the Midwest, where corn is a major crop, and in Brazil, where automakers clearly mark FFVs with badging or a high-quality sticker on the exterior body. In the US, FFVs are distinguished by a yellow fuel cap or a yellow ring around the filler. As of 2017, there were more than 21 million E85 flex-fuel vehicles in the US, and almost any type of automobile and light-duty vehicle is available with the flex-fuel option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flex-fuel vehicles in the US | Second largest fleet in the world |
| Number of flex-fuel vehicles in the US by 2017 | 21 million |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil | Largest fleet in the world |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Thailand | Available |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Europe | Available in Sweden, Benelux, France, Switzerland |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Germany | No E85 models offered |
| Flex-fuel vehicles in Canada | Available |
| Flex-fuel vehicle manufacturers | Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Chrysler |
| Flex-fuel vehicle models | Ford Model T, 1.6L Ford Escort, 3.0L Taurus, 5.0L LTD Crown Victoria, M85 FFVs, Ford Taurus, Chrysler, Toyota, Volkswagen, Huyndi, Mazda, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan |
| Flex-fuel vehicle identification | Yellow fuel cap, badge, decal, yellow ring around the filler, bright yellow gas cap, logo with some variant of the word "Flex" |
| Flex-fuel vehicle refueling infrastructure | Limited |
| Flex-fuel vehicle engine concerns | May accelerate engine wear due to higher ethanol content |
| Flex-fuel vehicle performance | Improved power and performance |
| Flex-fuel vehicle environmental impact | Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved combustion, less oil usage |
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What You'll Learn
Identifying flex-fuel vehicles
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) have an internal combustion engine and can operate on gasoline and any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. E85 (or flex fuel) is a blend of gasoline and ethanol, with gasoline making up 15% to 51% of the blend and ethanol making up 85% to 49% of the blend, depending on geography and season.
As of 2022, there were more than 20.9 million FFVs in the United States, up from about 11 million in 2013. Despite the growing fleet of E85 flex-fuel vehicles, many North American flex-fuel car owners are not aware they own an E85 flex-fuel vehicle. This is partly due to the exterior of flex and non-flex vehicles looking the same and the lack of exterior labelling.
To identify a flex-fuel vehicle, you can look for the following:
- A "`flex fuel` badge on the body
- A yellow ring around the filler
- A yellow filler cap or fuel door (for 2008 and newer vehicles)
- A decal under the fuel door indicating E85 use is allowed
- A character in the vehicle identification number
- The owner's manual will also confirm if the vehicle can use E85 fuel
You can also use Pearson Fuel's flex fuel car checker to verify if your car is compatible.
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Flex-fuel vehicles in the US
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are capable of operating with gasoline and any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. The most common form of ethanol-based petrol is E85, which typically contains 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional petrol, though some environmentalists disagree.
The first commercial FFV was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927, which could run on gasoline or ethanol, or a combination of both. In 1982, Ford began developing FFVs in response to the lack of refuelling infrastructure, and between 1985 and 1992, 705 experimental FFVs were built and delivered to California and Canada. In 1996, Ford released the first commercial production of an E85 FFV, a new version of the Ford Taurus, which could run on either methanol or ethanol blended with gasoline. By 2006, Ford, GM, and Chrysler had pledged to double their FFV production, and other manufacturers like Audi, Nissan, VW, Mercedes, and Toyota also began producing FFVs.
By the end of 2017, there were more than 21 million E85 flex-fuel vehicles registered in the US, up from about 11 million in 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. As of 2022, there were more than 20.9 million FFVs in the US. However, the actual use of ethanol fuel is limited due to the lack of E85 refuelling infrastructure and because many North American flex-fuel car owners are unaware they own an E85 flex-fuel vehicle. Flex-fuel vehicles are more common in the Midwest, where corn is a major crop and is the primary feedstock for ethanol fuel production.
FFVs are distinguished by a yellow fuel cap and a badge, and the owner's manual will also confirm if the vehicle can use E85 fuel. Currently, the only new vehicles compatible with flex fuel are full-size pickups and cargo vans by Ford and General Motors.
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Flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil
Brazil has the largest fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in the world. Flexible-fuel technology was developed in the late 1990s by Brazilian engineers, and in March 2003, Volkswagen launched the Gol 1.6 Total Flex, the first commercial flexible-fuel vehicle capable of running on any blend of gasoline and ethanol. By 2010, manufacturers that build flexible-fuel vehicles included Chevrolet, Fiat, Ford, Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen, Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Citroën, Nissan, and Kia Motors. In 2013, Ford launched the first flex-fuel car with direct injection: the Focus 2.0 Duratec Direct Flex.
Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles are optimised 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 have been mandatory since 1993. Therefore, all Brazilian automakers have optimised flex vehicles to run with gasoline blends from E20 to E25. The flexibility of Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles empowers consumers to choose the fuel depending on current market prices.
Brazilian flex engines are designed with higher compression ratios, taking advantage of the higher ethanol blends. A key innovation in Brazilian flex technology was avoiding the need for an additional dedicated sensor to monitor the ethanol-gasoline mix, which was necessary in the first American flex-fuel vehicles. This was accomplished through software developed by Brazilian engineers, called the "Software Fuel Sensor" (SFS).
By March 2018, there were a total of 30.5 million flex-fuel cars and light-duty trucks registered in Brazil, and over 6 million flexible-fuel motorcycles. The market share of flex-fuel autos and light commercial trucks represented 88.6% of all light-duty registrations in 2017. In 2022, flex-fuel vehicles still claimed an overall market share of Brazil’s total car sales of over 83%, while purely electric vehicles only made up 0.4%.
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Environmental impact of flex-fuel
Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on either traditional or ethanol-blended gasoline. Ethanol is a renewable resource made from biological material, usually corn. The most common form of ethanol-based gas is called E85, which contains up to 85% ethanol and is also known as flex fuel.
E85 burns cleaner than regular gasoline and has a smaller overall carbon footprint than non-ethanol fuel blends. It produces fewer emissions, resulting in cleaner air. The ethanol in E85 doesn't contain the harmful hydrocarbons and additives found in gasoline. Using flex fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%, making it an attractive option for those concerned about the environmental impact of fuel consumption.
In addition to its environmental benefits, E85 has the added advantage of providing more torque and horsepower than regular gasoline. However, some opponents argue that E85 reduces miles per gallon (MPG), resulting in more emissions. While this may be true in some cases, many blends of flex fuel yield the same MPG as gasoline, and even when E85 does reduce MPG, it still creates fewer emissions overall.
The environmental impact of E85 is expected to decrease over time. The USDA predicted that corn ethanol's carbon benefits would increase to at least 50% by 2022 due to ongoing innovations. Additionally, the short supply chain involved in producing E85 also contributes to its reduced carbon footprint, as almost 30 American states produce ethanol, eliminating the need to source materials from other countries.
Despite the benefits of flex-fuel vehicles, their impact has been limited due to a lack of refuelling infrastructure and consumer awareness. However, the number of flex-fuel vehicles on the road has been increasing, and they are especially common in the Midwest, where corn is a major crop used for ethanol production.
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Flex-fuel vehicles in the past
The history of flex-fuel vehicles goes back over a century, with the first commercial flexible fuel vehicle being 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. However, ethanol was viewed negatively due to accusations that ethanol producers collaborated with bootleggers during Prohibition. The dominance of oil as a motor fuel was unchallenged in the US until the 1973 oil crisis, which resulted in gasoline shortages and a growing awareness of the dangers of oil dependence. This crisis opened the door for ethanol, methanol, and other alternative fuels to gain a foothold.
In the early 1990s, Ford began development on a flexible-fuel vehicle, and between 1985 and 1992, they built and delivered 705 experimental FFVs to California and Canada. These vehicles could run on either gasoline or methanol with a single fuel system. In 1993, Ford started production of M85 FFVs, and in 1996, they introduced a new FFV Ford Taurus capable of running on methanol or ethanol blended with gasoline. This ethanol version of the Taurus became the first commercial production of an E85 FFV.
By 2011, there were about 70 vehicles E85 capable on the market, and the number of flex-fuel vehicles in the US continued to grow. In 2013, there were about 11 million flex-fuel cars and light trucks in operation in the US, rising to over 21 million by the end of 2017, making it the second-largest fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in the world after Brazil. Despite this growth, the actual use of ethanol fuel in the US has been limited due to the lack of E85 refueling infrastructure and the fact that many North American flex-fuel car owners were unaware they owned an E85 flex-fuel vehicle.
In recent years, the popularity of flex-fuel vehicles has declined, with government subsidies shifting towards electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. As of 2024, the only new vehicles compatible with flex fuel are full-size pickups and cargo vans by Ford and General Motors. However, flex-fuel vehicles still offer benefits such as reduced emissions and the ability to burn a variety of fuel mixtures.
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Frequently asked questions
A flex-fuel vehicle is one that can run on either traditional or ethanol-blended gasoline. The most common form of ethanol-based gas is called E85, which contains up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
Some examples of flex-fuel vehicles include the Ford Model T, the 1.6L Ford Escort, the 3.0L Taurus, the 5.0L LTD Crown Victoria, and the E85 FFV Ford Taurus. Since 2008, almost any type of automobile and light-duty vehicle has been available in the market with the flex-fuel option, including sedans, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
You can check your owner's manual, the fuel door, or the fuel cap to see if your vehicle is E85 compatible. Flex-fuel vehicles manufactured from 2008 onwards will have a yellow fuel cap and/or a badge to indicate E85 compatibility.
The use of ethanol blends such as E85 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As ethanol crops grow, they capture CO2, and ethanol blends provide improved combustion, which releases fewer pollutants. E85 can also increase the vehicle's power and performance.
The use of E85 may reduce a vehicle's mile-per-gallon rating by 25 to 30 percent. Additionally, there is a lack of E85 refueling infrastructure in some regions, making it less convenient to fill up flex-fuel vehicles.
