What is flex fuel and does it cost more to fix a car. Christopher frey department of civil, construction and environmental engineering, north carolina state university, raleigh, nc nagui m. E85 and flexible fuel vehicles california air resources board. Further details on the test vehicle and aftertreatment system, the test facility and protocol, additional emissions data, fuel consumption data, air quality implications for increased ethanol use in ffvs, engineout and catalyst temperatures, conversion efficiencies and bagbybag emissions for certain emissions, and tabulated emissions data used in the figures. Providing a renewable fuel choice, vehicle technologies program vtp fact sheet subject. Much nicer than the other fuel lines ive owned over the years.
Tier 0, tier 1, and clean fuel vehicle cfv exhaust emission standards pdf 2 pp, 99 k. Related information and tools flexible fuel vehicles. Call them what ever you like flexfuel, variablefuel, dualfuel but they all can run on up to 85% ethanol at anytime, any blend rate and are under full warrantee. Many flex fuel vehicles make use of ethanol, which originates from corn and sugar cane, a viable alternative to purchasing foreign oil. For the customers, it means to choose the fuel at each vehicle filling, according to fuel price, characteristics of quality, performance or even availability. Flexiblefuel vehicle and refueling infrastructure requirements associated with renewable fuel standard implementation 1. Regardless of the supply situation concerned, end customers are flexible when it comes to the choice of fuel and are able to respond to possible price developments immediately. Other articles where flexiblefuel vehicle is discussed. A prototype of the worlds first hybrid flexiblefuel vehicle hybrid ffv, debuted in an event toyota held today in sao paulo, brazil. Emissions of modern light duty ethanol flexfuel vehicles over. Another significant advantage of driving a flex fuel vehicle is the flex fuel tax credit which replaced the. A vehicles identification number vin is located on the dashboard, and is visible from the outside through the windshield.
Using a high ethanol blend will quickly damage the fuel system, and even the engine. This may seem a little silly to some, but a lot of people dont know they own a flex fuel vehicle. Ffvs can be fueled with unleaded gasoline, e85, or any combination of the two. Another significant advantage of driving a flex fuel vehicle is the flex fuel tax credit which replaced the clean fuel burning deduction. Comparison of flexible fuel vehicle and lifecycle fuel consumption and emissions of selected pollutants and greenhouse gases for ethanol 85 versus gasoline haibo zhai and h. Compared to other similar works emissions from flexible fuel vehicles with different ethanol blends, avl mtc ab. Because the credits are weighted toward bigger footprint vehicles like pickups and suvs, you see a lot of u. The fact sheet discusses how e85 affects vehicle performance, the costs and benefits of using e85, and how to find e85 station locations.
This initiative led numerous american, european, and japanese manufacturers to certify some of their models as e85compliant. Pdf the objective of this research is to evaluate differences in fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions of flexible fuel vehicles ffvs. Nonmethane organic gas standards for clean fuel fleet flexiblefuel and dualfuel vehicles pdf 1 pg, 92 k, march 2016, epa420b16007 lightduty trucks. The prototype is the combination of a flexiblefuel vehicle ffv that can be powered by. Ffvs operating on e85 generally handle and perform just as well as. E85 or flex fuel is a gasolineethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on. But i do live near iowa, a corn belt state and the source of much of americas ethanol. The ethanol component of this renewable fuel offers significant advantages. Links on this page will take you away from fueleconomy. This apparent conflict between the current cost of renewable fuels and the future burden arising from the continuous use of fossil fuels must be incorporated into. Its threads are precision machined, the metal has a lovely sheen and the protective plastic cover over. Flex fuel vehicles became all the rage a few years back, because automakers get special credits toward federal fuel economy standards.
Epa emission standards for lightduty vehicles and trucks. Effect of fuel ethanol content on exhaust emissions of a. A flexiblefuel vehicle is also known as an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually, gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Epa emission standards for lightduty vehicles and trucks and motorcycles. Toyota reveals worldfirst flexible fuel hybrid prototype. A flexiblefuel vehicle ffv or dual fuel vehicle colloquially called a flex fuel vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Driving a flexiblefuel vehicle is about the same as driving a. Badging on the rear of the vehicle picture at right. E85 is a nominal blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that is an alternative fuel for automobiles. E85 or flex fuel is a gasolineethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season. Flexible fuel vehicle an overview sciencedirect topics.
Research into optimal specifications for flexible fuel. Refueling behavior of flexible fuel vehicle drivers in the. Onboard monitoring and simulation of flex fuel vehicles in. Authors note how flexfuel vehicles work howstuffworks. A flexiblefuel vehicle ffv is a vehicle with an internal combustion engine capable of operating on a mixture of fuels, typically gasoline and ethanol. The number is used not just for vehicle identification as an antitheft measure, but also to. There are plenty of gas stations in the area selling ethanol. This twopage clean cities fact sheet describes flexible fuel vehicles \ffvs\those that can run on ethanol, gasoline, or a combination of the two. This form should not be used to record a change of ownership, change of address, or change of license plate classification.
No matter how much the ethanoltogas ratio fluctuates, your flexfuel car can adjust on the fly. Ffvs operating on e85 generally handle and perform just as well as when fueled. Flexible fuel vehicles alternative fuels data center department. Effect of fuel ethanol content on exhaust emissions of a flexible. The test vehicle was one of the most popular models of passenger car belonging to the flexible fuel vehicle category which are currently marketed in europe. Flexible fuel vehicle registration report, february 1.
Stakeholders including the state government, universities, and the sugarcane association the sugarcane industry union. Fleet units by class alternative fuel compatible units are shaded class fuel type vehicleequipment description count 1gflex gas e10 general purpose sedans, pickups, station wagons, and vans34 ton rating or lower 1,035 1d biodiesel b5 general purpose pickups, vans34 ton rating or lower 10. In flexiblefuel vehicles, the fuel tank and intank components are built to withstand ethanols corrosiveness. Fuel produced to this specification contains 51 % to 83 % by volume ethanol. Subpart a general provisions, the term flexible fuel vehicle means any motor vehicle engineered and designed to be operated on any mixture of two or more different fuels. Flexible fuel vehicle ffv is the official term used in the energy independence and security act of 2007 which was designed to increase the production and use of renewable. Comparison of flexible fuel vehicle and lifecycle fuel. An onboard computer analyzes fuel composition to optimize engine ignition, adhere to emissions standards and regulate combustion. Ethanol is a renewable, highoctane, lowemission fuel produced from corn or other grains. Flex fuel vehicles market global industry analysis, size. Public law 110140 110th congress an act to move the united states toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase. Never put e85 in a vehicle unless youre completely certain it is a flex fuel model. Flexible fuel vehicle drivers in the federal fleet ryan daley, john nangle, gabrial boeckman, and mackay miller technical report nreltp540061777. Application and verification for issuance of an alternative fuel vehicle license plate purpose of this form.
Flexible fuel vehicles ffvs are designed to run on gasoline or gasolineethanol blends of up to 85% ethanol e85. How to check the vin to see if its a flex fuel vehicle. Annual budget plans acmes budget payment plan lets you pay for your heating fuel or propane, oil tank replacement contract, andor propane tank lease payment over the 12 months of the year with no interest or finance charge. A dualfuel vehicle or flexiblefuel vehicle also known as flexfuel vehicle is a category of a vehicle running on alternate fuel, that has an internal combustion engine which is designed to function on more than two kinds of fuel, generally gasoline mixed with either methanol or ethanol fuel, and both of the fuels are kept in a common tank. Acme fuel offers many flexible fuel payment options including business and personal accounts and easy annual budget plans. A flexiblefuel vehicle ffv or dualfuel vehicle also sometimes called only flexfuel is an automobile that can typically alternate between two sources of fuel. This presentation is to provide you with an overview of. A flexiblefuel vehicle ffv or dualfuel vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal. Astm d5798 19b standard specification for ethanol fuel. Anfavea brazilian vehicle manufacturers association the flex fuel are designed to be indistinctly fueled with gasoline e22, ethanol e100 or any blend of these two fuels. This fuel is for use in flexiblefuel vehicles and is sometimes referred to at retail as ethanol flexfuel.
These vehicles can operate on e85a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Audi has been off ering this ethanolcompatible fl exible fuel engine with european audi a4 models since the autumn of 2009. Fuel economy and emissions of a vehicle equipped with an. The post analysis shows that at least 2,341 flex fuel vehicles were placed in seven states with no e85 stations, and in puerto rico, where the situation is the same. How to check the vin to see if its a flex fuel vehicle by paul dohrman. Alternative fuel vehicle refers to a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than traditional gasoline or diesel. This form is to be used by a vehicle owner to apply for an alternative fuel vehicle license plate. A wealth of information about flexfuel vehicles provided by does alternative fuels data center afdc. Flexible fuel vehicle law and legal definition uslegal, inc. Flex fuel vehicles have an injection system that can be operated with gasoline, with any mixture ratio of gasoline and ethanol, or with pure ethanol. Pdf comparison of flexible fuel vehicle and lifecycle fuel. As blume, an expert in highoctane alcohol fuels, explains, an easy way to tell if a vehicle is flexfuel is the yellow gas cap. Search new and used cars, research vehicle models, and compare cars, all online at. Flexfuel vehicles can run on e85, gasoline, or a blend of both, said rob seiter, supervisor, 4.
Also, it might say flexfuel vehicle or e85 on the interior of the fuel door, and definitely in the owners manual. Providing a renewable fuel choice today, more than 6 million vehicles on u. Visit our website for more fuel system information. Flexible 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%. Vehicle, emission standard, injection system, engine capacityrated power, mileage km, co. Clean cities alternative fuel information series fact sheet. Ffvs experience no loss in performance when operating on e85, and some generate more torque and horsepower than when operating on gasoline.