Flexible-fuel vehicle
1905105
223544159
2008-07-04T15:20:09Z
193.196.64.2
/* Worldwide */
{{For|other types of "Hybrid Transportation"|Hybrid vehicle}}
A '''flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV)''' or '''dual-fuel vehicle''' (also sometimes called only ''flex-fuel'') is an [[Alternative fuel vehicle|alternative fuel]] [[automobile]] with a [[multifuel]] engine that can typically use different sources of [[fuel]] which are either mixed in the same tank or with separate tanks and fuel systems for each fuel.<ref>[http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/conversions.html Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center: Conversions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A common example is a vehicle that can accept [[gasoline]] mixed with varying levels of [[bioethanol]] ([[gasohol]]). Some cars (see [[bi-fuel vehicle]]) carry a [[natural gas]] tank making it possible switch back and forth from gasoline to natural gas.
== History==
The first flexible fuel vehicle was most likely a Ford model T from 1908. It was fitted with a carburetor with adjustable jetting, allowing use of gasoline or ethanol <ref>Hunt, V, D, The Gasohol Handbook, Industrial Press Inc., 1981, pp 9, 420,421, 442</ref>.
==Terminology==
[[Bi-fuel vehicle]]s have separate tanks for gasoline and the gaseous fuel.
Dual-fuel systems supply both fuels into the combustion chamber at the same time in various calibrated proportions. <ref>http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/conversion101.html </ref>
==Flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil==
[[Image:Four Brazilian full flex-fuel automoviles 05 2008.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Four typical [[Brazil|Brazilian]] full flex-fuel models from several car makers, popularly known as "flex" autos, that run on any blend of [[ethanol (fuel)|ethanol]] and [[gasoline]].]]
{{see also|Ethanol fuel in Brazil}}
Since the [[oil crisis]] in the 70's, [[Brazil]] has been selling ethanol as a fuel. Car manufacturers modified gasoline engines to support ethanol characteristics (Changes are on [[compression ratio]], amount of fuel injected, replacement of materials that would get corroded by the contact with ethanol, use of colder [[spark plugs]] suitable for dissipating heat due to higher flame temperatures, and an auxiliary cold-start system that injects gasoline from a small tank in the engine compartment to help starting when cold) and have been selling ethanol powered cars since then. However, flexible fuel technology started being developed only on the end of the 90's. The flexible fuel car is built with an ethanol-ready engine and one fuel tank. The [[oxygen sensor|lambda probe]], used to measure the quality of combustion in conventional engines, is also required to tell the ECU which blend of gasoline and alcohol is being burnt. So, the controller regulates the amount of fuel injected and spark time: fuel flow needs to be decreased and also self-combustion needs to be avoided when gasoline is used (because ethanol engines have compression ratio around 12:1, too high for gasoline). Those cars can run with arbitrary combinations of gasoline and alcohol (can use both fuels sold in Brazil -- ethanol or gasoline with a blend of 20-25% ethanol - pure or blended in any proportion).<ref>[https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil/LEIS/LEIS_2001/L10203.htm L10203<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In May [[2003]] [[Volkswagen]] built for the first time a production flexible fuel car, the [[Volkswagen Gol|Gol]] 1.6 Total Flex. [[Chevrolet]] followed two months later with the [[General Motors Corsa|Corsa]] 1.8 Flexpower, using an engine developed by a joint-venture with [[Fiat]] called PowerTrain. By 2005, popular manufacturers that build flexible fuel vehicles are [[Chevrolet]], [[Fiat]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Peugeot]], [[Renault]] ,[[Volkswagen]], [[Honda]], [[Mitsubishi]], [[Toyota]] and [[Citröen]]. Flexible fuel cars were 22% of the car sales in [[2004]], 73% in [[2005]]<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/02/06/8367959/index.htm How to Beat the High Cost of Gasoline. Forever! - February 06, 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, and 90% in [[2007]]. As of [[March 2008]], the fleet of "flex" cars and light commercial vehicles had reached 5 million new vehicles sold,<ref name= "Globo1">{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Carros/0,,MUL345131-9658,00-BRASIL+TEM+MILHOES+DE+VEICULOS+BICOMBUSTIVEIS.html |title=Brasil tem 5 milhões de veículos bicombustíveis |date=2008-03-10|publisher=Globo G1|accessdate=2008-05-04|language=Portuguese}}</ref> which represents around 10% of Brazil's motor vehicle fleet and 15.6% of all light vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.cidades.gov.br/renaest/detalheNoticia.do?noticia.codigo=120|publisher=Departamento Nacional de Trânsito |language=Portuguese|title=DENATRAN Frota por tipo/UF 2008 (file 2008-03) |accessdate=2008-05-03}} As of March 31st, 2008, DENATRAN reports a total fleet of 50 million, including motorcycles, trucks and special equipment, and 32 million automobiles and light commercial vehicles.</ref> The success of "flex" vehicles, as they are popularly known, together with the mandatory use of [[Common ethanol fuel mixtures|E25]] blend of gasoline throughout the country, allowed Brazil in 2006 to achieve more than 40% of fuel consumption from sugar cane-based ethanol for the light vehicle fleet,<ref name= "BEN2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.mme.gov.br/site/menu/select_main_menu_item.do?channelId=1432&pageId=14493 |title=2007 Brazilian Energy Balance: Executive Summary |author= | |date=|publisher=Ministério de Minas e Energia do Brasil |accessdate=2008-05-10|language=English}} Table 2. Report is based in 2006 data</ref><ref name="Apollo">{{Citation | last = Inslee, Jay; Bracken Hendricks | title = Apollo's Fire | year = 2007| pages=153-155, 160-161 | publisher = Island Press, Washington, D.C.| id = ISBN 978-1-59726-175-3 . ''See Chapter 6. Homegrown Energy.''}}</ref> and represents almost 20% of total fuel consumption in the road transport sector when trucks and other diesel-powered vehicles are considered.<ref name= "Brazil48_20">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080507/COMMENTARY/381443705/1012/commentary |title=Brazil's energy plan examined |author=D. Sean Shurtleff | |date=2008-05-07|publisher=The Washington Times |accessdate=2008-05-10|language=}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" align="right"
|+Ethanol Car Manufacturing in Brazil 2003-2007 <br> <small>(Selected years)</small>
! style="background: #ABCDEF;" |Year !! style="background: #ABCDEF;"|Flex fuel Cars<br> Manufactured !! style="background: #ABCDEF;"|Total Cars<br> Manufactured !! style="background: #ABCDEF;" |% Ethanol<br /> Cars
|-align="right"
|-align="right"
|2003 || 39.853 || 1,361,361 || 4.8
|-align="right"
|2004 || 282.706 || 1,862,780 || 17,8
|-align="right"
|2005 || 776.164 || 2,011,817 || 40.7
|-align="right"
|2006 || 1.249.062 || 2.092,003 || 59.7
|-align="right"
|2007 || 1,716,716 || 2,388,402 ||71.9
|-
|colspan="5"|<small>'''Source''': Brazilian Automakers Association (ANFAVEA), 2007<br>and 2008. <sup><ref name="ANFAVEA1">{{cite web| url=http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2007/autoveiculos/tabela10_producao.pdf |title= Produção de Autoveículos por Tipo e Combustível - 2007 (Tabela 10) |publisher=ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brasil)|accessdate=2008-05-04 |language=Portuguese }}</ref><ref name="ANFAVEA2">{{cite web |url=http://www.anfavea.com.br/anuario2007/Cap2_2_2007.pdf |title= Anúario Estatístico 2007: Tabela 2.2 Produção por combustível - 1957/2006 |publisher=ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brasil) |accessdate=2008-05-04 |language=Portuguese }}</ref></sup> Data shown for FFs does not include light<br>commercial vehicles.</small>
|}
There's another type of flexible fuel vehicle that is not uncommon in Brazil. Those are the cars able to switch from gasoline to [[compressed natural gas|natural gas]]. The term "flex-fuel", however is never used to describe those cars; instead, they are called [[bi-fuel]]ed vehicles<ref>http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/conversion101.html</ref> or tri-fueled if they are built with an ethanol-gasoline flexible fuel engine (and tetra-fueled if they can run on pure gasoline). These vehicles are always adapted in specialized houses after they are bought. In many capitals, natural gas shares a small part of the fuel market with gasoline and ethanol. It has the advantages of having government incentives for cars with such systems, like annual tax reduction, and being the cheaper cost-per-mile in the country. The disadvantages are a slight reduction of engine power, the small number of gas stations that have this fuel available, having the lowest mileage and the space needed for the cylinder (normally one or two) installation, normally taking up a good amount of space in the trunk.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5829046/ Brazil buys into flex-fuel cars - Green Machines - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Trucks and pickups are mostly diesel powered and there's no project on conversion to some kind of flexible fuel system. Instead the tendency is to replace regular diesel with [[bio-diesel]]. The currently allowed mixture is 98% diesel and 2% bio-diesel. The mixture of 95% diesel and 5% bio-diesel will become a requirement only in [[2013]].<ref>[https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil/_ato2004-2006/2005/Lei/L11097.htm Lei nº 11.097<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
FIAT has introduced in 2006 the FIAT Siena Tetra fuel, which can run on 100% ethanol, E25 (Brazil's common gasoline mixture of 75% gasoline and 25% ethanol), pure gasoline (not available in Brazil) and natural gas.<ref>[http://www.ngvglobal.com/market-developments/fiat-to-launch-tetra-fuel-siena-in-brazil.html Fiat to Launch Tetra-fuel Siena in Brazil - NGV Global]</ref>
California automobile distributor ZAP, has agreed to be the exclusive North American distributor and has pre-purchased 50,000 cars from Brazilian automotive maker OBVIO!. The first models scheduled to go into production are the flex-fueled [[Obvio! 828|828]] and [[Obvio! 012|012]] in 2007, soon to be followed by the 828E and 012E equipped with electric drive systems. Models are expected to be available in Canada and the United States in late 2008.
==Flexible-fuel vehicles in Europe==
For a long time [[Ford Taurus]] was the only flexible-fuel vehicle sold in Sweden. It was later replaced by [[Ford Focus (International)|Ford Focus]]. In [[2005]] Saab began selling its [[Saab 9-5|9-5 2.0 Biopower]] (joined in 2006 by its 9-5 2.3 Biopower), and Volvo its [[Volvo S40|S40]] and [[Volvo V50|V50]] with flexible-fuel engines.<ref>[http://www.volvocars.com/campaigns/Misc/Flexifuel/default.htm]</ref> In 2007, Saab also started selling a BioPower version of its popular [[Saab 9-3]] line. The Saab-derived [[Cadillac BLS]] will also be available with E85 compatible engines in 2008.
There are also plans of selling [[E85]] fuel, and then some flexible-fuel vehicles, in other European countries:
<div style='text-align: left; direction: ltr; margin-left: 1em;'>
</div>- In October 2005, the [http://www.ford.ie/ns7/foc_c307/-/-/vhcl_news_item5/-/-/-/# Ford Focus FFV] became the first flexible-fuel vehicle to be commercially sold in Ireland. E-85 is available throughout a limited number of [[Maxol]] service stations in the Republic. Redesigned Ford C-MAX FFV may be sold there in 2007.
<div style='text-align: left; direction: ltr; margin-left: 1em;'>
</div>
- Ford offers the Focus (all three models) since August 2005 in Germany. Ford is about to offer also the Mondeo and other models as FFV versions between 2007 and 2010.
- Renault and PSA (Citroen & Peugeot) announced to start selling FFV cars from summer 2007.
The [[Koenigsegg CCXR]] is currently the fastest and most powerful flexible fuel vehicle with its twin-[[supercharged]] [[V8]] producing 1018hp when running on biofuel (compared to 806hp on 91 [[Octane rating|octane]] (US) unleaded gasoline).{{Facts|date=February 2007}}
==List of currently-produced flexible fuel vehicles==
{{warning|'''Verify with the manufacturer as to which specific year, model and engine is compatible with E85 and other alternative fuels and indicate the alternative fuel(s) the vehicle can use.'''}}
===Worldwide===
* '''[[Ford]]''' offers vehicles worldwide that use E85 (different models, depending on the country).
;2009
* 2.2L & 2.4L Chevrolet HHR
* 2.6L Ewi Duesi Mobil (called 0.5-Litre Humbe)
;2008
* 2.7L Dodge Avenger
* 5.3L V8 Chevrolet Silverado
* 5.3L V8 Chevrolet Tahoe
* 5.3L V8 Chevrolet Suburban
* 5.3L V8 Chevrolet Avalanche
* 3.5L V6 Chevrolet Impala
* 5.3L V8 Chevrolet Express
* 3.9L V6 Chevrolet Uplander
;2007
* Impala
* 5.3L Chevrolet Silverado
* 4.6L Ford Crown Victoria (2-valve, excluding taxi and police units)
* 5.4L Ford F-150 (3-valve)
* 5.3L GMC Sierra (LMG V8)
* 4.6L Lincoln Town Car (2-valve)
* 4.6L Mercury Grand Marquis
* 4.7L Dodge Durango
* 4.7L Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Series
* 4.7L Chrysler Aspen
* 4.7L Jeep Commander
* 4.7L Jeep Grand Cherokee
* 4.7L Dodge Dakota
* 3.3L Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan and Caravan Cargo
* 2.7L Chrysler Sebring Sedan
;2006
* 3.0L Ford Taurus sedan and wagon (2-valve)*
* 4.6L Ford Crown Victoria (2-valve, excluding taxi and police units)
* 5.4L Ford F-150 (3-valve. Available in December 2005)
* 4.6L Lincoln Town Car (2-valve)
* 4.6L Mercury Grand Marquis
;2004 - 2005
* 4.0L Explorer Sport Trac
* 4.0L Explorer (4-door)
* 3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon (2-valve)
;2002 - 2004
* 4.0L Explorer (4-door)
* 3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon
* 0.05L Hercules Prima 5s Fire (with a Sachs-Motor)
;2002 - 2003
* 3.0L Supercab Ranger pickup 2WD
;2001
* 3.0L Supercab Ranger pickup 2WD
* 3.0L Taurus LX, SE and SES sedan
;1999 and 2000
* 3.0L Ranger pickup 4WD and 2WD
* 3.0L Taurus LX, SE and SES sedan
Many 1995-98 Taurus 3.0L Sedans are also FFVs
;1856
* Draisine (by Lars (Drais) Fickfrosch
Note: * denotes fleet purchase only
===Europe===
* [[Citroën C4|'''Citroën''' C4 1.6 BioFlex]]
* [[Ford Focus (International)|'''Ford''' Focus]] FFV, [[Ford Focus C-MAX|Focus C-MAX]]
* [[Koenigsegg CCXR|'''Koenigsegg''' CCXR]]
* [[Peugeot 307|'''Peugeot''' 307 1.6 BioFlex]]
* [[Saab 9-5|'''Saab''' 9-5]], [[Saab 9-3]]
* [[Volvo C30|'''Volvo''' C30 1.8F FlexiFuel]], [[Volvo S40|S40 1.8F FlexiFuel]], [[Volvo V50|V50 1.8F FlexiFuel]], XC60 (concept), [[Volvo V70|V70 2.0F FlexiFuel]], [[Volvo S80|S80 2.0F FlexiFuel]]
===United States===
* [[Chevrolet Avalanche|'''Chevrolet''' Avalanche]], [[Chevrolet Silverado|Silverado]], [[Chevrolet Suburban|Suburban]], [[Chevrolet Tahoe|Tahoe]] (all 2007 and 2008 models, some 2002-2006), [[Chevrolet Impala|Impala 2006 and later 3.5L]], [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo|Monte Carlo 2006 and later 3.5L]], [[Chevrolet S-10|S-10 Pickup]]
* [[Chrysler Sebring|'''Chrysler''' Sebring]], [[Chrysler Town & Country]], [[Chrysler Aspen]]
* [[Dodge Caravan|'''Dodge''' Caravan]], [[Dodge Durango|Durango]], [[Dodge Grand Caravan|Grand Caravan]], [[Dodge Ram|Ram Pickup]], [[Dodge Stratus|Stratus]], [[Dodge Avenger|Avenger]], [[Dodge Dakota]]
* [[Ford Crown Victoria|'''Ford''' Crown Victoria]], [[Ford F-150|2006 F-150]], [[Ford Ranger|1999-2000 Ranger]], [[Ford Grand Marquis|Grand Marquis]], [[Ford Taurus|1999-2001 Taurus]], [[Ford Taurus|2002-2004 3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon]], [[Ford Taurus|2004-2005 3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon (2-valve)]], [[Ford Explorer|Sport Trac XLT]], [[Mercury Grand Marquis]], [[Mercury Mountaineer]], [[Lincoln Town Car]], [[Mercury Sable]]
* [[GMC Sierra|'''GMC''' Sierra]], [[GMC Yukon|Yukon]], [[GMC Yukon XL|Yukon XL]]
* [[Isuzu Hombre|'''Isuzu''' Hombre]]
* 4.7L [[Jeep Commander|'''Jeep''' Commander]], [[Jeep Grand Cherokee]]
* [[Mazda B3000|'''Mazda''' B3000 (1999, 2001-2002 models)]]
* [[Mercedes C-Class|'''Mercedes-Benz''' C-Class]]: W204 platform: C300 RWD automatic 3.0L (2008); W203 platform: C230 2.5L (2007), C240 2.6L RWD automatic (2005), C320 3.2L (2003-2005)
* [[Nissan Titan|'''Nissan''' Titan]] <ref>http://www.e85fuel.com/news/090407_2008_ffv_release/090407_2008_ffv_release.htm</ref>
===Brazil===
* '''[[Chevrolet]]''': [[Chevrolet Celta|Celta]], [[Chevrolet Classic|Classic]], [[Chevrolet Corsa|Corsa]], [[Chevrolet Astra|Astra]], [[Chevrolet Vectra|Vectra]], [[Chevrolet Montana|Montana]], [[Chevrolet Meriva|Meriva]], [[Chevrolet Zafira|Zafira]], [[Chevrolet S10|S10]]
* '''[[Citroën]]''': [[Citroën C3|C3]], [[Citroën Xsara Picasso|Xsara Picasso]]
* '''[[Fiat]]''': [[Fiat Mille|Mille]], [[Fiat Palio|Palio]]/[[Fiat Palio Weekend|Palio Weekend]]/[[Fiat Siena|Siena]]/[[Fiat Strada|Strada]], [[Fiat Punto|Punto]], [[Fiat Doblò|Doblò]], [[Fiat Idea|Idea]], [[Fiat Stilo|Stilo]]
* '''[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]''': [[Ford Fiesta|Fiesta]], [[Ford EcoSport|EcoSport]], [[Ford Focus (International)|Focus]]
* '''[[Honda]]''': [[Honda Civic|Civic]], [[Honda Fit|Fit]]
* '''[[Mitsubishi]]''': [[Mitsubishi Pajero TR4]]
* '''[[Peugeot]]''': [[Peugeot 206|206]], [[Peugeot 307|307]]
* '''[[Renault]]''': [[Renault Clio|Clio]], [[Renault Mégane|Mégane]], [[Renault Scénic|Scénic]]
* '''[[Toyota]]''': [[Toyota Corolla]] VVT-i Flex and Fielder <ref>[http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/21052007/323/toyota-launch-flex-fuel-cars-brazil-report.html Toyota to launch flex-fuel cars in Brazil - report<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* '''[[Volkswagen]]''': [[Volkswagen Gol|Gol/Parati/Saveiro]], [[Volkswagen Fox|Fox]], [[Volkswagen Type 2|Kombi]], [[Volkswagen Polo|Polo]], [[Volkswagen Golf|Golf]]
==See also==
{{EnergyPortal}}
* [[Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle]]
* [[Vehicle conversion]]
* [[Bivalent (engine)]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
*[http://www.e85fuel.com/news/090407_2008_ffv_release/090407_2008_ffv_release.htm]
==External links==
{{Wikinewscat|Climate change}}
*[http://www.setamericafree.org/Rnichols.pdf An article by Ford Motor's Roberta Nichols, the mother of the flexible fuel vehicle, discussing Gasoline-Ethanol-Methanol flexibility in the Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research]
*[http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php List of E85 vehicles, as provided by the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition]
* [http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/21052007/323/toyota-launch-flex-fuel-cars-brazil-report.html Toyota and Mitsubishi to launch flex-fuel cars in Brazil]
* [http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/06/flexfuel.html Flex-Fuel Bait and Switch] - See how many flex-fuel cars are on the road and how many stations offer E85.
*[http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/flexible_fuel.html US Department of Energy: Flexible Fuel Vehicles]
* [http://www.energyvictory.net/ Energy Victory ] - Site for the book ''[[Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil]]'' (2007) by Dr. [[Robert Zubrin]] proposing that Flexible-fuel vehicle are a major piece of the future solution to world's dependence on mideast oil. The claim is that Flexible-fuel vehicles empower consumers to choose whatever fuel makes the most sense at the time and allows the conversion of a wide range of materials besides corn into automotive fuel.
[[Category:Flexible-fuel vehicles| ]]
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