Flex Fuel Will You Bite

Flex Fuel: Will You Bite?

Summary: FFV: flexible fuel vehicle. Are you interested in reducing your fuel costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and stopping our dependency on foreign oil? If so, ethanol may be the way to go. E is the "new" fuel source giving drivers an alternative to overpriced hybrids and clanky diesels.

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Article Body: All the talk about gas-electric hybrid vehicles is overlooking another area where fuel economy can be realized. No, I am not talking about diesel engines and I am not even thinking about hydrogen power. Instead, corn powered vehicles are coming into their own. Thats right, ethanol, a fuel that has a history going back a full century, may be the fuel of the future. Is ethanol a good choice for a fuel source? Ill let you be the judge of that!

Back during the days that Henry Ford was building cars, he designed his Model T to run on ethanol, a fuel that is typically derived from corn. His idea was to give the driver a choice between gasoline and this particular alternative source of energy. Historically low gas prices however, made the need for ethanol pretty much a moot point at that time. Why fuel up with ethanol when gas was being sold for a quarter or less?

For its part, the U.S. government has long held that ethanol is a good fuel source and has mandated that vehicles built since the early s, have the capacity to run on E ethanol a blend consisting of % ethanol and % gasoline. Since the s another type of ethanol, E, has been receiving plenty of press coverage. This fuel is made up of % ethanol and just % gasoline. Thats right, a truly alternative fuel source derived from corn.

With E, only specially designated models can run on this type of fuel. No, they arent some odd looking vehicles like the Honda Insight, instead they are every day vehicles including the Dodge Durango, Mercedes C, Chevy Silverado, and other select models specially outfitted to accept E. These FFVs, or flexible fuel vehicles, are distinctive models that can run on E or on unleaded gasoline. They can also run on any blend of ethanol/gasoline from an % ethanol/gasoline mix on down.

E does affect fuel mileage for the typical vehicle with fuel economy dropping as much as % depending on the model. At face value this can look like a bad thing until you consider the following:

. E fuel prices are much lower than straight gasoline. Depending on the station, as much as one third lower. So, even with the reduced fuel economy many drivers are saving as much as % on their weekly fuel bills.

. E burns clean. Remember, this is a chiefly corn based product. With only a minimal amount of gasoline used, E is better for the environment as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

. E reduces our dependency on foreign oil. The biggest problem in America today when it comes to energy consumption is our overdependence on foreign oil. E is developed in the U.S. thanks to our abundant and extensive corn belt. By using E, you help farmers in Americas heartland instead of oil rich sheiks in the Middle East.

Currently, in some areas of the country E stations are few and far between. However, as the number of E models being built continues to grow and consumers accept E as an alternate fuel source, more stations will be built. E availability is high in the middle of the country so motorists have more choice in there. Regardless of pump availability, a FFV can run on straight gasoline when E is not available.

So, will you take the bite and purchase an FFV? Perhaps a few years ago you wouldnt have considered one, but with rapidly rising fuel prices, worries over global warming, and frustration over our dependency on foreign oil, an FFV is worthy of everyones consideration.