The Differences in E85 Vehicles

Ethanol is one of the popular alternative fuels that are increasingly sought after as a viable alternative to oil in the automotive industry. It is a form of alcohol produced from corn, or sugarcane. "E85" is an Ethanol-gas mixture (85% gas, 15% ethanol). It can only be used in cars that are named "flexible fuel vehicle" (FFV). These cars have motors that are manufactured to accept ethanol. (Not all vehicles can).

These "flexible" vehicles are made with motors that monitor the mixture of E85 and normal gas using sensors. They keep the fuel burning efficiently.

E85 vehicles can run on either E85 or conventional gas. This is the most essential difference in E85 vehicles and standard vehicles. Standard vehicles can be converted to E85 vehicles, but the process is difficult and costly. This difference in E85 vehicles has prevented its popularity as a viable alternative in the auto industry.

These are some examples of the differences in E85 vehicles and standard vehicles:

Fuel injector size
Air-fuel ratio
PCM calibrations
Material composition of the fuel lines, pumps and tanks

The Effort to Make E85 Succeed
Will E85 every really catch on? Farmers are hoping so; this year, more corn was planted than any other season since World War II.

Despite the obvious challenges, automakers are still trying, hoping that E85 vehicles will catch on. A total of 27 E85 models were produced by the auto industry in 2007, compared to 20 in 2006. If this growth continues, E85 may very well become a viable, fuel-conserving alternative to current vehicles.