Flexible-fuel vehicle

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A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (also sometimes called only flex-fuel) is an automobile that can typically alternate between two sources of fuel, with separate tanks and fuel systems for each fuel.[1] A common example is a vehicle that can accept gasoline mixed with varying levels of bioethanol (gasohol). Some cars carry a natural gas tank and one can switch from gasoline to gas.

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[edit] Bi-fuel systems

Unlike dual-fuel systems, which allow the use of only one fuel at a time, bi-fuel systems supply both fuels into the combustion chamber at the same time.[2]

[edit] Flexible-fuel vehicles in the United States

All vehicle conversions must be certified according to Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum 1A (Memo 1A),[3] the Addendum to Memo 1A, and the Revision to the Addendum to Memo 1A, which were issued by EPA.

North American vehicles from approximately 1980 onward can run on 10% ethanol/90% gasoline (i.e., E10) with no modifications. Prior to 1980, many cars imported into the United States contained rubber, aluminium, and other materials that were generally non-compatible with any ethanol in their fuel delivery systems, and these cars experienced problems when E10 was first introduced. Going beyond 10% ethanol generally requires special engineering.[citations needed]

In the United States, many flexible-fuel vehicles can accept up to 85% ethanol (E85) or up to 85% methanol (M85). The fuel mixture is automatically detected by one or more sensors, and once detected, the ECU tunes the timing of spark plugs and fuel injectors so that the fuel will burn cleanly in the vehicle's internal combustion engine. Originally, sensors in both the fuel-line and in the exhaust system were used for flexible fuel vehicles. In recent years, manufacturers have instead opted to use only the oxygen (lambda) sensor in the exhaust manifold, before the catalytic converter, and to eliminate the fuel inline sensor. This fuel inline sensor was removed in model year 1998: DaimlerChrysler; 2001: Ford and 2006: GM. As E85 and M85 are more corrosive, special fuel system materials are also required. Some manufacturers also require a special motor oil be used, particularly in vehicles using methanol fuel.[citations needed]

In 1993 through 1995, Ford offered the first production M85 FFV option on the 3.0L engine in the Taurus while Chrysler offered M85 flexible-fuel versions of the Dodge Spirit and Plymouth Acclaim with an MPFI 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine. FFV Chrysler minivans were also offered beginning around the same time, with a version of the corporate 3.3 L V6 engine. With the introduction of the Taurus re-design for 1996, Ford complemented the M85 FFV Taurus, sold mainly in California, with the first production E85 FFV using the same 3.0L engine in the Taurus and offering these for sale in most of the rest of the country. In 1998, General Motors Corporation introduced their first light truck (an S10, with 2.2L engine) in a flexible-fuel configuration. In 1998, Ford Motor Company introduced a flexible-fuel option on its 1999 Ford Ranger pickup trucks, and it has also continued to be an option on the company's Taurus model. For 2000, Ford also made their 4.0L SOHC engine found in the Explorer FFV capable and introduced it in the re-designed United States Postal Service delivery truck, which was based on a Ford Explorer chassis and powertrain in 2000 and 2001. Ford later extended this FFV powertrain to the consumer market with the E85 FFV Ford Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac, but phased it out with the new Explorer re-design in 2006. In that year, Ford began offering the 4.6L V8 version of the F-150 with E85 FFV capability for consumers and fleets. During the summer of 2006, Toyota officials stated that their company would consider FFV vehicle production in the future. Other manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz also offer E85/Flexible fuel vehicles. Flexible fuel vehicles are often identified as such by exterior badging, such as Ford's "road-and-leaf" badge introduced in 1993 and still used on Ford FFV and HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) models. They can also be identified by labelling adjacent to the fuel filler and fuel gauge, and by the engine identifier digit in the VIN.[citations needed]As of 2005, most existing vehicles that are available to the public with flex-fuel engines are sport-utility vehicles or others in the "light truck" class. Sedans, wagons, and others are usually only available in flexible-fuel configurations as part of fleet vehicle purchases by companies. Starting in 2006, though, more widespread availability is planned for standard models intended for non-fleet sales.[citations needed]

A 1988 federal law provides an incentive for creating flexible fuel vehicles in the form of credits that can be used to relax Corporate Average Fuel Economy fuel efficiency standards. It is alleged that this efficiency relaxation has decreased overall US fleet efficiency, thereby resulting in increased nationwide fuel consumption.[1]

Over 4 million flexible-fuel vehicles are currently operated on the road in America, although a 2002 study found that less than 1% of fuel consumed by these vehicles is E85[2].

Recently US companies are offering products, originally developed in Brazil, that will convert gasoline-only, fuel-injected vehicles to flex-fuel vehicles. Typical conversion packages include an electronic device to increase injected fuel volume per cycle (because of the lower energy content of ethanol) and in some cases a chemical treatment to protect the engine from corrosion. Products include AutoFFV from Abcesso, and Flex-Tek from XCelPlus.

[edit] Flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil

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, 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 a ethanol ready engine and one fuel tank. The 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). Current ECU's in Brazil aren't ready for the use of pure gasoline, but as neighbouring countries have that kind of fuel availabe, soon is to be released a ECU that can also handle this third type of fuel.[3]

In May 2003 Volkswagen built for the first time a production flexible fuel car, the Gol 1.6 Total Flex. Chevrolet followed two months later with the Corsa 1.8 Flexpower, using an engine developed by a joint-venture with Fiat called PowerTrain.

As of 2005, popular manufacturers that build flexible fuel vehicles are Chevrolet, Fiat, Ford, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen. Flexible fuel cars were 22% of the car sells in 2004, 73% in 2005 [4], and 75% and 90% rates are estimated for 2006 and 2007.

There's another type of flexible fuel vehicle that is not uncommon in Brazil. Those are the cars able to switch from gasoline to natural gas. The term "flex-fuel", however is never used to describe those cars; instead, they are called bi-fueled vehicles[4]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. [5]

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.[6]

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.[5]

Flex Fuel Vehicles to be imported from Brazil. 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 828 and 012 in 2007, soon to be followed by the 828E and 012E equipped with electric drive systems.

[edit] 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. In 2005 Saab began selling its 9-5 2.0 Biopower (joined in 2006 by its 9-5 2.3 Biopower), and Volvo its S40 and V50 with flexible-fuel engines.[citations needed]

There are also plans of selling E85 fuel, and then some flexible-fuel vehicles, in other European countries:

- In October 2005, the 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.

- Brand new Volvo C30 FF (FlexiFuel) is said to be sold in France by December 2006.

The Koenigsegg CCX is currently the fastest and most powerful flexible fuel vehicle with its twin-supercharged V8 producing 900hp when running on biofuel (compared to 806hp on 91 octane (US) unleaded gasoline).[citations needed]

[edit] 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.
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[edit] Worldwide

  • Ford offers vehicles worldwide that use E85 (different models, depending on the country).
2008
  • 2.7L Dodge Avenger
2007
  • 4.6L Ford Crown Victoria (2-valve, excluding taxi and police units)
  • 5.4L Ford F-150
  • 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
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

Note: * denotes fleet purchase only

[edit] Europe

[edit] United States

Mercury Grand Marquis

  • 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

See E85 in the United States for fuel station availability.

[edit] Brazil

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/conversion101.html
  2. ^ http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/conversion101.html
  3. ^ http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/memo1a.html
  4. ^ http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/conversion101.html
  5. ^ Fiat to Launch Tetra-fuel Siena in Brazil - NGV Global
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