According to Car Bibles , modern flex-fuel vehicles are built using advanced technology such as electronic sensors. As mentioned, these technological advances allow your car to adjust the way it's operating, including detecting the fuel blend and making any necessary adjustments. Modern flex-fuel cars can contain 10 to 85 percent ethanol. Thanks to the technology it's equipped with, your vehicle will determine the most efficient proportions. Many flex-fuel vehicles run on ethanol, which is sustainably produced from ingredients such as cane sugar and corn.
This makes ethanol a good alternative to purchasing foreign oil. Consumers who drive flex-fuel cars receive tax credits that can significantly reduce or even eliminate their tax obligation. While some might argue that using an alternative fuel source can negatively impact a vehicle's performance, in reality it can have the opposite effect. Flex-fuel vehicles don't experience a loss in performance when using E85 fuel.
In fact, some even generate increased torque and horsepower. Flex fuel does have some disadvantages you should be aware of before purchasing one of these vehicles. While it's great that flex fuel can be sustainably produced using corn and sugar, its production comes with a downside. Crops designed to be used for flex-fuel production can't be allocated to other sources. This could potentially drive up the price of animal feed.
Corn is also susceptible to disease and weather conditions such as flooding and drought. This can be problematic for corn prices during poor harvests. Obviously you want to treat your engine in the best way possible. Unfortunately, ethanol absorbs dirt easily, which can potentially corrode and damage your engine, says Car Bibles. One of the main concerns about driving a flex-fuel car is its gas mileage. While some experts assert that flex-fuel vehicles have similar mileage as regular fuel-powered vehicles, others claim they have lower gas mileage.
While ethanol does raise a vehicle's octane level, it contains less energy. In other words, it will take 1. So, yes, you will get fewer miles per gallon using ethanol. However, ethanol costs less than regular gasoline, so the savings should more than offset the mileage loss.
Because flex fuel isn't as economical as gasoline, gas stations are less likely to carry it. Flex Fuel Cost Calculator compare costs for operating your vehicle on gasoline and E Department of Energy and the U.
Environmental Protection Agency. DOE and the U. Toggle navigation. Selling your car? We can help you advertise its mpg. Vehicles produce about half of the greenhouse gases from a typical U. If you do so accidentally, empty your tank and refill it with regular gas and you'll be fine. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close.
Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Fuel Efficiency. Fuel-saving Devices. How Flex-Fuel Vehicles Work. Flex-fuel vehicles run on different blends of fuels, most frequently a mixture of gasoline and ethanol, a type of alcohol.
Want to learn more? Check out these alternative fuel vehicle pictures! The Mechanics Behind Flex-Fuel Vehicles A flex-fuel car looks just like any other kind of car -- which is why some people don't even realize they own one. The main ethanol blends on the market today are E85 and E95, which get their names from their compositions: E85 is 15 percent unleaded gas and up to 85 percent ethanol, while E95 -- typically used in diesel-powered vehicles -- is up to 95 percent ethanol [sources: Bionomic Fuels , Clean Air Trust ] Advertisement.
Author's Note I don't own a flex-fuel vehicle. Alternative Fuels Data Center. What Does It All Mean?
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