| Many people wonder about the ethanol/gas mixture | | | | if they wanted to continue selling to consumers in |
| known as E85, named for the 85% ethanol that | | | | Brazil. |
| mixture contains, and whether or not their vehicles | | | | Since then, worldwide consumer demand for vehicles |
| will run on it. You may be surprised to learn that | | | | that can run on E85 has continued to increase. For |
| there have already been some two million vehicles | | | | example, in 2005, the demand in Sweden for FFVs |
| sold in America that can run on E85 with no | | | | outstripped the demand for standard fuel vehicles by |
| modification at all. Check your vehicle's owners | | | | more than four to one, according to Ford statistics. |
| manual or contact your dealer to find out if yours is a | | | | As is the case in America, worldwide demand is |
| Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV). | | | | driven by whatever is cheapest, and E85 is often as |
| The key is fuel injection. When vehicles had | | | | much as $1.00/gallon less at the pump, which is a |
| carburetors, engines needed to be modified to run on | | | | significant savings--no matter what country you live |
| E85. However, most modern vehicles are fuel | | | | in. |
| injected, using an oxygen sensor to control the air | | | | Since 1997, Swedish drivers have been able to |
| fuel mixture to run the engine most efficiently. That | | | | choose the amount of ethanol they want to mix with |
| sensor is controlled by a computer chip, and even if | | | | their gasoline--right at the pump. They can choose |
| your particular vehicle doesn't currently have the chip | | | | the exact percentage of ethanol they want at the |
| necessary to allow it to run on E85, it can often be | | | | moment, depending upon their engine, and even upon |
| changed to the chip that will make that possible. | | | | the weather conditions, since E85 has some issues |
| Again, first check with your dealer to see if your | | | | when it comes to extreme cold, which Sweden has |
| own vehicle's chip can be changed--if it isn't already | | | | plenty of during their long Scandinavian winters. They |
| able to use E85. | | | | simply dial in whatever mixture they want at the |
| If your vehicle can run on E85, you can thank the | | | | moment, and then pump it into their vehicles. As |
| Brazilians, because way back in the early 1980s, the | | | | more tax incentives are introduced in the rest of the |
| Brazilian government mandated that all new vehicles | | | | European Economic Union (EU), such mixing options |
| in that country be able to run on 180-proof alcohol. | | | | will become increasingly available in other countries, as |
| That legislation forced automakers like Ford and GM | | | | well. |
| to begin making vehicles that would meet that criteria | | | | Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. |