(Photo by keishkakeishka)
The Environmental Protection Agency defines flex-fuel vehicles as cars, trucks and SUVs designed to “run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85% ethanol.” As American and foreign automakers turn high-selling models into flex-fuel options, consumers around the world are benefiting in several ways. The primary advantage of flexible fuel vehicles is the ability to travel anywhere on gasoline or ethanol. The newly completed I-85 corridor into the Southeast allows a flex-fuel driver to use E-85 exclusively but the same driver could use gasoline when traveling into areas without ethanol stations.
Another advantage of choosing flex-fuels over traditional vehicles is the ability to get the right model without creating a large carbon footprint. The hybrid-electric market is promising with the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic on the market but flex-fuels offer more opportunities for eco-conscious drivers. The EPA and Department of Energy note that 92 flex-fuel models are available in the 2009 model year currently on the market. These models range from the Chevy HHR to the Nissan Titan with plenty of automakers getting involved in this market sector.
The carbon footprint for a flex-fuel vehicle is significantly lower than its gas-only counterpart. The Fuel Economy Guide notes that the Dodge Avenger uses 1.4 tons per year less in carbon dioxide than its counterpart while the Nissan Titan pickup uses 3 tons per year less. According to the ethanol industry, these savings start at processing facilities and continue during the driver’s trip out of the car lot. While ethanol producers have come under fire for emissions created during crop refining, the industry continues to improve its processes as flex-fuel demand increases.
In terms of the larger flex-fuel market, the advantage of increased consumer demand is a mandate to expand into new fuel sources and flex-fuel models. The rapid innovation of cellulosic ethanol created from non-food crops can ease food concerns while keeping inexpensive ethanol in stations throughout the United States. Automakers like GM Opel are creating natural gas/gasoline hybrids that may ease pressure off ethanol producers in Europe. State legislatures and Congress continue to look at flex-fuel infrastructure like the I-85 corridor as consumer demand increases. For drivers willing to try out flex-fuel versions of their favorite models, the long-term advantage is a system of flex-fuel stations capable of catering to the next generation of vehicles.
