While some experts assert that flex-fuel vehicles have similar mileage as regular fuel-powered vehicles, others claim they have lower gas mileage. One of the main concerns about driving a flex-fuel car is its gas mileage. Unfortunately, ethanol absorbs dirt easily, which can potentially corrode and damage your engine, says Car Bibles. Obviously you want to treat your engine in the best way possible. This can be problematic for corn prices during poor harvests. Corn is also susceptible to disease and weather conditions such as flooding and drought. This could potentially drive up the price of animal feed. Crops designed to be used for flex-fuel production can't be allocated to other sources. While it's great that flex fuel can be sustainably produced using corn and sugar, its production comes with a downside. Disadvantages of Flex Fuelįlex fuel does have some disadvantages you should be aware of before purchasing one of these vehicles. In fact, some even generate increased torque and horsepower. Flex-fuel vehicles don't experience a loss in performance when using E85 fuel. 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. Tax BenefitsĬonsumers who drive flex-fuel cars receive tax credits that can significantly reduce or even eliminate their tax obligation. This makes ethanol a good alternative to purchasing foreign oil. Many flex-fuel vehicles run on ethanol, which is sustainably produced from ingredients such as cane sugar and corn. Thanks to the technology it's equipped with, your vehicle will determine the most efficient proportions. Modern flex-fuel cars can contain 10 to 85 percent ethanol. 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. Advanced TechnologyĪccording to Car Bibles, modern flex-fuel vehicles are built using advanced technology such as electronic sensors. The car is equipped with electronic sensors that gauge the blend, and its microprocessors adjust the fuel injection and timing. One of the greatest advantages of a flex-fuel vehicle is that is can burn whatever proportion of fuel mixture is in the combustion chamber. Flex fuel also contributes fewer greenhouse gases, making it a more environmentally friendly option than traditional gasoline. Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, which means flex-fuel cars pump fewer toxic fumes into the environment. Cleaner for the EnvironmentĬar Bibles states that more people today are concerned about fuel consumption's effects on the environment. Let's look at some of the reasons you might want to consider making the switch to flex fuel. By 2017, there were approximately 21 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road. It was first developed in the early 1990s and used in the mass-produced 1994 Ford Taurus, according to Car Bibles. Other than a few modifications to the engine and fuel system, says Kiplinger, flex-fuel vehicles are virtually identical to gasoline-only models. Flex-fuel vehicles are those that have internal combustion engines designed to run on more than one type of fuel. What Is Flex Fuel?įlex fuel, or flexible fuel, is an alternative fuel made of a combination of gasoline and methanol or ethanol. Continue reading to learn about flex fuel and its pros and cons. However, before investing in this type of vehicle, you should first understand what you're purchasing. Today, a number of known flex-fuel benefits exist. Over the past few years, you've likely heard increasingly more about flex-fuel vehicles, even if you didn't fully understand what they were.
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