Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel

Photo by Pixthree. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

While Hurricane Ike caused gas to shoot up to $5 a gallon in some areas, one problem in the direct path of the storm was a total lack of gasoline. But, for one University of Houston mechanical engineering student, the absence of gasoline didn’t stop his evacuation: he just filled up with E85 and kept on moving. A story on Expo TV about senior Chris Reudelhuber’s flexfuel dash to safety reads a bit too anti-hybrid to take seriously, but it does point out one aspect of flexfuel vehicles that certainly doesn’t get much attention: the ability to fill up with whatever is available when supply gets tight. Thanks to Adam B. for the tip.

[Source: Expo TV]

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Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel

One of the problems major automakers cite as a reason that more ethanol isn’t used in their flex-fuel vehicles is that the people who own the cars just don’t know that you can put E85 into the tank. But there is another problem: not having any E85 available in your area. If you want to find out if you can get E85 locally, there has long been an ethanol station search available at the website of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. Douglas Cottrell over at Drive Flex Fuel thought that another E85 station locater was in order.

A quick check using my home Zip code turned up 80 E85 stations from NEVC and almost twice that (157) on Drive Flex Fuel within a 200 mile range. DFF allows you to limit your search to 10 miles (or 25 or other limits) of your home while the NEVC site only allows you to search for stations within 200 miles of your home (and how useful is that?). From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem that DFF discriminates between public and industrial sites. Cottrell wrote to AutoblogGreen to say that he updates the station list every month and has all states and zip codes listed.

[Source: Drive Flex Fuel]

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Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel

As gasoline prices across the US continue their inexorable climb back up to the $3 a gallon level and beyond, some of the millions of people who have bought flex-fuel vehicles over the past decade are finally starting to use the flexibility at their disposal. Until recently E85 ethanol pumps were pretty hard to find almost anywhere in the United States.

According to the Department of Energy there are now over 900 E85 filling locations around the country. As the price differential to gasoline increases the reduced fuel mileage of E85 becomes less of an issue and ethanol becomes more attractive to drivers at least.

[Source: Detroit News]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

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Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, MPG, Dodge

In the truck market, horsepower numbers rule. The 2008 Dodge Dakota is getting a new 4.7-liter engine with more horsepower, yet the automaker promises it will deliver better fuel economy and offer E85 ethanol compatibility. The horsepower rating jumps 25 percent over the old model to 290 with 320 lb-ft of peak torque. Other changes to the 2008 Dakota include a mild facelift and freshened interior. The news we didn’t hear, of course, is any movement in getting a diesel engine for Dodge’s midsize truck. The midsize pickup segment has been deteriorating quickly, especially models from the Big 3, because of price incentives that put fullsize trucks near the same price range as a midsize truck. Even with gas-price hikes, midsize trucks aren’t as attractive anymore to pickup shoppers anymore.

For more information and a photo gallery, follow this link to the Autoblog coverage.

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

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Filed under: Etc., Ethanol

We like reporting on vehicles that run on alternative fuel here at autobloggreen. There is much debate on the merits of making fuel from corn, but remember, renewable fuel can be made from many other sources. And fuel as a renewable resource is definitely something to focus on these days.

Certainly, I can appreciate the time and effort that went into designing and building this fully functional prototype engine. Using a W9 design (the nine cylinders form a “W” shape). I can also appreciate the fact that it was designed to run on E85. Volkswagen currently builds some engines in the “W” shape as well, including the W16 engine in the Veyron, but none with nine cylinders, making this engine rather unique.

Weighing only 262 pounds complete with exhaust system, the engine as it sits can produce an estimated 526 HP at 10,700 rpm and 280 lbs-ft of torque at 7200 rpm. Yes, this one is a screamer with its redline at 12,500 rpm. One of the most amazing things about this engine, in my opinion, is that it was developed so well using computer aided design that the only part that needed to be changed from plans was the cam chain guides. One may assume that this was all made possible without the budgets of the huge automakers R&D labs. Most impressive. Click here for their web site.

[Source: Atom Racing via Jalopnik]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

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Filed under: Ethanol, Ford

While we have millions upon millions of flex fuel (that is, E85 capable) vehicles cruising the streets in America - and almost all of them running on pure dinojuice - in the UK, Ford is trying to point out the drama of delivering the 150th flex fuel Focus registered in Britain to the National Farmer’s Union (NFU).

Yes, the sesquicentennial biofuel Focus will be used by NFU vice president Paul Temple (pictured) and will be filled up with bioethanol “wherever possible as he travels around the country on NFU business.” How possible is this? It’s not impossible, but not easy either. Ford says there are 13 Morrisons stations that sell E85 in Somerset, Norfolk, Suffolk, Derbyshire, Northants and South Wales.

One tidbit in the press release struck my eye: “Ford’s Focus FFV and C-MAX FFV can run on any mix of bioethanol or petrol in the same fuel tank.” Really? You can use E100 in the UK just like in Brazil? Cool.

[Source: Ford]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

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