Although ethanol has a lower energy content than regular gasoline, such vehicles typically don’t exhibit performance loss other than a decline of 15% to 27% of their fuel efficiency when E85 is used.
Acronym: FFVsAlternate name: Flex-fuel vehicles
How Flexible-Fuel Vehicles Work
Henry Ford built the first FFV, the 1908 Model-T Ford, which could run on either gasoline or ethanol. But it wasn’t until 1994 that the first mass-produced FFV hit the market. The Ford Taurus E85 was released that year with the ability to run on gasoline or gasoline blended with ethanol (a renewable grain alcohol made from corn or sugarcane). It also had a computer system that could distinguish between fuel blends to optimize the car’s performance. Today, there are many more options for FFVs on the market today. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, there were more than 24 million FFVs on the road in the United States as of 2018. FFVs have the same acceleration, payload, power, and cruise speed as traditional gasoline-powered cars and trucks, and require similar maintenance. They even look the same. In fact, short of looking up the fuel type of a car in the owner’s manual, the only qualities that might visibly distinguish an FFV from a regular car are:
A yellow gas cap or fuel-filler ringA label of “E85” on the fuel doorBadges on the body of the vehicle, such as “E85,” “Flex-Fuel,” or “FFV”
The main difference is that the fuel systems and other components of FFVs are uniquely designed to handle a blend of gasoline and ethanol ranging from 0% to 85%. While this design enables gasoline to be used when E85 isn’t available, the lower energy content of ethanol means that you’ll get 15% to 27% fewer miles per gallon with a flexible fuel than with gasoline, which only contains about 10% ethanol. That said, you’ll typically experience no substantial loss in performance; in fact, some FFVs offer greater torque and horsepower when they run on E85 than on gasoline.
Pros and Cons of Flexible-Fuel Vehicles
These vehicles have their advantages and drawbacks:
Pros Explained
The advantages of flexible-fuel vehicles include:
Choice of fuel: As the name implies, an FFV empowers you to choose between using traditional gasoline and a gasoline-ethanol blend. If, for example, E85 prices are lower than gasoline in your area, you could save money. And when the blend is unavailable, you can fuel up with gas. Cleaner fumes: While FFVs still emit waste from the tailpipe, ethanol is a renewable fuel that burns cleaner than traditional gasoline does, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keeping the air around you cleaner. Less dependence on imported energy sources: E85 also fuel helps achieve the goal of reducing our reliance on foreign oil while supporting the domestic economy by improving the condition of local farmers who grow the corn and sugarcane used to produce ethanol.
Cons Explained
The negatives of flexible-fuel vehicles include:
Lower fuel economy: Ethanol is a less-efficient source of fuel than traditional gasoline is; in other words, ethanol-laden fuel contains less usable energy for an equal amount of gas. Because of this, a flex-fuel vehicle running on a blended fuel like E85 is going to have a slightly lower gas mileage. Depending on E85 prices, you might have to pay more to travel a shorter distance when you opt for this fuel type. Limited availability of E85: E85 is sold at more than 2,500 stations in the U.S., but it may not be offered at your local pump. If that’s the case, you’ll have an FFV but won’t be able to take advantage of its environmental and fuel cost benefits. Not eligible for a tax credit: Currently, the Internal Revenue Service only offers a tax credit for consumers on qualified plug-in electric vehicles.
How Much Do Flexible-Fuel Vehicles Cost?
An FFV doesn’t necessarily cost more than any other type of vehicle. The U.S. Department of Energy offers a list of the various FFVs on the market. Among 2020 models are the Chevrolet Impala, Ford Explorer, and GMC Yukon. While costs may differ by dealership and location, Kelly Blue Book might put the MSRP of these new vehicles at $32,495, $34,010, and $50,895, respectively. That said, the costs of driving your car will also depend on your choice of fuel, as well as car maintenance costs. Your location can have an impact on fuel cost, as can the state of the global oil market and the yield of corn and sugarcane crops in recent years. E85 is typically cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline but more expensive per mile. E85 costs an average of $2.74 per gallon in the U.S. as of November 2021, compared to $3.68 for regular gasoline (E0). Do the math and figure out whether it makes sense for your budget to fuel with E85. For example, if you estimate that you lose 25% of your fuel efficiency on E85, and regular gasoline is $2.50 a gallon at the station, consider fueling your car with E85 only if’s priced at $1.88 per gallon or less. Lastly, choosing to drive a flexible-fuel vehicle will not necessarily increase or decrease your car insurance premium. Of course, the type of vehicle itself might: A sporty model is going to be more costly to insure in general, whether fueled by traditional gas or a gasoline-ethanol blend.
