Flex-fuel cars

Brazil is the leader in biofuel technology. "Flex-fuel cars" that can also run on biofuels comprise 70% of the new cars in Brazil. In other regions of the world, such as in Hawaii, large (28 million gal/yr) biofuel plants are being built. 

The ethanol concentration in gasoline can vary from 10% (called E10) to 70% and up to 85% (called E85). All automobiles can use E10 fuel, but only the flex-fuel vehicles (6 million cars in the United States, which is 2.4% of the automobile fleet) can run on E85. The flex-fuel car gas tanks are... 

As a direct consequence of success of flex-fuel cars, during 2003—2008, the Brazilian sugarcane industry expanded rapidly New and more efficient mills were commissioned, and a consolidation process was initiated at the same time that positive indicators for the industry s environmental sustainability were demonstrated. However, since 2008, the Brazilian ethanol agroindustry has stagnated, and the expansion process was interrupted. The main reason for this setback is the increasing lack of competitiveness due to government intervention in gasoline prices, a crucial aspect in a consumer market dominated... 

While most automotive fuel sold in the United States contains 10% ethanol, it is also possible to power the vehicle on a blend that is primarily ethanol. The optimum blend sold in both the U.S. and European markets for flexible-fuel vehicles is E85 (mixture of gasoline containing 85% of ethanol). In Brazil, flex-fuel vehicles can operate with ethanol mixtures up to ElOO. The Brazihan 2008 Honda Civic flex-fuel car is built with a secondary reservoir gasoline tank. In March 2009 the first Polo E-Hex was launched in Brazil without the auxiliary gasoline tank. Ethanol-based engines can be used to power automobiles, tractors, city buses, distribution trucks, and waste collectors. 

In most cases the ethanol is blended with gasoline. The vast majority of cars and trucks can use a 10% blend with gasoline (E10) in USA. A 22% blend of ethanol with gasoline (E22) is the most sold fuel in Brazil. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) are capable of running on variable blends up to 85% bioethanol (E85). However, when using E85 the fuel consumption increases by 20-30% due to differences in energy per unit volume. 

United States. A fuel called E85, which is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is also widely available for cars with flex-fuel engines. The use of pure alcohol as a motor fuel is not feasible in most of the United States because it does not vaporize easily when temperatures are low. However, pure ethanol could be a very practical fuel in warm climates. For example, in Brazil, large quantities of ethanol fuel are being... 

Bioethanol is mainly used in car engines, but it can also be used in tractors, planes, and boats. In flexible-fuel or flex-fuel vehicles, it is used as a drop-in biofuel in this case the fuels for the propulsion of the vehicle are interchangeable. Due to the significantly low freezing point, it cannot be used as a jet fuel. 

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