Concern over the overuse of fossil fuels and the contribution of gasoline-burning cars to global warming has prompted many people to consider alternative fuel sources for automobiles. One such alternative fuel source is ethanol, which not only burns cleaner than gasoline, but can be made from plants, making it a renewable resource. Most cars that were designed to run on gasoline can also run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol, but a few have been designed to use pure ethanol.
Flexible-Fuel Vehicles
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are automobiles designed to run on gasoline or a mixture of gasoline and up to 85 percent ethanol. The engines of FFVs have been designed to accommodate the higher oxygen content of ethanol, but otherwise are indistinguishable from traditional gasoline powered vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy lists 34 FFVs on the road as of May of 2010, including such popular models as the Ford Fusion and Chevy Impala.
Model-T Ford
Produced from 1907 through 1927, the Model-T Ford was the first, and for a long time the only, car designed to run on pure ethanol. The first mass-produced automobile, the Model-T could also run on gasoline or kerosene, and the steady decrease in the price of gasoline throughout the first half of the twentieth century led to ethanol and kerosene being replaced as automobile fuels. There are a few Model-Ts still on the road today, either well-maintained originals or cars built from kits.
Koenigsegg CCXR
The Koenigsegg CCXR is a modification of Koenigsegg's gasoline-powered CCX, which can run on pure ethanol as well as the standard 85 percent ethanol and regular gasoline. The CCXR was a limited edition run in 2008.
Prototypes and Concept Cars
There are several concept cars and prototypes being designed--as of 2010--to run on pure ethanol, including Saab's Aero X BioPower 100. The Indianapolis 500 also features race cars that use pure ethanol, although none are in commercial production. As the price of gasoline continues to rise, it is expected that more automobile companies will explore ethanol as a fuel, just as many are exploring hydrogen and electricity.
Member Comments