Depending on seasonal adjustments, E85 is a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol, with the remainder consisting of gasoline. How Do Flexible Fuel Cars Work Using Ethanol? by Melanie Radzicki McManus. FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85, and some generate more torque and horsepower than when operating on gasoline. In the US and Europe E85 is a common fuel which includes 85 % of ethanol and 15 % of gasoline. A full half of them come from foreign countries, creating an … How Flex-Fuel Vehicles Work It's no secret the United States is trying to reduce its consumption of fossil fuels. ... Flex-fuel prices have been falling, too, and are about $1 less per gallon than regular gasoline now, according to the Kiplinger Agriculture Letter. A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (colloquially called a flex-fuel vehicle) is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) have an internal combustion engine and are capable of operating on gasoline and any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. In the United States, the flex fuel that's garnered the most headlines is E85. These minivans run on gasoline, but some models are manufactured to use an ethanol blend, making them flex fuel vehicles. Make sure you don't put ethanol in a non-flex-fuel … Prev Next . Flex fuel vehicles normally run on a mixture of either ethanol or methanol and gasoline. Flex Fuel Sensors Basic Description. We’re going to venture out on a limb and guess that the vast majority of people who own those vehicles don’t know what “flex-fuel” means. Author's Note. Ethanol fuel is beneficial for several reasons. If you desire a vehicle with up-to-date technology and a fuel system that puts the power in your hands, a flex fuel vehicle could be right for you, and as the pioneer of flex fuel, Ford is an excellent source for securing that perfect vehicle. How Flex-Fuel Vehicles Work. Will Flex Fuel Save You Money? As of this writing, approximately 2,300 United States fuel stations offer E85. E85 may be cheaper than regular gasoline or E10, but the lower energy content means you might come out paying more for less in the long run. Some early E85 ethanol flex-fuel Fords carry a small road-and-leaf logo and decal reading "FFV," for Flexible Fuel Vehicle. Vehicles that use flex fuel can run on regular gasoline, or a combination of regular gasoline and ethanol. Secondly, ethanol is a renewable resource which reduces the need to import foreign oil. E85 Ethanol Flex Fuel Explained About one-third of all gasoline sold in the United States contains some ethanol, typically in a ratio of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. As of the 2011 model year, only the extended wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan is available. Flex fuel vehicles are therefore not the same as bi-fuel vehicles, which have separate tanks for each different fuel type they use. Still, … Flex engines are found in flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are sold and operated in countries around the world. For one, it can cost less to drive on high ethanol fuel, when the price of oil is high. The Dodge Caravan is a minivan last produced by Chrysler in 2007. FFVs have one fuel system, and most components are the same as those found in a conventional gasoline car. Now that you know what is Ford flex fuel, you can best determine if it is a good choice for you. A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (colloquially called a flex-fuel vehicle) is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. The so called flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) runs on normal gasoline but also blends of gasoline and ethanol. Ethanol is made out of plant sugars. Flex fuel vehicles, as duel fuel vehicles, have an internal combustion engine capable of functioning with a mixture of fuels. 1 Except for a few engine and fuel system modifications, they are identical to gasoline-only models. I don't own a flex-fuel vehicle. In short, a flexible-fuel vehicle is one that can run on fuels other than straight gasoline, such as ethanol or nearly any ratio of ethanol and gas combined in the same tank. The internal combustion engine of a flex-fuel vehicle is designed to run on more than one type of fuel -- usually gasoline plus ethanol or methanol fuel, all of which are stored in the same tank [source: Chapman ]. Corn and sugar are two plants that are commonly used to make ethanol. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on gasoline or gasoline-ethanol blends of up to 85% ethanol (E85). But I do live near Iowa, a Corn Belt state and the source of much of America's ethanol. E85 gets its name from the way it inverts that formula, at 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent conventional gasoline.