The ‘new’ technology picks up speed heading into 2007

With the world turning the way it is presently, there are plenty of reasons traditional gasoline-powered vehicles are coming under scrutiny. There’s the crude oil situation, skyrocketing transportation prices across the globe. Let us not forget the EPA who constantly reminds us how much damage our emissions are doing to the atmosphere lest we forget to look outside our own window. What’s a country to do?

Flex-fuel technology was originally created by the Ford Motor Company two decades ago. Since that time, there has been a very slow increase in awareness in this new breed of automobile known alternatively as variable fueled vehicle.

The concept is an interesting one. Instead of running entirely on a different type of fuel, the flex-fuel model allows engines to be powered by any mixture of petroleum and ethanol. That means fill up with ethanol when you can–it’s better for the environment, and you’re doing your part to deter the high prices of unleaded fuel. But when you can’t find a refill station for the corn by-product, it’s ok to fill up with the usual 89-octane. The vehicle requires nothing more from you. It has sensors to monitor the mixture and adjust fuel injection and timing to keep the engine spinning smoothly.

How about efficiency and price? Running purely on ethanol, any of the 31 models for 2007 will average four to five miles per gallon less around town and on the highway than if running strictly unleaded gasoline. Due to the sporadic demand of ethanol, the prices fluctuate widely based on demand. Currently, only nine states in the U.S. have more than 20 ethanol refilling stations statewide.

General Motors leads the way into 2007 by offering six flex-fuel vehicles. Daimler-Chrysler also shows promise by offering four. Most of the variable fuelers available are large trucks or SUVs, and that trend will continue.

One is forced to wonder if this technology is going to make it in the mainstream. With electric vehicle and fuel cell technologies progressing, flex-fuel is not the only solution to a market thirsting for answers.

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