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View Top 10 Flex Fuel Companies
Cellulosic ethanol, the biofuel that differs from corn-based ethanol in that it can be made from pretty much any organic matter, has made an impression among people who matter.
Alan Greenspan, the revered former chairman of the Federal Reserve with a big distaste for irrational exuberance, recently sang its praises before a Congressional hearing on energy security. Greenspan said cellulosic ethanol is the only alternative energy source that could be produced in enough volume to make a dent in gas usage.
Are Flex Fuel Vehicles the Wave of the Future?
The Lowdown on Flex Fuel Vehicles
Flex fuel -- the term has been being tossed around quite a bit lately. But what exactly does flex fuel mean? Is it a concrete solution to our current gas prices or is it a technology that’s far off in the future? If you don’t know what flex fuel is, you’re not alone. There are masses of consumers who have little to no knowledge of flex fuel technology. And if you think you understand everything there is to know about flex fuel, you might be surprised at what you don’t know.
What is Flex Fuel?
Flex fuel vehicles are automobiles that can run on either gasoline or E85 (a mixture of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol). Ethanol is a fuel that is produced from the alcohol of plant sugars and is a renewable resource whereas gasoline derives from oil and is not renewable. When a car has flex fuel technology, it has a sensor that adjusts the ratio of the ethanol and gasoline ratios and some parts of the fuel system are modified in order to be compatible with ethanol.
Flex fuel vehicles are not a far-off futuristic dream. In fact there are literally millions of flex fuel vehicles already on the road and there are a number of new car models being advertised as having flex fuel capabilities. Your car may be a flex fuel vehicle and you might not even know it since not all flex fuel vehicles sold are advertised as being flex fuel vehicles.
There are indeed many benefits to E85 usage. First and foremost is the fact that E85 is a renewable resource, so for those of you who don’t like the rate at which we’re consuming gasoline E85 should put a smile on your face.
Another benefit of vehicles that run on E85 is the fact that E85 burns cleaner than gasoline so flex fuel vehicles may cause less pollution. Add that to the fact that using E85 can contribute to farmers receiving a higher value for the corn they grow and you soon come to the conclusion that flex fuel vehicles are much more friendly to the environment than their gas-guzzling counterparts.
Why the Change?
Many people have high hopes that flex fuel vehicles will put a stop to outrageous gas prices. As drivers look for ways to dodge the high cost of filling up, this gasoline alternative can look pretty appealing if you happen to be on the Westside of Los Angeles.
This past week, for example, a gallon of unleaded gasoline in West L.A. was going for $3.65 a gallon. A gallon of biodiesel went for $4.17. E85, on the other hand, sold for $3.19 a gallon.
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