Vehicular
If It Goes ... It's Vehicular

Ethanol Fuels Becoming More Accessible to Drivers

Technology

We all need to help spare the environment, yet for some of us it’s easier said than done. Hybrids are still pricey, public transportation isn’t always reliable and giving up our automobiles isn’t necessarily a choice.

Fortunately there’s an answer: ethanol.

Ethanol

ethanolEthanol fuels are classified as alternative fuels by the U.S. Department of Energy, the latest blend of ethanol fuel, or E85, is made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. Ethanol contains oxygen, which results in fuel combusting completely and reducing emissions. Made from foodstuffs such as corn, wheat, barley and potatoes, ethanol is biodegradable. Production of ethanol actually requires less energy than diesel and gasoline.

The U.S. has already diminished its fuel consumption considerably, according to Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. But using the new ethanol fuel blends, such as E85, could help considerably.

A small, publicly traded company with headquarters in Virginia, Xcelplus International has introduced new technology that will enable motorists to use the lower-priced E85 fuels that are now available.

The company’s new kit can transform practically any automobile into a flexible fuel vehicle. The kit consists of a coating agent to protect the engine from the acids associated with E85 and a “FlexteK” adapter that allows the vehicle owner to choose the type of fuel to use in the car. The adapter can easily be removed and reinstalled in another vehicle if necessary.

Flexible fuel vehicles can operate on regular unleaded gasoline or an ethanol blend. Major manufacturers including Ford, General Motors, Isuzu and Mercedes have models that are flexible fuel vehicles, and the number is increasing every year.

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with the structural formula CH3CH2OH, often abbreviated as C2H5OH or C2H6O.

10 Safety Tips For Riding An ATV

Riding an ATV is fun but more and more these days, riders of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) are becoming injured or even killed when their ATV wrecks, enforcing the need for safe operating procedures. This is especially important for teenagers who are interested in...

The Blue Book Of Used Cars

If you are planning to sell your used car to a vehicle dealer, you should be aware of the basic process in determining the worth of your car using a blue book. This would ensure you would not be scammed and taken for granted by car dealer experts. What is the Blue...

New Hydrogen and Electric Fueling Stations

GO-Biz Announces Initiative to Streamline Permitting of New Hydrogen and Electric Fueling Stations State of California Partners with Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai and Other Auto Manufacturers for 2015 Roll Out Sacramento, Calif. - California state economic...

A closer look at this year’s Ridler Award winner, J.F. Launier’s Rivision

Rivision, during the build process. Photos courtesy J.F. Launier. When J.F. Launier’s bright yellow Buick Riviera street rod, Rivision, took the Ridler Award at this year’s Detroit Autorama, the win proved to be more than a little controversial among Hemmings readers....