e85 ethanol Conversion

Q. CAN VEHICLES BE CONVERTED TO OPERATE USING E85 ETHANOL?

A. This is a frequent question that is asked. There is not a simple answer though. In the strictest sense, yes, a vehicle that was made to operate on unleaded fuel only could be converted to operate on E85 ethanol. Realistically speaking, the conversion can be extremely difficult.
During the 80’s and early 90’s, many companies were formed that altered gasoline powered vehicles to use other forms of fuels such as propane, compressed natural gas, e85, and 85 percent methanol. The basic marketing strategy of these conversion companies was based on the idea that it was much cheaper to operate a vehicle on alternative fuels. However, the vehicles being converted were made, designed and built to operate on unleaded fuel only. Shortly after the start of the "conversion firms" the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided that when converted from gas to another form of fuel, the exhaust emissions from these converted vehicles were often much dirtier than prior to the conversion. The use of alt-fuels in the transportation sector has been engineered around the objectives of using cleaner, non-gasoline based fuels.

Based on authority provided to the EPA through the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the EPA began regulations that required exhaust emissions from vehicles converted to operate on alternative fuels be as clean as the exhaust emissions of the original gasoline equipment. That is, if Ford Motor Company built a car to meet federal emissions standards on gas, a company converting that vehicle to operate on e85, must be able to certify that the emissions from the converted vehicle was as clean as the original. A process to license such after-market equipment was initiated and few if any conversion kits were actually able to pass.

99.9 percent of all the vehicles that are able to operate on alternative transportation fuels are produced by the original manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler. Engineers from these auto companies are able to create vehicles that meet the EPA exhaust emission standards. These automobile companies are required to warranty the exhaust emissions from these vehicles for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Very few conversion companies
are able to accomplish.

Q. IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONVERT A VEHICLE THAT WAS MADE FOR GAS TO RUN ON ETHANOL?

A. Yes, but, there are no flex fuel conversions or after-market parts that have been certified by the EPA. None of the flex fuel products have met the standards to maintain clean exhaust emissions. Technically, converting a vehicle that was made to run on gasoline only to operate on another form of fuel is a violation of federal law and the offender may be subject to penalties. Unfortunately, no after-market conversion company has been able to certify a E85 flex fuel kit that would allow a gasoline vehicle to operate on e85.

The differences in fuel injector size, air-fuel ratio, PCM calibrations, material composition of the fuel lines, pumps and tanks are just a some of the components that contribute to allowing an ethanol conversion extremely complicated. It is our understanding that at least one company is working to obtain EPA certification. The situation will be monitored closely. Understand the certification process could be lenghty, hard and expensive.

E85 Ethanol Flex-Fuel Vehicle Comparison

E85 ETHANOL FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES are designed to operate on gasoline, E85 (a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline), or any mixture of the two fuels. Annual fuel cost is estimated assuming 15,000 miles of travel each year (55% city and 45% highway) and an average fuel cost of $2.20 per gallon for E85, $2.65 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, and $2.85 per gallon for premium unleaded gasoline. The price of ethanol is highly variable from region to region; it is typically lower in the midwestern United States and higher in other areas. Therefore, actual consumer experience may differ significantly from the annual fuel cost estimate presented here.

Fuel economy and driving range values are shown for both gasoline and E85. When operating your FFV on mixtures of gasoline and E85, such as when alternating between using these fuels, your driving range and fuel economy values will be somewhere between those listed for the two fuels, depending on the actual percentage of gasoline and E85 in the tank.

Compact Cars
Mercedes Benz        
C230 A-7 2.5/6 14/8 $2,062 E85 310
19/25 $1,945 P 420
C230 M-6 2.5/6 14/8 $2,062 E85 300
19/25 $2,035 P 400
Midsize Cars
Chevrolet        
Monte Carlo A-4 3.5/6 16/23 $1,736 E85 320
21/31 $1,590 Gas 425
Chrysler        
Sebring A-4 2.7/6 15/22 $1,835 E85 300
22/30 $1,590 Gas 420
Large Cars
Chevrolet        
Impala A-4 3.5/6 16/23 $1,736 E85 320
21/31 $1,658 Gas 400
Ford        
Crown Victoria A-4 4.6/8 13/17 $2,356 E85 270
17/25 $1,988 Gas 380
Lincoln        
Town Car A-4 4.6/8 13/17 $2,356 E85 270
17/25 $1,988 Gas 3
80
Mercury        
Grand Marquis A-4 4.6/8 13/17 $2,356 E85 270
17/25 $1,988 Gas 380
Standard Pickup Trucks Two Wheel Drive
Chevrolet        
C15 Silverado 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/440
16/21 $2,210 Gas 470/610
C1500 Silverado Classic 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/440
16/21 $2,337 Gas 440/580
Dodge        
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD A-5 4.7/8 9/13 $3,000 E85 300
14/19 $2,484 Gas 420
Ford        
F-150 2WD A-4 5.4/8 11/14 $2,749 E85 310
15/19 $2,484 Gas 420
GMC        
C15 Sierra 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/440
16/21 $2,210 Gas 470/610
C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/440
16/21 $2,337 Gas 440/580
Nissan        
Titan 2WD A-5 5.6/8 10/13 $3,000 E85 310
14/18 $2,651 Gas 420
Minivans 2WD
Chevrolet        
Uplander FWD A-4 3.9/6 13/19 $2,201 E85 360
18/25 $1,892 Gas 500
Dodge        
Caravan A-4 3.3/6 TBD TBD E85 NA
19/26 $1,892 Gas 420
Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD
Chevrolet        
C1500 Avalanche 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
C1500 Suburban 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
C1500 Tahoe 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/440
16/21 $2,210 Gas 440/560
Chrysler        
Aspen 2WD A-5 4.7/8 10/14 $3,000 E85 300
14/19 $2,484 Gas 420
Dodge        
Durango 2WD A-5 4.7/8 10/14 $3,000 E85 300
14/19 $2,484 Gas 420
GMC        
C1500 Yukon 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
C1500 Suburban 2WD A-4 5.3/8 12/16 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
Jeep        
Commander 2WD A-5 4.7/8 10/14 $3,000 E85 230
15/19 $2,337 Gas 340
Grand Cherokee 2WD A-5 4.7/8 10/14 $3,000 E85 230
15/20 $2,337 Gas 340
Nissan        
Armada 2WD A-5 5.6/8 10/14 $3,000 E85 310
13/19 $2,651 Gas 420
Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD
Chevrolet        
K1500 Avalanche 4WD A-4 5.3/8 11/15 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
K1500 Suburban 4WD A-4 5.3/8 11/15 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
K1500 Tahoe 4WD A-4 5.3/8 11/15 $2,538 E85 340/440
15/21 $2,210 Gas 440/560
Chrysler        
Aspen 4WD A-5 4.7/8 10/14 $3,000 E85 300
14/19 $2,484 Gas 420
Dodge        
Durango 4WD A-5 4.7/8 9/13 $3,000 E85 240
14/18 $2,651 Gas 380
GMC        
K1500 Yukon 4WD A-4 5.3/8 11/15 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
K1500 Suburban 4WD A-4 5.3/8 11/15 $2,538 E85 340/400
15/21 $2,337 Gas 440/560
Jeep        
Commander 4WD A-5 4.7/8 10/13 $3,000 E85 230
15/19 $2,337 Gas 340
Grand Cherokee 4WD A-5 4.7/8 10/13 $3,000 E85 230
15/20 $2,337 Gas 340
Nissan        
Armada 4WD A-5 5.6/8 10/13 $3,000 E85 310
13/19 $2,651 Gas 420

Information on Fuel Blends and the current strategy

Blending relatively low levels of alternative fuels with conventional fuels is an important option for reducing petroleum use and an important strategy in the Clean Cities Program portfolio.

Examples of blends include E10 (10% ethanol/90% gasoline), B5 (5% biodiesel/95% diesel), and B2 (2% biodiesel/98% diesel). Blends can also consist of two types of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG), which might be a combination of 20% hydrogen and 80% CNG, for example. Many coalition stakeholders use blended fuels in their fleet vehicles.

Blending low levels of alternative fuels with conventional fuels is an important option for reducing petroleum
consumption. Clean Cities supports the use of ethanol and biodiesel fuel blends (such as E10, B2, B5, and blends of hydrogen and natural gas). Program strategies to promote fuel blends include:

  • Training coordinators on the benefits of blends and teaching them how to determine which blends make sense locally or regionally.
  • Encouraging coalitions to develop outreach plans to educate heavy-duty fleets about the fuel blend benefits.
  • Working with state and local governments to explore opportunities to expand mandates and other programs for increasing fuel blend use.
  • Forming partnerships to establish fuel standards for blends.

Clean Cities also plans to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Initiative to fill gaps in regional assessments of feedstock availability and identify opportunities for enhanced production.