We all want to help save the environment, but for some of us
it's easier said than done. Hybrids are still pricey, public transportation
isn't always reliable and giving up our cars isn't necessarily an option.
Luckily there's an answer: ethanol.
Classified as an alternative fuel 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 reduced 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
even more.
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 turn almost any car 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment