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.
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