Owning a flex fuel vehicle gives motorists options beyond high gas prices at the pump. Depending on the fuel's availability and local taxes, you could save as much as one third at the pump by fueling up your car with E85, the ethanol/gasoline blend popular with flex fuel vehicles. As additional service stations add flex fuel to their available fuel options, more drivers will consider this alternate fuel source to save money and to help the environment. However, before you make the switch, your vehicle must be designed to run on E85 in the first place. Fortunately, select auto manufacturers are jumping in by offering vehicles that can operate with either E85 or straight gasoline. Let's take a look at the current offerings available to American consumers.
Surprisingly, not many of the vehicles from Japanese automakers have flex fuel capabilities. Toyota and Honda are concentrating on hybrid technology while also exploring hydrogen power. The American automakers have taken the lead in this all important endeavor and the following vehicles from General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler all have FFV models available for consumers:
General Motors:
Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Avalanche
GMC Sierra
Chevrolet Suburban
GMC Yukon
Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Malibu
Ford Motor Company:
Lincoln Town Car
Ford F-Series
Mercury Gran Marquis
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Taurus
DaimlerChrysler:
Dodge Durango
Dodge Ram
Dodge Caravan
Chrysler Town and Country
Chrysler Sebring
Dodge Stratus
In addition, several foreign manufacturers also offer E85 technology including: Mercedes and Nissan on current models, while Isuzu and Mazda on past models. Just so you know, not all versions of each model listed have flex fuel capability; check with the dealer to make certain that your model is indeed flex fuel capable.
Yes, the flex fuel movement is growing and as new stations come on line and more vehicles become available, look for consumers to select flex fuel vehicles in greater numbers. Add in two big side benefits of reduced emissions and less dependency on foreign oil, and flex fuel vehicles make a heck of a lot of sense. Will you be going the flex fuel vehicle route?
