The Movie "pump" -flex-fuel For The Elio??

[RUCRAYZE]

as suggested by another reservationist, watched in horror how the gas company"s control of the fuel we use is a monopoly
Also demonstrated are aftermarket devices that re-program existing cars to use flex-fuels. Apparently most newer cars have that option in the car's computer
Did a search to find that indeed there are nearby dealers who sell flexfuel.

I also relate to the thread that mentioned we don't own the software inside our cars, yet even on Amazon, they are selling kits for this conversion.
Is EM possibly "tune" their vehicle to allow us to use cheaper than gasoline fuels?
If not why not?
Some of the kits are for 3 cylinder engines- those here who know this stuff, could we "DIY"

 

[RUCRAYZE]

I emailed em- got the following
[Broken External Image]
Elio Motors Customer Service (Elio Motors)

May 4, 17:00

Hello Joe!

Thanks for your email.

Our goal was to create a vehicle for $6800 - using proven and existing technology. Also, we wanted to make something that would apply to 99% of the US population. Therefore, an alt. fuel or electric vehicle couldn't fit into our pricing scheme for 2016. However, that doesn't rule these great options out if this technology becomes more affordable for future models!

Thanks again and let us know if we can help with anything.



[Broken External Image]


May 4, 15:40

Hi-
I recently saw a film "PUMP", which shows the benefits of using flex fuel.My Questions
1. Is EM considering offering the ability to use flex fuels as an option?
2. Would EM object if folks reprogrammed the E's computer to change the timing to allow flex fuels?
3. Wouldn't it be in the best interest of EM to produce a vehicle , that uses American produced fuel, that will save more money at the pump ?
I think in keeping with the theme of American Built, we could also add can be American Fueled.!!Look forward to your response, it's being kicked around on our website- Eliowners.comthanks,
#7013

]
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[WilliamH]

You tweaked my curiosity so I did some quick research.
Only read one story so I can't say it was exhaustive, but here's the link.
Feel free to draw your own conclusions.

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/e85-vs-gasoline-comparison-test.html

 

[satx]

the Repug-produced, taxpayer-subsidized ethanol industry is a huge scam supporting BigAg. Wasting water and crop land, including adding NEW acreage, to grow transport fuel, 100% insane, esp now with the world-wide glut of cheap oil.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

the Repug-produced, taxpayer-subsidized ethanol industry is a huge scam supporting BigAg. Wasting water and crop land, including adding NEW acreage, to grow transport fuel, 100% insane, esp now with the world-wide glut of cheap oil.

I too followed it up to find that there us a 30% +/- decrease in efficiency -mpg, I don't know any of this stuff, but watching the movie didn't realize the prejudice of the "documentary"- slowly I learn.

 

[WilliamH]

the Repug-produced, taxpayer-subsidized ethanol industry is a huge scam supporting BigAg. Wasting water and crop land, including adding NEW acreage, to grow transport fuel, 100% insane, esp now with the world-wide glut of cheap oil.

I might be wrong, but as I recall it was the "environazis" who pushed ethanol on us.
So don't blame the farmers for growing what makes money.

 

[CheeseheadEarl]

You tweaked my curiosity so I did some quick research.
Only read one story so I can't say it was exhaustive, but here's the link.
Feel free to draw your own conclusions.

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/e85-vs-gasoline-comparison-test.html

My experience with E85 is similar to what Edmunds found. I'd need to see a 25% discount for it to pencil out, something I never see here. I drive by 2 stations that carry E85 going to work, the only cars filling with corn are state vehicles that are mandated to use it.

I'm not against it altogether, but it has to make sense or I won't do it.

For RU's original question, fuel system components need to be E85 rated. Fuel hoses, seals, even steel lines break down rapidly when used with E85. The actual ECM changes are the least of the problem.

 

['lio]

I might be wrong, but as I recall it was the "environazis" who pushed ethanol on us.
So don't blame the farmers for growing what makes money.

I too followed it up to find that there us a 30% +/- decrease in efficiency -mpg, I don't know any of this stuff, but watching the movie didn't realize the prejudice of the "documentary"- slowly I learn.

It makes not much sense for cost saving reasons to use tax payer money to plant corn or similar crops, just to turn them into fuel.

Ethanol can be made from agricultural waste products, for example one common source for ethanol production is bagasse, the leftover sugarcane after the sugar has been extracted. If such a waste product is used, alternative fuels can make a lot of financial sense and are good for the environment, because ethanol burns very clean: carbon dioxide and water are the main tailpipe emissions.

In the European Union there are laws that mandate, starting in 2017, bio ethanol producers must prove that their fuel will result in a net reduction of 50% in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fuels made from crude oil (60% for industrial plants built after 2011).

Big benefits of using ethanol fuel blends are the possible reduction in harmful additives, such as MTBE (replacements are made from ethanol) and the reduction in carbon monoxide emissions. So, while throwing tax money at big agro companies to produce fuel instead of food is not that great, switching to fuel blends with sustainable production is a win win scenario.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Son't remember which, a South American Country went big time into flex, and after all was said and done -seemed very successful for a mulitude of reasons.

 

[Mike W]

Brazil, big time. They use some sort of grass, I believe, for the biomass used to produce ethanol. As for corn grown for that purpose, having grown up in Iowa, it is a huge boon for farmers. A crop they are begging you to grow? You'd be a fool to turn it down. That's ideal for the individual farmer but for the country as a whole, it's not so good. Land taken out of production to grow a crop for fuel rather than food. All the fuel and energy it takes to grow it, process it and bring it to market makes it worth questionable at best. Using biomass to create ethanol is a good way to go, but it has to be sustainable (corn just isn't) using some sort of plant that isn't used for food and on land not used for food production.