E85 Conversion Kits Debated

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a long-standing prohibition on converting the engine of a standard gas-burning vehicle into one that runs on E85 or other alternative fuels. States like Minnesota are currently testing E85 conversion kits and are formally requesting that the EPA drop their ban.

Ethanol gas, or E85, is made of 85% ethyl alcohol and 15% standard gasoline. The ethanol is most often made from corn in the US, although other plants such as switch grass can be used to make the bio-fuel. E85 also costs about $.50 or as much as 20% less per gallon at the pump than standard low-ethanol blends.

Bio-fuel conversion kits have been common in Brazil since the 1970's. Abcesso Technology, a Brazilian company, is now hoping to sell the FlexTek conversion kit in the US through XcelPlus. FullFlex Gold is another kit, from a company based in the UK, and custom tuning kits are also available from companies like DiabloSport in the US.

Conversion kits connect to a vehicle's computer to hold the fuel injectors open longer when a more oxygen-rich fuel such as E85 is being used. Some kits require a switch to be installed for the driver to indicate which fuel is being used while others include sensors that detect the oxygen content of whatever mixture is coming from the fuel tank.

According to the US Department of Energy, these kits cannot be installed legally. The ban originated because conversion kits installed in the 1980's and 1990's caused the cars in which they were installed to produce more emissions, rather than less. In addition, E85 is more corrosive than standard gasoline and thus fuel tanks, lines, pumps, and injectors are subject to breakdown and leakage. The department also contends that vehicles cannot adjust to the oxygen-content difference, using the kits available at the time.

Supporters of the conversion kits contend that E85 increases horsepower and torque. Opinions on gas mileage reduction from E85 vary from a 10% to a 20% decrease, but most agree that the lower price and increased performance make up for higher consumption. In cold weather, ethanol does not freeze in fuel lines or create as much moisture in gas tanks.

Opponents of E85, and of the conversion kits, say that the fuel itself is inefficient. Producing a gallon of E85 requires an investment of about half as much energy as it produces. They believe that electric and hydrogen-fueled cars are the direction in which the auto industry will go and that investment in E85 technology would be a waste of resources.

Right now, there is no way to know what impact E85 conversion kits will have on vehicles and on the oil industry. As a quick answer to America's dependence on foreign oil, they appeal to many. There isn't enough information available to know if they will be a long-term solution. Thorough testing and a lifting of the EPA's ban will help researchers and vehicle owners to explore those questions.