Can you retrofit a hybrid car to run on E85?

Question

I'm thinking about buying a hybrid Toyota. I'm wondering if it might be possible to retrofit it fairly cheaply to run on E85 in the future if the delivery infrastructure for ethanol ever gets developed. Otherwise I might want to go with a VW or Jeep diesel so I can use biodiesel.

Answer 1

Current hybrids can only use up to 10% ethanol (E10). There are no hybrids that can use 85% ethanol (E85) yet.

Ford has announced plans on releasing a flex-fuel (gasoline or E85) version of the Ford Escape Hybrid soon.
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=22474

It is possible to use E85 on an unmodified Prius, but no long-term studies have been done yet (ethanol can break down parts of a car over time). No word on retrofit kits yet, either.

Short term study by the Creed Project on a Classic Prius:
http://www.greenenergynetwork.com/media/studies/prius-e85.PDF shows
that you'll get a check engine light, cold start emissions are higher, and overall MPG is lower.

There's at least one person from Sweden on the Prius-Europe Yahoo!Group that is currently using E85 as a blend in his Prius (closer to 50-65% ethanol).

I take it by your question that you are a lucky one that lives in an area that has both E85 and biodiesel fueling stations? If you're that lucky, have you considered buying a CNG or LPG vehicle (since you probably also have filling stations nearby)? Living in New England, we don't have a single E85 station in the 6 states, but CNG is often available at highway rest stations and biodiesel stations are scattered about... Then again, most New England states have adopted the CA emissions regulations, and there aren't any new diesels that can be sold here because of it...
http://www.e85refueling.com/ or http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/e85_stations.cgi
http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/
http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/


Are you just considering the source of your fuel in your vehicle decision, or are you also considering in perhaps the vehicle's overall fuel economy or the vehicle's emissions? For example, a diesel will typically have worse emissions than a gasoline hybrid, and there are several hybrids that have far better fuel economy (lowered petroeum use) than flex-fuel vehicles even when using E85...

(What is unfortunate is that some municipalities, like the MA government, is required that only a small percentage of their vehicles be gasoline, and the rest must be alt-fuels. So, MA can only buy a small number of high-MPG hybrids, and then is forced to fill out the rest of their fleet with low-MPG flex-fuel vehicles that will never see a drop of E85...)

Answer 2

GOOD QUESTION !
I asked the same question to Ford 2 years ago.
My question was answered this year when Ford showed their prototype Flex-Fuel Hybrid Escape at the D.C.Auto Show in January.

I wouldn't attempt any 'retrofit' myself due to warranty issues myself but I do know that there are state & federal incentives that may help you pay for an E85 conversion of an existing vehicle.

But, like I said, I wouldn't recommend it.

Since you're just 'thinking about buying' why not just wait a little while till Ford makes this "GREEN MACHINE" available?

Answer 3

could, but it'd be difficult...and not necessarily reliable; the automakers can do it for a couple hundred bucks due to quantity discounts and specifically making engines for E85

Answer 4

no and not cheaply. but dont buy a diesel just yet, kinda like when we had to switch to the new R134A freon for the A.C. systems, its expensive now but let time take its course