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Flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil

Four typical flex-fuel models from several Brazilian carmakers, popularly known as "flex" cars, that run on any blend of hydrous ethanol (E100) and E20-E25 gasoline.

The fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil is the largest in the world. Since their inception in 2003, a total of 30.5 million flex fuel cars and light-duty trucks were registered in the country, and over 6 million flexible-fuel motorcycles, both by March 2018.[1] The market share of flex-fuel autos and light commercial trucks represented 88.6% of all light-duty registrations in 2017.[1] There were over 80 flex car and light truck models available in the market manufactured by 14 major carmakers,[2] and five flex-fuel motorcycles models available as of December 2012.[3]

Brazilian flexible-fuel vehicles are optimized to run on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100% hydrous ethanol fuel (E100). Flex vehicles in Brazil are built-in with a small gasoline reservoir for cold starting the engine when temperatures drop below 15 °C (59 °F).[4] An improved flex motor generation was launched in 2009 which eliminated the need for the secondary gas tank.[5][6]

According to two separate research studies conducted in 2009, 65% of the flex-fuel registered vehicles regularly use ethanol fuel, and use climbs to 93% of flex car owners in São Paulo, the main ethanol producer state where local taxes are lower, and prices are more competitive than gasoline.[7] However, as a result of higher ethanol prices caused by the Brazilian ethanol industry crisis that began in 2009, by November 2013 only 23% flex-fuel car owners were using ethanol regularly, down from 66% in 2009.[8]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BR30mFlex was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Cresce presença de carros flex importados no mercado brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Direto da Usina. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MotoFlex12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Ron Kotrba (March 2008). "Cold Start 101". Ethanol Producer Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference BioEnergia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gazeta was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Wagner Oliveira (2009-09-30). "Etanol é usado em 65% da frota flexível" (in Portuguese). Diario do Grande ABC. Retrieved 2009-10-18.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference UsoFlex2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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