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You might be thinking about converting your car to electric if you are looking for a vehicular project. Electric car conversion is a project that some say could save you money and carbon footprint. There are advantages and disadvantages of electric car conversion to consider.

Article Resource: Advantages and disadvantages of electric car conversion

What is electric car conversion?

Rather than going out and purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle, some owners perform an electric car conversion, in which the gasoline-powered engine is replaced with an electric-powered one. Electric car conversions are very popular do-it-yourself projects. You can buy full DIY electric car conversion instructions or kits that are pre-assembled. Usually, all of the non-engine parts of the car are left intact – brakes, safety features, car body, etc.

Electric car conversion advantages

If you do decide to take on electric car conversion, there are some serious advantages to the project. Instead of filling up at a gas station, you can just plug the car in. You will have a much smaller carbon footprint. It is usually easy to do the project with little skill. Also, you will be able to make use of a “donor vehicle” – a car or small truck that may not be running, but is in otherwise good shape. An average electric car conversion can run less than $ 2,000 and could easily save you money in the long term.

Disadvantages of electric car conversion

An electric car conversion is not necessarily the end-all-be-all of transportation solutions, however. Converted electric cars can be more difficult to repair, and if you do not have a mechanic familiar with converted electric vehicles, maintenance could be difficult. Converted electric vehicles require battery replacements every few years, which is an extra maintenance cost many people do not consider. Without a charge, converted electric cars can’t seem to go more than 200 miles. For commuting, this isn’t an issue, but for long trips, you might be better off renting a gas-powered car for the trip.

Touted as a crossover solution to the fuel problem, E-95 fuel is a blended option. E-85 fuel has had a rough start, but it can be a viable option for fueling your car. Understanding how E-85 is made, how it works and how it can be used is important in this changing fuel economy.

Article Resource: The Basics of E-85 fuel

What exactly is E-85?

E-85 fuel is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded petroleum fuel. FlexFuel engines are the engines that are currently designed to run on E-85. Currently, ethanol is made mostly from corn, though ethanol can be distilled from just about any plant. The EPA does consider E-85 an “alternative fuel”, even though it uses petroleum.

How E-85 works

An E85 fuel works pretty much like standard oil-based fuel. Most fuel sold in the United States is already blended with 10 percent ethanol. Just like oil, the ethanol burns and powers the engine. Regular fuel can also be used in E-85 FlexFuel engines. This does not, however, mean that you can put E-85 in a regular engine. A regular engine will degrade very quickly if E-85 is added to it.

The economics of E-85

E85 fuel has been touted as a potential replacement for petroleum fuel in the United States. There are still significant challenges to E-85 replacing regular gasoline, however. First of all, E-85 uses food crops to create fuel – which drives up food prices. In the United States, if every amount of corn grown were used for ethanol, it would only fulfill 10 percent of demand for fuel oil. Standard fuel, no matter what, also gets 27 percent better gas mileage than a car run on E-85.

Should I use E-85?

E-85 vehicles, or FlexFuel vehicles, are available for sale in the United States. If you are lucky enough to live in an area of the country where E-85 fuel stations are available, then you may be tempted to get a FlexFuel car. However, cost limitations, lower fuel economy and competition with the food economy are all working against E-85. If you have the money and access to E-85 stations, a FlexFuel car may work as a good environmental crossover.