The ACEA Position Paper on Aftermarket Flexfuel Converters highlights several issues related to the conversion of normal gasoline engine vehicles to Flexfuel vehicles using aftermarket kits. The key messages are:
- There are several problems associated with the conversion of a normal gasoline engine vehicle to a Flexfuel vehicle using an aftermarket kit. These include risks for the engine, the environment, and consumer information.
- The manufacturer's guarantee cannot be maintained for vehicles that are converted in this way by an aftermarket kit supplier.
The introduction of the paper explains that while ethanol and gasoline combustion processes are similar, many European countries already offer gasoline fuels containing different ranges of ethanol. However, some vehicle models in Europe can run on both normal market gasoline and on E85. These vehicles are commonly known as 'Flexfuel'. Some companies across Europe are offering aftermarket devices (or kits) that convert normal gasoline engine vehicles into Flexfuel vehicles. These devices are mainly just electronic control units that claim to recalibrate the engine to run on E85.
The ACEA Position is that when a vehicle manufacturer designs a vehicle to be specifically compatible with the use of E85, the design changes are quite significant compared to vehicles with a normal gasoline engine. For example, components such as cylinder heads, pistons, fuel injectors, and oxygen sensors that are all exposed to fuel (or combusted fuel) will need better resistance to corrosion. For both European countries and consumers, it may seem tempting to fit a simple E85 device on the aftermarket, as it could reduce energy dependency and allow the use of fuel that might be cheaper at the pump than regular gasoline. However, the risks associated with this conversion are significant and should be carefully considered before making any decisions.
