Alternative fuel sources for motor vehicles are becoming popular in today's environmentally conscious economy. One of the main alternative fuels is ethanol. Ethanol is a domestically produced fuel from agricultural products, such as grain. Consumer demand for ethanol is on the rise, since the fuel utilizes materials in the American economy and does not rely on foreign fuel sources. Vehicles that utilize ethanol are known as flexible fuel vehicles.
E85 is a term used to describe motor vehicles that utilize fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Motor vehicles that are classified as E85 vehicles usually have a yellow gas cap and a flexible fuel icon on the car.
The Chevrolet brand for General Motors is considered one of the first car lines to have E85 engines. The 2001 Chevrolet S10 is one prime example of an E85 engine. Since 2000, the Chevrolet brand has consistently released four to eight motor vehicles manufactured with E85 engines. Brands such as the Chevrolet Monte Carlo from 2005 to 2007 and the Chevrolet Silverado from 2003 to 2010 are popular Chevrolet cars with E85 engines.
The Chevrolet brand is not the only General Motors brand to incorporate the E85 engine. The GM Yukon from 2002 to 2010 included an E85 engine. The General Motors Savanna from 2008 to 2010 also has an E85 engine. The Hummer 2 from General Motors included an E85 engine in its 2010 manufacturing year.
Ford has also used the E85 engine in its cars since the year 2000. Most years Ford releases three E85 vehicles on the market. In 2009 and 2010, Ford released seven E85 vehicles in both years. Vehicles with E85 engines from Ford include the 2006 through 2010 Ford Crown Victoria models, the 2000 to 2006 Ford Taurus models, the 2006 through 2010 Lincoln Town Car and the 2010 Ford Escape.
Chrysler manufactured E85 motor vehicles from 2007 to 2010. Models such as Dodge Dakota, Dodge Durango and the Dodge Ram 1500 are Chrysler brands with the E85 engine. The Jeep Commander and Jeep Cherokee had the E85 engine for the 2007 to 2009 manufacturing years. Chrysler has manufactured the Town and Country Van with the E85 engine since the year 2000.
