Honda
Develops Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) System for Introduction in
Brazil in 2006
Photo: Honda
TOCHIGI,
Japan - Honda Motor Co., Ltd., announced that it has developed a
new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system that enables gasoline
engine-based power plants to operate on either 100% ethanol or a
wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures.
Up to now, variations in
the ratio of ethanol-to-gasoline have affected
low-temperature startup performance, and caused
variations in air-fuel ratio and engine output. This has
made it a challenge to maintain stable dynamic
performance, fuel economy and emissions levels. The new
Honda system adapts to different ethanol-to-gasoline
ratios by estimating the concentration of ethanol in the
ethanol-gasoline mix in the fuel tank based on
measurements of exhaust gas concentration in the
vehicle's exhaust system. This provides the flexibility
to adapt to ethanol-to-gasoline ratios of between 20%
and 100%, while achieving outstanding fuel economy and
dynamic performance on a par with a 100%
gasoline-powered vehicle.
In
addition, a cold-start system utilizing a secondary fuel
tank ensures reliable starts even at low ambient
temperatures.
Bioethanol
fuel, as used in Brazil and other countries, is made
from plant sources such as sugar cane. Because plants
absorb CO2 via photosynthesis, the amount of CO2
released into the atmosphere from burning bioethanol
fuel does not increase atmospheric CO2. This makes
bioethanol fuel an effective means to combat global
warming as well as an alternative to petroleum.
In
late 2006, Honda plans to begin sales of FFVs in Brazil, where
bio-ethanol has gained in popularity.
