Does Brazil BMW use "FLEX" Technology?

[amcink]

Brazil is a "0" import of oil economy. They have created Ethanol from sugar cane to offset their oil demand and their cars use the "FLEX" technology to run. In addition to producing Ethanol from sugar cane they are not jeopardizing their food supply as we do in the US by using CORN to produce Ethanol.

The "FLEX" technology is base on a electronic sensor that recognize the type of gas been pump and then the car adjust accordingly. (Ethanol or Gasoline). Ethanol is 40% of their source to run the transportation sector.

Does anyone knows if BMW use the same technology in Brazil (since all other car manufacture the "FLEX" technology is the standard). Can we use the same technology in the US to retrofit our SAVs?

Have you considered that our "precious" SAV could be stop and parked collecting dust at one time due to gas prices? When would you stop driving it at $5,$6,$7 or $8 a gallon?

BMW is working on the "efficient Dynamics" technology Hybrid and Hydrogen. Whatever technology they find financial benifical to their company will be the one selected and supported and pushed to the consumer. However the % of consumer that will go out and swap their vehicles will be minor in comparison to those that can retrofit their car with a proven technology in which they will help themselves and the enviroment.

Brazil recognized their oil problems 3 decades ago and we in the US did not I find that puzzeling. In addition with China and India growth and their energy solution base on ours (oil) then we will be competing with these countrys for the same oil therefore oil prices will rise.

I know we have a tremendous creative people in this forum and there will be some who will take this challenge and will come up with solutions.

Thank you for your time

[lo_jack]

All gasoline sold in the states may have up to 10% ethanol by volume, that is by law.

You could probably run E85 in a stock US spec vehicle with a tune. There is less energy in ethanol and more oxygen, so the CPU needs to be tweaked to compensate for this - mostly just adding fuel to the fuel tables to make up for the lack of energy. Otherwise the car will probably run lean.

There is still debate about running that much alcohol though 'traditional' fuel systems. Some say it will eat your rubber lines, some say they have been running it for months and everything looks fine. That part needs research, or a practical trial. But as far as the fueling goes, you would need a tune for sure.

A note on Brazil, since you mention it: They have a much smaller market than the US, and their use is insignificant compared to US domestic hydrocarbon use. And as some suspected, they have recently been having soil problems and a drop of production of their output, perhaps in part due to the aggressive production they had been sustaining to this point. Seconadarily, Brazil uses sugar, which has double the volume output of ethanol of corn, which is what the US uses. The corn situation is deeply entrenched, and is a barrier to ethanol progress in this country - unless of course you want to drop the tarriffs and import fuel from another foreign source. Ethanol is not the best answer for everyone, but it is somewhat doable now, which is a plus.

[jmweb]

I rather doubt it matters who you are, your probably keeping an eye on oil prices right now.

In the provinces surroding mine, most are worried about gas prices more then their job security.