First Flex Fuel Car

The United States is the second-largest producer of Flex Fuel Vehicles, after Brazil. By the end of 2017, the U.S had registered about 21 million E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles. E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles can run on more than one fuel, including kerosene, gasoline, and ethanol. They are optimized to run on a combination of 85% anhydrous ethanol fuel with 15% gasoline.

That said, the credit for that success, including how Flex Fuel Vehicles are produced can be given to Henry Ford and the Ford Model T. Henry Ford’s Model T was the 1st Flex Fuel Vehicle in the history. The Ford Model T had several nicknames, including Livver, Tin Lizzie, Leaping Lena, as well as Jitney. It was developed by Ford Motor Company between 1908 and 1927.

Between that period, Ford managed to develop over 15 million Ford Model Ts at Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit and Highland Park, Michigan.

The Best Flex Fuel Vehicle for Middle-Class Families

When Henry Ford was developing this first Flex Fuel Vehicle, he had envisioned it as a practical, economical mode of transportation for the ever-expanding middle-class families.

Consequently, the Ford Model T was highly affordable, and this 1st Flex Fuel Vehicle in history was to be mass produced for the average man. It immediately gained popularity for its low cost, durability, versatility, and low maintenance costs.

However, Ford Model T was initially costly. The lowest one costing about $825, which is about $18,000 in today’s dollars. Nonetheless, the Ford Model T accounted for as much as 40% of all automobiles sold in the United States.

Transmission and Drive Train

The Ford Model T Flex Fuel Vehicle was a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, which was controlled with three floor-mounted pedals. A lever was also mounted to the roadside of the driver’s seat.

Engine

As the first Flex-Fuel Vehicle, the Ford Model T, featured a 22-horsepower, and a four-cylinder engine, which had a detachable cylinder head and a one-piece cylinder block. It featured a carburetor with adjustable jets, which allowed the engine to run on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of the two.

The Ford Motor Company had put a device on the Model T’s dashboard, which allowed the driver to switch easily from gasoline to ethanol at any time. This capability made the Iconic Ford Model T the 1st Flex-Fuel Vehicle in History to be produced commercially.

It is worth noting that the Model T featured a significantly low compression ratio. Therefore, any liquid hydrocarbon would keep it moving.

The low compression ratio was a much-needed feature because it allowed the Model T to handle the changing gas quality. The Ford Model T was in operation at a time when oil companies were occasionally diluting the scarce gasoline with kerosene as a way of keeping up with rising demand.

The Ford Model T, like today's battery-electric cars, was hampered by a lack of fueling infrastructure.

Chassis / Frame

The Model T featured a new kind of heat-treated steel, which was developed by French race car manufacturers. It featured high-strength vanadium in its crankshafts, axles, gear, as well as springs. Consequently, it was lighter and weighed about 1,200 pounds. It was also stronger than its predecessors.

Ford Model T Performance

The Ford Model T Flex Fuel Vehicle could cover about 40 to 45 mph. It featured ample ground clearance, which allowed it to operate smoothly on abysmal rural roads.

Conclusion

The Model T by Henry Ford was the 1st Flex Fuel Vehicle in History. Between 1908 and 1927, 15 million Ford Model Ts had been produced and sold. This Flex Fuel Vehicle was a dependable, easy-to-maintain mode of mass transit.

As of 2012, the Ford Model T was at position eight on the top ten list of the most sold automobiles of all time. In addition, a jury of experts named it the Car of the Century in 1999, beating out the BMC Mini, the Citroen DS, Volkswagen Beetle, as well as the Porsche 911. The Ford Model T was also the first Flex-Fuel Vehicle in history to drive to the peak of Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles.