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A vehicle designed to run on more than one fuel is known as a flexible fuel vehicle. Typically these use a gasoline blended with ethanol. In theory a flexible fuel vehicle can use any mixture of fuel, but it is advised to use a maximum of 85 ethanol and 15 gasoline this blend is called E85. Since ethanol is made from corn, the use of E85 offers a local and renewable fuel source. The EPA standards require that flexible fuel vehicles maintain the same low emissions regardless of whether gasoline or E85 is being used. In general, E85 produces lower emissions including carbon monoxide and benzene and other harmful emissions.

It is true, however, that ethanol doesn’t have as much energy as gasoline, and fuel economy is reduced by about 30. As flexible fuel technology matures, this may change in the future.

Since there is no obvious differences in the body design between flexible fuel vehicles and gasoline only vehicles, there are some ways to tell if the vehicle you’re driving can accommodate a blended fuel. Some manufactures have included yellow gas caps and labels on the fuel door indicating fuel types that can be used for that particular vehicle. In addition, many models include a decal on the body vehicle advertising it is designed to use flexible fuel.