Wait, UNLIKE hybrids and electrics, an FFV can be just as beefy, brawny, fuel-guzzling, rip-snorting, rubber-laying, tire-squealing, load-hauling, rev-roaring, and all-American as a car that is restricted to gasoline only.
The ONLY difference between FFVs and non-flexible fuel cars is that the FFVs can burn BOTH gasoline and alcohol fuel, in any mix. All it takes is different materials in the fuel line, an optical sensor to tell what the fuel is at any moment, and some software changes in the electronic fuel injector.
There’s no cost to performace, and the dollar price for the change is just $100~$200 tops. The FFV is exactly the same as a regular gas car, just as much weight, just as much horsepower.
By contrast, a hybrid has to haul around a redundant second electric engine and a huge lead-acid battery. That adds hundreds of pounds in weight and thousands of dollars in cost. Which is why so many hybrids have such extreme design compromises, such as small size, weak gasoline engine, etc, designed to cut back on the enormous cost and weight.
That makes hybrids conspicuously obvious and the road and gives them a high profile. People who want to show off their green bona fides find that attractive, which is why hybrids are a fad right now. But FFVs have been quietly out-selling hybirds by several-to-one for many years.
FFVs are just not as noticeable because the only sign that they’re different is just a little badge or logo somewhere on the car.
As for the Volt, concept, showroom and lab demonstrators are fine, but tend not to work in the practical reality of the gritty daily grind of real-world, real-life commutes, trips, and hauling duties. Hydrogen fuel cells are especially a big boondoggle.
FFVs are the way to go.
