Hybrid running E85

[only1planet]

Moving & in market for vehicle, I find that eFlexFuel has a kit for Maverick hybrid, though not at present for 2.0L. In "retirement" I raise climate solutions not adequately discussed, and have posted about two TA's (technology assessments - used to be a "thing") comparing carbon emissions of a PHEV running on flex fuel to a BEV. The TA's deliver different conclusions. Makes you wonder if we've oversimplified how to get driving emissions down, especially for billions of 4-wheelers already cruising. https://reverseclimatechange.substack.com/p/friction-flexfuel-v-bev
I'll be looking for a used Maverick hybrid to convert as I move to Maryland in the D.C. area. We'll likely ZipCar as we settle in, unless there's an attractive "for sale" out there. Please comment if you have experience, or interest!

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[Finnster]

E85 vs dino vs BEV, is a bit too ethereal for me, but I'll gladly check out whatever you can come up with!
Welcome to the Club!
I wouldn't mind a thread about your ZipCar experiences. I had never even heard of ZipCar, so I learned something already!

 

[tom_tucker]

Nope, sorry. It's true I was born in Silver Spring, MD but I'm too lazy to read that crap. Just put a f'in' turbo on it, bud.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Moving & in market for vehicle, I find that eFlexFuel has a kit for Maverick hybrid, though not at present for 2.0L. In "retirement" I raise climate solutions not adequately discussed, and have posted about two TA's (technology assessments - used to be a "thing") comparing carbon emissions of a PHEV running on flex fuel to a BEV. The TA's deliver different conclusions. Makes you wonder if we've oversimplified how to get driving emissions down, especially for billions of 4-wheelers already cruising. https://reverseclimatechange.substack.com/p/friction-flexfuel-v-bev
I'll be looking for a used Maverick hybrid to convert as I move to Maryland in the D.C. area. We'll likely ZipCar as we settle in, unless there's an attractive "for sale" out there. Please comment if you have experience, or interest!

You won't get as good of Mileage on E85 compared to the regular gas with 10/15 % alcohol content.

 

[MattinFLA]

Here in florida hot weather 9 months out of the which requires turning on the ac 10 months out of the year i can fill up my 2024 hybrid maverick and average 585 miles per tank with ethanol 85 at wawa.
Versus the cheapest 87 octane I only get 520 miles per tank. Always fill up at wawa

 

[Pointyears]

Nope, sorry. It's true I was born in Silver Spring, MD but I'm too lazy to read that crap. Just put a f'in' turbo on it, bud.

Huh. I grew up in Silver Spring MD.

 

[ychuck46]

Here in florida hot weather 9 months out of the which requires turning on the ac 10 months out of the year i can fill up my 2024 hybrid maverick and average 585 miles per tank with ethanol 85 at wawa.
Versus the cheapest 87 octane I only get 520 miles per tank. Always fill up at wawa

Did you do any mods to your Mav or did you just start using E85 versus 87? There is one flex fuel kit that I know is installable on the Mav; it retails for something like $999.

 

[MattinFLA]

No mods.
I had a 2023 Ford Maverick hybrid before this 2024 Ford Maverick hybrid

 

[GmanGM]

Here in florida hot weather 9 months out of the which requires turning on the ac 10 months out of the year i can fill up my 2024 hybrid maverick and average 585 miles per tank with ethanol 85 at wawa.
Versus the cheapest 87 octane I only get 520 miles per tank. Always fill up at wawa

E85 Ethanol has lower power/efficiency than regular, and regular, at least in winter is often 10% ethenol anyway (E90 if you will). This is true even if it has been formulated w higher octane which is just an additive to enhance resistance to knock, not power- i.e. Some newer blends call themselves 88 vs 87 octane- mostly a marketing thing).
E85 causes more smog than lower ethenol blends and should provide lower MPG, so not understanding your post. I support green initiatives but ethenol is not really that.

 

[Cherokee]

My Ecoboost likes real gas,
She don’t like corn gas buts tolerates it well.
Zoom Zoom :’P

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Moving & in market for vehicle, I find that eFlexFuel has a kit for Maverick hybrid, though not at present for 2.0L. In "retirement" I raise climate solutions not adequately discussed, and have posted about two TA's (technology assessments - used to be a "thing") comparing carbon emissions of a PHEV running on flex fuel to a BEV. The TA's deliver different conclusions. Makes you wonder if we've oversimplified how to get driving emissions down, especially for billions of 4-wheelers already cruising. https://reverseclimatechange.substack.com/p/friction-flexfuel-v-bev
I'll be looking for a used Maverick hybrid to convert as I move to Maryland in the D.C. area. We'll likely ZipCar as we settle in, unless there's an attractive "for sale" out there. Please comment if you have experience, or interest!

I ran a stock Ford Hybrid Escape on E40 and there were no errors or codes. No sputtering or hesitation. The calculated HP on a ScanGauge went up 3 horsepower at wide open throttle.

At about 45% ethanol truck still ran great.
Check engine light came on.
Nothing was "wrong". Nothing was damaged. Code was "fuel trim at unexpected value" so "check engine".
Computer detected an anomaly but put up with it and continued to control the engine properly.

Later I got a cheater box. It had a potentiometer and you could dial in a percent fuel to add AFTER the on board computer did it's calc. So the computer "thought" it was adding the same volume as gasoline, then the cheater box would add a little extra. The on board system never knew there was a cheater box. So never again a check engine light up to E85.

Cold starts were a little rough above E70. But a hot engine ran smoothly on E85.

I called it a Tribrid. (TM)

Ran on three fuels.

Engine and whole truck, original battery, etc were doing great at 250,000 miles when it got hit while parked by a careless driver.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

E85 Ethanol has lower power/efficiency than regular, and regular, at least in winter is often 10% ethenol anyway (E90 if you will). This is true even if it has been formulated w higher octane which is just an additive to enhance resistance to knock, not power- i.e. Some newer blends call themselves 88 vs 87 octane- mostly a marketing thing).
E85 causes more smog than lower ethenol blends and should provide lower MPG, so not understanding your post. I support green initiatives but ethenol is not really that.

Some errors / typos in your post.
10% ethanol is E10.
I know you know this. And made a typo by calling it E90.

Year-round is 10% ethanol in most areas that carry E10 in the first place.

Ethanol is an octane booster.
Usually the exact octane additive you mentioned.

E85 most certainly does not create more smog than gasoline. Gasoline contains many toxins. Gasoline is never safe to drink. You can drink pure ethanol. Burning pure ethanol only creates carbon dioxide and water vapor and TRACE amounts of other things you can barely detect.

Ethanol in a car built for gasoline will get 30% fewer miles per gallon. This is true. But it's the car's fault. Not the fuel.
An engine made to run on ethanol can be equal, or even more efficient than one burning gasoline. But they don't sell those for street use. Only race engines.

Ethanol is clean burning race fuel!
But alas, our Mavericks are not race cars.

E85 is currently selling for HALF the price of gasoline. So I'll take the MPG hit and deposit the savings in my bank.

 

[dochawk]

You can drink pure ethanol.

uh, no. But you could if you diluted it with water.

You don't need to get all the way to 100% before you hit the point that it will do damage going down, and then to where it ends up.

Getting it beyond 95% (iirc. or is it 90?) takes serious effort, and it will interact with pretty much anything, resulting in dilution.

E85 is currently selling for HALF the price of gasoline.

At that price, it makes lots of sense (in an engine that can handle it).

The breakeven is somewhere around 75% of gasoline price.

(alcohol has 2/3 the energy of gasoline by volume. So what happens when you replace 75% with 2/3 is left as an exercise for the reader. )

 

[coyotesallover]

Hey all! New to the group, with my 2026 Hybrid AWD Maverick only a couple weeks old. Very interested in this thread. I’ve yet to fill with gas (just under 400 miles and still a quarter tank!) and with gas prices as they are, E88 is an increasingly cheaper option. The manual says the truck can take the fuel, and I’m curious if anyone has any real mileage numbers or experience.

 

[710-oil-614]

I don’t plan to ever run E88 through my hybrid. 87 top tier from Costco 95% of the time and top tier every other time.

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