What is it?

Alcohol fuels are made from renewable resources like locally grown crops and even waste products such as waste paper or grass and tree trimmings. Methanol and Ethanol are two types of alcohol fuels used in cars. Ethanol can be produced from a variety of renewable resources, most commonly corn and sugarcane. Methanol can be made from renewable resources also, but today, methanol is primarily made from natural gas.

Why Alcohol Fuels?

• Alcohol fuels burn cleaner than regular gasoline and produce less carbon monoxide.
• Alcohol fuels have high octane.
• Local production of fuel, from Hawaii-grown crops, supports agricultural jobs.
• Supporting local business keeps dollars in the state and contributes to a healthy state economy.
• Production of fuels in state provides energy self-sufficiency.

Did you know?

• Methanol has been used as a racing fuel at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway (for reasons of safety and performance) for the past 20 years!
• Ethanol was the fuel preferred by Henry Ford back in the early days of the Model T.
• "Flexible fuel" alcohol vehicles have an on-board fuel sensor that senses the percentage of alcohol present in the fuel mixture and automatically adjusts the engine.
• There are flexibly fueled vehicles capable of operating on 85 % ethanol and 15% gasoline, 100% gasoline, or any combination in between. A special sensor on the fuel line senses the ethanol/gasoline mixture, sends the information to the engine’s computer, and the air:fuel ratio and timing are instantaneously adjusted. There’s even a digital readout on the dashboard that shows the driver what the alcohol fuel percentage is at that moment!
• Alcohol fueled vehicles are available for the same price as gasoline vehicles.
• Chrysler makes ethanol flexible-fueled Town & Country, Caravans, and Voyagers.
• Ford makes ethanol flexible-fueled Ranger trucks and Taurus sedans.
• Mazda makes ethanol flexible-fueled B3000 pickup trucks.