Gasoline Tolerant Methanol Fueled Ride Share Van

The decade of the nineties represents a unique time. Traffic congestion, petroleum shortages and health and environmental concerns resulting from fuel spills, smog and greenhouse effects are converging to force changes in the gasoline powered automobile. This presentation recognizes these circumstances as it presents the program and initial results from a flexible fueled ride-share van demonstration project.

The ride-share vans are 1990 Plymouth Voyagers with two different powertrains: a 2.5 liter normally aspirated engine and a 2.2 liter turbo-charged engine. The 2.5 L fuel flexible engine has electronic spark and fuel management so that it can operate on any combination from 0 to 85% methanol (M85) and gasoline. The 2.2 L gasoline tolerant engine has electronic turbo-boost management as well as electronic spark and fuel control. The power boost increases with percentage of methanol and its associated octane enhancement. This powertrain delivers 175 hp on M85 versus 150 hp on super unleaded gasoline and hence its designation-gasoline tolerant methanol vehicle.

The 10 vehicles, 5 of each powertrain, composing this demonstration fleet are in operation in the Los Angeles basin under the aegis of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Emissions measurements are being conducted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Their test results are being cast in the new emissions format being proposed by CARB. The paper will show the details of the evaluation procedure and the resulting evidence for the new format as well as for the well recognized EPA procedure. This early evidence shows that the vans' operation on M85 is beneficial in smog reduction in comparison with their operation on unleaded gasoline.