With FFVs, the future is now

Nothing rends the perspectives of otherwise stubborn Filipinos to the folly of their ways than a particularly painful price increase. Well, nothing save for continuous painful price increases, that is. While there was once a time when the Filipino car buyer was enamored by powerful engines and exceptionally fast cars, today’s escalating pump prices have suddenly brought out the miser in him. Motoring journalists are now asked less about performance parameters and acceleration speeds and more about fuel consumption numbers. Go figure.

The easy way out of this dilemma would be to write about cars that are distinctly more miserly than the average automobile. As our jobs have us churning out paragraph after paragraph of automobile related balderdash to begin with, it won’t take a motoring journalist much effort to give our readers such details. But as you might have surmised by this time, we do enjoy the added torture of a little more research — and the challenge of finding a different angle to otherwise common stories. So instead of just cars, in this article we’ll also delve into the other aspects of the big picture — like alternative fuels and private sector involvement.

Ethanol here and now

While there is much talk of hybrid and fuel cell technology, at the moment, nothing is as realistic as an alternative to gasoline than ethanol. Ethanol is a combustible alcohol made from the fermentation of sugars, starch and other organic sources. Sugarcane, corn, potatoes and other organic materials rich in carbohydrates are common sources of ethanol. As such, ethanol is abundantly available in the agricultural-driven Philippine setting.

Apparently, ethanol also has one of the highest octane ratings of any transportation fuel. Vehicles using ethanol blends therefore have comparable power, acceleration, payload capacity and cruise speed as those using gasoline. And, as many are perhaps aware, many of the newer vehicles that run on gasoline can actually also run on a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. The mixture that is safe for use in such vehicles, however, is still at a comparatively low 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline.

The development of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), however, is already in full swing. FFVs are those cars that can run on at least a 20 percent ethanol 80 percent gasoline mixture. Some of the more developed FFVs can, in fact, even run on an 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline mixture. The best and most relevant bit of news, however, is that there are already FFVs available to the Filipino car buyer.

Worthy effort

The natural question would be what does this car look like and how much will it cost? Pleasant surprises come in abundance. Last April 6, in ceremonies graced by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Ford Group Philippines (FGP) unveiled to an impressed media contingent the first FFVs to be launched locally — the Ford Focus 1.8L and 2.0L. Both variants are capable of running on E20 fuel — which is made up of 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent gasoline.

How are these two variants distinguished from their regular gasoline counterparts? The immediately perceptible difference is in the pricing. For an extra 30K, the reengineered Focus, which can run on the more economically attainable E20 blend of fuel, can be had. Everything else about the cars is pretty much the same — the styling, the power delivery, you name it. And for those who are wondering, yes, just like its regular gasoline counterpart, this Focus is indeed assembled in FGP’s state-of-the-art Sta. Rosa, Laguna plant.

Read between the lines and you’ll realize that this really is a Herculean effort. The investment alone is staggering. But, as with any worthy effort, someone has to take that first, precarious step. By throwing in a whopping US$20 million into building a flexible fuel engine plant, you could say FGP is taking the lead in this serious effort to provide vehicles and infrastructure that revolve around a more sustainable and affordable fuel source. And, being a first in the region, the plant effectively makes the Philippines Ford’s ASEAN Center of Excellence in Flex Fuel Technology.

A practical perspective

Even closer to home, however, is how these cars play into the scheme of things for you. Let’s put things in perspective, shall we? For the sake of discussion, let us assume that you, dear reader, are a car buyer whose budget revolves around the P900K to P1 million mark. Let us assume, as well, that because of rising fuel prices, you have to forego that 4x4 purchase for another time. And finally, let us assume also that you are a gasoline-powered sedan fan with space and reliability considerations.

For that amount of money, here is what you can realistically afford: a brand new Japanese compact sedan, a three to five year old under powered entry level European, a one to two year old ample powered mid-sized Japanese sedan, or a brand new Flex Fuel Vehicle. Of the four, it is the FFV that addresses all four of your concerns. Of course the last thing this writer will do is sell you cars (but if so, let us know…we’ll send FGP the bill for our commission), but car reviews and test drives can only go so far. A thinking buyer could use the practical perspective. In the end, it’s the undeniable practicality of the FFV that sets it apart from other vehicles. The economic and environmental relevance of the FFV is simply too pervasive.

All arguments aside, however, it’s the fact that there are alternatives available right now that really matters. With alternative fuels and alternative vehicles in our midst, you won’t have to wait ’til tomorrow to have the ability to choose today. The future isn’t too far off, apparently.