Alcohol Fuel Vehicles of Volkswagen 820968

Based on the knowledge of previous years, different engine-vehicle designs for the use of alcohol fuels have been developed by the Research Department of the Volkswagenwerk AG in West Germany. These designs represent the basis for ethanol vehicles in Brazil and methanol vehicles in West Germany and the U.S. Different fleet test programs in West Germany, South Africa and in the State of California have been put into practice. The presented paper deals with the design, application and test results of the German and California fleet vehicles. Priority was given to minimal fuel consumption by especially adjusted mixture control units. The high octane numbers of alcohol fuels allow a higher compression ratio of the engines compared to conventional gasoline engines. Emphasis was also laid on the emission characteristics of the German as well as of the American vehicles. As the American fleet vehicles were placed in California the emission standards for California had to be met. In this presentation test results concerning emissions, fuel consumption and power output will be shown and compared with a gasoline production car.