Editing Volkswagen (section)

====Pure ethanol vehicles====
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F053242-0034, Hannover, Messe.jpg|thumb|right| VW pure [[ethanol fuel|ethanol]] prototype car developed by [[Volkswagen do Brasil]] in 1978]]

[[Volkswagen do Brasil]] produced and sold pure ethanol-powered ([[Common ethanol fuel mixtures#E100|E100 only]]) vehicles in Brazil, and production was discontinued only after they were supplanted by more modern [[flexible-fuel vehicle|Flex Fuel]] technology. As a response to the [[1973 oil crisis]], the Brazilian government began promoting bioethanol as a fuel, and the [[Pro-Álcool|National Alcohol Program]] -''Pró-Álcool''- ({{langx|pt|Programa Nacional do Álcool}}) was launched in 1975.<ref name="Bastos">{{cite web|url=http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=534 |author=Milton Briquet Bastos |title=Brazil's Ethanol Program – An Insider's View |work=Energy Tribune |date=20 June 2007 |access-date=14 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710193215/http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=534 |archive-date=10 July 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Veja1979" /><ref name="SeatleT" /> Compelled by the [[1979 energy crisis]], and after development and testing with government fleets by the [[Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology|CTA]] at [[São José dos Campos]], and further testing of several prototypes developed by the four local carmakers, including Volkswagen do Brasil, pure ethanol vehicles were launched in the Brazilian market.<ref name="Bastos" /><ref name="Veja1979">{{cite web |url=http://veja.abril.com.br/idade/exclusivo/petroleo/130679.html |title=O petróleo da cana |author=Revista Veja |publisher=[[Editora Abril]] |date=13 June 1979 |access-date=29 November 2008 |language=pt |author-link=Revista Veja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006165850/http://veja.abril.com.br/idade/exclusivo/petroleo/130679.html |archive-date=6 October 2008 }}</ref> Petrol engines were modified to support [[hydrous]] ethanol characteristics and changes included [[compression ratio]], amount of fuel injected, replacement of materials that would get corroded by contact with ethanol, use of colder [[spark plugs]] suitable for dissipating heat due to higher flame temperatures, and an auxiliary cold-start system that injects petrol from a small tank in the engine compartment to help starting when cold. Within six years, around 75% of all Brazilian passenger cars were manufactured with ethanol engines.<ref name="Bastos" /><ref name="Lemos">{{cite web | url=http://www.icis.com/Articles/2007/02/12/4500680/the-brazilian-ethanol-model.html | author=William Lemos | title=The Brazilian ethanol model | publisher=ICIS news | date=5 February 2007 | access-date=14 August 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009164617/http://www.icis.com/Articles/2007/02/12/4500680/the-brazilian-ethanol-model.html | archive-date=9 October 2008 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Production and sales of pure ethanol vehicles tumbled beginning in 1987 owing to several factors, including a sharp decline in petrol prices as a result of the [[1980s oil glut]], and high sugar prices in the world market, shifting sugarcane ethanol production from fuel to sugar. By mid-1989, a shortage of ethanol fuel supply in the local market left thousands of vehicles in line at petrol stations or out of fuel in their garages, forcing consumers to abandon ethanol vehicles.<ref name="SeatleT">{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002339093_brazilfuel17.html |work=The Seattle Times |title=Brazil's ethanol effort helping lead to oil self-sufficiency |author=Marla Dickerson |date=17 June 2005 |access-date=29 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227203948/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002339093_brazilfuel17.html |archive-date=27 December 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Veja1989">{{cite web|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/arquivo_veja/capa_24051989.shtml |title=Um sonho corroído |author=Revista Veja |publisher=[[Editora Abril]] |date=24 May 1989 |access-date=29 November 2008 |language=pt |author-link=Revista Veja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208192704/http://veja.abril.com.br/arquivo_veja/capa_24051989.shtml |archive-date=8 February 2009 }}</ref>