How does the system function?
Xpertech conversion systems contain an intelligent electronic manager run by microprocessors and software that control the vehicle’s stoichiometry (air/fuel mixture), in association with the lambda probe. Our system bypasses the fuel injector connection, and connects directly into the original fuel injector harness and to the fuel injectors. When operating on E85, or any combination of ethanol and gasoline, your engine needs an adjusted amount of fuel to be injected into the engine to keep the air/fuel mixture in the optimum zone. This is done by the system’s computer chip, which gives a linear increase of on time to the fuel injectors (timeframe that the fuel injectors are open). Once installed, the system continuously monitors your vehicle’s engine emissions and adjusts supplemental fuel injection through the O2 Sensors, which allows your vehicle to operate at optimal performance running on gas, ethanol, or any combination.
Can White Lightning’s E85 Conversion Kits be installed in any vehicle?
White Lightning can be installed in any vehicle with a multi-port and sequential fuel injection system.
FAQ,s provided by the American Coalition for Ethanol

Is ethanol good for my car?
Yes! E85 performs in much the same way that regular gasoline does, and actually surpasses regular gasoline in key performance categories. Your vehicle will run cleaner, cooler, and stronger on E85, and will increase the engine life on your car.
How does ethanol-blended fuel benefit the environment?
Ethanol is a much cleaner burning fuel than gasoline, offering a significant reduction in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions. Research shows that every city and state that has switched to ethanol-blended fuel has experienced improved air quality. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2005 alone ethanol-blended fuels reduce CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by 7.8 million tons; this has the effect of removing the annual GHG emissions of more than 1 million automobiles from the road. Additionally, ethanol-enriched fuels reduce tailpipe emissions of volatile organic compounds, which readily form ozone in the atmosphere. Thus, the use of ethanol plays an important role in smog reduction.
How is ethanol is driving up prices at the grocery store?
The role of corn and ethanol in grocery prices has been grossly exaggerated by critics who have much to gain in keeping ethanol's potential limited. Research shows that energy prices have at least twice the impact as corn prices in the grocery aisle.
Corn prices, made higher lately in part due to ethanol demand, do have some impact on foods in which corn is an ingredient - namely meat, dairy, and poultry. However, energy prices (spiking with oil reaching all time highs), have a much more dramatic impact on food prices because all foods are dependent upon this expensive energy for processing, packaging, and transportation. 
What does "net energy balance" mean? What is ethanol's energy balance?
Net energy balance is a term used to describe how much energy is needed to produce a product versus how much energy that product provides. Two professors that are long-time critics of ethanol claim that ethanol has a negative energy balance, but this is simply not true and has been debunked again and again by science. Scientific study after study has proven ethanol's energy balance to be positive. The latest USDA figures show that ethanol made from the dry mill process provides at least 77% more energy as a fuel than the process it takes to make it. The bottom line is that it takes about 35,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) of energy to create a gallon of ethanol, and that gallon of ethanol contains at least 77,000 BTUs of energy. The National Resources Defense Council calls corn ethanol "energy well spent." The net energy balance of ethanol is simply a non-issue. 
Is ethanol using up corn that should be used for human food?
In the so-called "food vs. fuel" debate, one major misconception is that the majority of the corn grown in the U.S. goes directly for human consumption. This is not the case. Actually, only about 9 percent of U.S. corn is used for human consumption in products like cereals, sweeteners, etc. The main uses for U.S. corn are for livestock feed or for export, with the industrial uses category (including ethanol) making up a smaller percentage. As ethanol refining switches from corn-based processes to cellulosic, this debate will no longer be relevant.
How do I install the system?
The installation is simple and is made using connectors, without cutting wires and without interfering in the vehicle originality. Consumers with a basic automotive understanding of fuel injectors can do installation. However, we recommend that a professional mechanic install the product. White Lightning offers live phone support to our customers and/or their mechanic. Most installations can be done in less than 45 minutes. For a quick visual overview on the installation process, please click here.
What is the warranty period?
White Lightning’s warranty period is 5 year, in accordance with the clauses, terms, exclusions and restrictions set forth in the warranty certificate. Click here, to review the warranty terms.
Will ethanol hurt my car’s fuel system?
No. Ethanol-enriched gasoline can actually help absorb moisture in a fuel system and help prevent frozen fuel lines in the winter. With an ethanol-enriched gasoline, there’s no need to add a de-icer in the winter. Ethanol is also a solvent, and will keep injectors and other components clean. 
Does gasoline enriched with ethanol burn hotter?
No. Ethanol increases the octane rating of regular gasoline, which means it burns more smoothly and slightly cooler. A gallon of 10 percent ethanol-enriched gasoline contains about 112,000 BTU of heat energy, compared to 114,000 BTU for straight gasoline.
If I have a gas vehicle and convert it to run on E85, can I damage my engine?
No. There are currently over 50,000 vehicles on the road using E85 Conversion Systems to burn alcohol fuels. There have been no reports of engine damage due to the conversion system or running on ethanol. In fact, burning alcohol instead of gasoline has been shown to decrease engine oil contamination and extend engine life. Alcohol burns cooler than gasoline providing additional benefits in terms of engine life and performance.
Is ethanol corrosive?
While ethanol is corrosive, it is not corrosive to the components on your car. This is evidenced by the fact that factory built Flex Fuel Vehicles and non-FFV’s have all the same engine parts.
Does the conversion system change the vehicle originality?
No. The installation does not alter the originality of a vehicle. The system plugs into the vehicle’s existing wiring harness without cutting or splicing. It can be easily removed leaving your car completely unaltered.
What if I sell my car?
The system can be easily removed leaving the car unaltered. The unit may be reused on any compatible vehicle with the same number of cylinders and fuel injectors.
Will I lose power from using E85 in my
No. Because E85 has a higher octane (typically around 105) rating than most automotive grade gasoline (between 87 – 93) your vehicle will deliver more horsepower and a resulting power increase. This is evidenced by the Indy Racing Series, which runs exclusively on ethanol. If you currently use regular or mid-grade gasoline you should notice a significant boost in horsepower. 
Is it hard to start your vehicle on E85 in cold weather? 
No. White Lightning provides easy starting even in cold weather. In extremely cold conditions, it can require 2 key turns to turn on the ignition. If you do experience some cold start issues, the conversion system can be adjusted to a higher (richer) setting. 
How much will my MPG be affected?
Our customers and research have reported MPG reduction ranging from 5% to 20% lower for E85. However, there are many variables that affect fuel economy (weather, car condition, road grade, tire pressure, air conditioner use, etc.) and results will vary. One of the key advantages of White Lightning’s digital system is that it gets significantly better MPG than its analog competitors. In most cases, decreased mileage is completely offset by lower E85 prices. 
Is E85 more cost effective than gas?
In most cases, E85 is more cost effective than gasoline, but this depends on where you live. Typically, the cost savings of E85 offset any loss in MPG and result in net savings. To fully analyze the costs of E85 vs. gas, one must take into consideration the quality of E85 as a fuel (which has an octane rating 105) compared with super-unleaded gasoline’s octane rating of 93, and the longer engine life for the vehicle resulting from E85 usage.
What is the resulting difference of digital technology vs. analog?
The primary advantage of White Lightning’s digital system is that it gets significantly better MPG than its analog competitors. 
What is cellulosic ethanol?
Cellulosic ethanol is the future of the ethanol industry. It is merely ethanol produced through a differing refinery process. Cellulosic refining has the ability to reduce green house gases by up to 91%, significantly reduce the ethanol energy output/input ratio, and is capable of being produced on a commercial level throughout the world. Cellulosic ethanol can be refined using such products as wheat and barley straw, sugarcane or rice bagasse, sawdust, paper pulp, small diameter trees, dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass and other perennial grasses, and even municipal waste or household garbage. 
What is switchgrass? Why is it a good potential source for ethanol?
Switchgrass, a perennial prairie grass, is one source likely to be tapped for ethanol production because of its potential for high fuel yields, hardiness, and ability to be grown in diverse areas. Switchgrass' long root system - actually a fifty-fifty split above ground and below - helps keep carbon in the ground, improving soil quality. It is drought-tolerant, grows well even on marginal land, and doesn't require heavy fertilizing.
How close is cellulosic ethanol to being commercialized?
The technology to create cellulosic ethanol is available today and is in the early stages of commercialization. Pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol production is in place, and many companies are progressing toward commercial-scale production levels. Estimates project that the full-scale commercial production of cellulosic ethanol can be in place as early as 2009.
Is ethanol expensive to produce?                                                                            No. Ethanol costs about $1 a gallon to produce at typical facilities. In 2004, ethanol was selling for $1.40 a gallon wholesale. However, prices spiked higher recently because oil companies mismanaged the switch to ethanol as a replacement for the additive MBTE. Once demand and supply reach equilibrium, it is projected that E85 can profitably wholesale for $1.40 a gallon without subsidies.
What kinds of ethanol-blended fuels are available?
Ethanol can be blended into varying percentages in gasoline; the two most common blends are E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) and E10 (10% ethanol/90% gasoline). 
Can ethanol blends be used in small engines, such as boats, lawnmowers, or chainsaws?
Yes - manufacturers of small engines realize that up to a 10% blend of ethanol is very common in gasoline, so they make their engines compatible with this fuel. Furthermore, conversion kits can be installed on boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. that will enable the vehicle to run on E85.
Can my vehicle run on E85 even if it's not an FFV?
If your vehicle is not an FFV or a converted FFV, use of any percentage of ethanol higher than 10% is not recommended. The American Coalition for Ethanol believes it may be possible to use blends beyond 10% ethanol in standard automobiles and is currently conducting research on this topic.
How much ethanol-blended fuel is sold in the United States?
In 2006, the U.S. produced and consumed about 5 billion gallons of ethanol, most in the form of the E10 blend. 
How much oil can ethanol displace?
Research has determined that 1 barrel of ethanol (1 barrel = 42 gallons) can displace 1.2 barrels of petroleum at the refinery.
How does ethanol affect gas prices?
Ethanol actually reduces the cost of gasoline by extending supplies and providing an alternative to costly imported oil. The American Petroleum Institute has estimated that the presence of ethanol causes gasoline prices to be .27 percent lower than would occur without it.
Where can I buy E85 in my area?
A link to a complete list of gas stations offering E85 can be found at http://www.e85refueling.com/. Today there are more than 1,300 gas stations across the nation offering E85 and that number is increasing quickly.
Is there any funding available to add E85 to my gas station or convenience store?
Yes, sometimes there is. The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition is a non-profit association that promotes the development of E85 vehicles and infrastructure. Contact them by phone at (877) 485-8595. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 contains a new federal tax credit to assist with the installation of equipment and infrastructure to dispense E85 at retail outlets. This new incentive provides a 30 percent federal income tax credit, up to a maximum of $30,000, to assist with the establishment of alternative fuel infrastructure, including equipment necessary to dispense E85. This tax credit became effective in 2006 and is scheduled to expire December 31, 2008. Contact the Internal Revenue Service for more information about this tax credit.
Can I support ethanol in other ways?
Definitely. If your local gas station does not carry ethanol-blended fuel, talk to the manager and encourage them to do so. Visit ACE's Legislative Action Center to see what ethanol-related bills are being debated by Congress and use the "Legislative Action Center" under the Take Action menu heading to send a letter to your Senators and Representative to express your views. If you are not already, become an ACE member to show your grassroots ethanol support and to receive the latest ethanol-related information through Ethanol Today magazine and other ACE resources.