Most people didn't know they were driving a flex-fuel car.

In 2003, Brazilian automakers started producing flex-fuel cars that could run on biofuels, including locally produced ethanol.

The technology and resources are already available for flex-fuel cars, but the availability and access to pumps is scarce.

By manufacturing flex-fuel cars, gas stations can create new revenue by adding mixed fuel pumps that offer low cost alternative to gasoline.

FOR that to happen, automakers would need to build more flex-fuel cars.

What if those with flex-fuel cars went right on buying gasoline?

Almost all of them have bought flex-fuel cars.

"That changed overnight with flex-fuel cars."

Because no other country has an ethanol distribution network as extensive as Brazil's, it is unlikely that flex-fuel cars will become an international trend any time soon.

Even so, experts say it will probably take years - if not decades - before flex-fuel cars become as popular in other nations as they are in Brazil.