17-05-2016, 10:43 AM
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn and other plant materials. The use of ethanol is widespread, and approximately 97% of gasoline in the U.S. contains some ethanol. The most common blend of ethanol is E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline). Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel)—a high-level ethanol blend containing 51%-83% ethanol depending on season and geography—for use in flexible fuel vehicles. E15 is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a blend of 10.5%-15% ethanol with gasoline. It is an approved ethanol blend for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty conventional vehicles.
Energy Security
Depending heavily on foreign petroleum supplies puts the United States at risk for trade deficits and supply disruption. In 2014, 27% of petroleum products were imported. That number has declined during the past 10 years because of increased domestic crude supplies and ethanol production.
Fuel Economy and Performance
A gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline. The result is lower fuel economy than a gallon of gasoline. The amount of energy difference varies depending on the blend. For example, E85, with 83% ethanol content, has about 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline (the impact to fuel economy lessens as ethanol content decreases). Gasoline vehicles, including flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), are optimized for gasoline. If they were optimized to run on higher ethanol blends, the fuel economy penalty would likely be less.
Energy Security
Depending heavily on foreign petroleum supplies puts the United States at risk for trade deficits and supply disruption. In 2014, 27% of petroleum products were imported. That number has declined during the past 10 years because of increased domestic crude supplies and ethanol production.
Fuel Economy and Performance
A gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline. The result is lower fuel economy than a gallon of gasoline. The amount of energy difference varies depending on the blend. For example, E85, with 83% ethanol content, has about 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline (the impact to fuel economy lessens as ethanol content decreases). Gasoline vehicles, including flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), are optimized for gasoline. If they were optimized to run on higher ethanol blends, the fuel economy penalty would likely be less.
