Pure ethanol or E100 is also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol. It is made when corn, grain, or other agricultural products are fermented, distilled, and denatured and because of this, it is a continually renewable resource, a true benefit in the world of alternative fuels. Another benefit is the fact that, unlike many other, mainly petroleum based, fuels, it contributes nothing to the build-up of greenhouse gases. Because of its renewable nature, it is possible to extensively reduce a nation's dependence on foreign oil products.
Pure ethanol is never used as an alternative fuel, but ethanol blends are. For example, E10 is a fuel made of 10 percent ethanol and blended with 90 percent gasoline. The most common blend is E85, a fuel made of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 is officially classified by the U.S. Department of Energy as an alternative energy fuel. It could be used in most cars today that are run on gasoline with some modification, and new, flexible fuel vehicles, are being developed that could use E85. Recently, lobbyists have been pushing for its use in FFVs or flexible fuel vehicles, alternative vehicles that have a lesser impact on the environment than today's gas guzzling cars.
E85 Properties
Why is E85 gaining in popularity to the point that lines of vehicles are being developed that will run on it alone? Compare it to the properties of gasoline, and see for yourself:
* 96 octane to 86-94 octane in gasoline
* 12,500 lower heating value to 18,000-19,000 lower heating value of gasoline
* 1.4 gallons of E85 is equal to 1 gallon gasoline
* Per gallon, E85 gets 72% of the miles that gasoline gets
* Holding tank is 1.4 times larger than a gasoline holding tank
* In cold weather, E85 starts the car as well as gasoline
* Vehicle power is increased 3-5% with E85
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
A flexible fuel vehicle is a car that runs on any ethanol blend, E85 or less, and can also run on regular unleaded gas. They have been in production for almost a decade and continue to be built by some major car manufacturers including Ford, GM, Mercury, Isuzu, and more. Over 2 million of today’s vehicles are flexible fuel vehicles, which can run on ethanol, gasoline, or a mixture of the two. You may own one of these FFV's without even being aware of it. Some of the benefits of flexible fuel vehicles include:
* Emissions that create smog are reduced 25 percent
* Cost effectiveness is equal to that of cars run on gasoline
* Similar warranties and original equipment are manufactured as they are for gasoline run vehicles
* Emissions that create greenhouse gases are reduced 35 to 40 percent
* Vehicle horsepower increased up to 5 percent
* Fuel is renewable
* New vehicles can be ordered with a flexible fuel engine option
* More and more E85 pumps are springing up all over the country