E85
(fuel)
E85
is an alternative engine fuel consisting of a mixture of 85%
denatured ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and 15% gasoline, by volume.
E85 is used to fuel E85-capable flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).
The 15% gasoline content in E85 enables FFVs to operate normally
under cold conditions; fueling a vehicle with pure ethanol
(E100) creates problems during cold-weather operation. Ethanol
can also be mixed with gasoline in lower-level blends, which
provide many benefits.
Other than lower gas mileage, motorists will see little difference
when using E85 versus gasoline. E85 has about 27% less energy
per gallon than gasoline. However, E85 is typically priced
lower than gasoline, so that cost per mile is comparable.
As of 2008, more than 1,400 US fueling stations offered E85
to the more than 6 million FFVs on U.S. roadways. Stations
are more common in the corn belt (Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois)
but are spreading throughout the country. In fact, E85 is
now offered in more than 40 states.
E85 typically costs less than gasoline on a gallon-for-gallon
basis but more than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.
Add
more information on this topic |
|
Home page