What is ethanol?

It's a fuel produced by fermenting organic materials such as corn, grains, crop and wood waste. It's usually blended with gasoline at different levels. E10 is a premium high-octane gasoline for cars, and E85, which is 85 percent ethanol and15 percent gasoline, is used as an alternative fuel for specially designed, light-duty vehicles.

What types of automobiles can use ethanol? E10 can be used in any gasoline vehicle without modification. E85, however, offers a higher octane rating and must be used in specified vehicles. All major domestic auto makers make E85 compatible vehicles, sometimes called flex-fuel vehicles.

How does ethanol perform? Vehicles operating on E10 achieve the performance and range expected from a premium fuel. Vehicles running on E85 will have a shorter range than gasoline vehicles because a gallon of ethanol has as much as 29 percent less energy content than a gallon of gasoline. However, ethanol has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded gasoline, making E85 a premium fuel.

What are the benefits of ethanol? Producing the fuel from crop, animal or forestry waste materials can reduce emissions of such pollutants as carbon monoxide and benzene. Ethanol blended fuels derived from grain also result in lower carbon dioxide emissions because they are derived from plants, which absorbs carbon dioxide as they grow. A study by the Argonne National Lab concluded that E85 produced from corn resulted in an 18 percent to 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gases. Additionally, ethanol helps diversify the U.S. fuel supply and provides alternative markets for farmers.

SOURCE: TRIANGLE CLEAN CITIES COALITION, WWW.TRIANGLECLEANCITIES.ORG