When confronted with skeptics about the smaller environmental footprint of ethanol, point to America’s flex-fuel. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. One cannot argue with the facts: With an octane rating of 105, E85 is the highest performing fuel on the road today. It has the highest oxygen content of any fuel available, allowing it to burn cleaner than conventional gasoline. The use of E85 results in a nearly 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Just as we saw with E85 in the beginning, mid-level blender pumps are now being found in the Midwest. These pumps offer drivers multiple blends of ethanol mixed into gasoline, giving consumers who drive FFVs even more choice. This new frontier in fuel retailing means consumers have the ability to choose either E10, E20, E30, E40, E50, or E85–freedom of choice that will help build even more demand for ethanol to help our country reach the goal of energy independence.

Fact: By 2030, it is estimated that more than 20 percent of all vehicles on the road will be flex-fuel. If all of the FFVs on the road averaged 20,000 miles per year, at 20 miles per gallon, they would consume 6 billion gallons of E85.

Did you know? Ethanol is an oxygenate, meaning it adds oxygen to fuel thus making it burn cleaner. Enriching gasoline with ethanol helps to reduce greenhouse gases and harmful tailpipe emissions. Ethanol is biodegradable and does not pollute groundwater.

E10

For consumers, ethanol is holding down the price of gasoline by 29 to 40 cents per gallon, saving the average family who uses 1,000 gallons of gasoline $500 per year.

• E10 is the term for motor fuel containing 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent unleaded gasoline. E10 has an approximate octane rating of 91.
• All major auto manufacturers selling cars in the United States approve fuels enriched with up to 10 percent ethanol. Many manufacturers even recommend ethanol for its clean-burning benefits.

E85

On average, E85 is priced 50 cents less per gallon than regular gasoline. When you factor in the price of E85, the wear and tear of your vehicle and maintenance costs, it costs less to drive an FFV. The greatest benefit is that 85 cents of each dollar, when using E85, stays right here in America.

• E85 is the term for motor fuel containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. E85 has an approximate octane rating of 105.
• E85 typically is priced to be competitive with 87-octane gasoline. E85 is usually less expensive than regular unleaded fuel.
• Today, there are more than 7 million E85-compatible FFVs in use in the United States. Consumers should check their vehicle's owner's manual or gas cap to determine if it can be fueled with E85. Consumers may visit http://www.DrivingEthanol.org/FFVs to determine if their vehicle is an FFV.
• The American Le Mans Series was the first to sanction cellulosic E85 racing ethanol as one of its fuel choices. Several teams, including Corvette Racing are competing during 2008 with this fuel.

E100

Although consumers can't use E100 in their vehicles, they can be assured that ethanol will perform in their vehicles, just like they do in the most demanding motorsports environments.

• E100 is the term for 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. In 2007, IndyCar® Series switched to 100 percent percent fuel-grade ethanol in its race cars.
• E100 has an approximate octane rating of 113.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT THE PUMP

Ethanol is helping to reduce gas prices at the pump. If ethanol were removed from the fuel supply, prices could increase by another 15 percent or more, making gas prices in some areas of the country exceed $5.00 per gallon.

• Look for a sticker on the pump with the words "ethanol," "ethanol-enriched" fuel, "E10", "E20", "E30", "E40", "E50", or "E85."
• Don't see any visible labeling at the pump? Ask the retailer if ethanol is available. Some states don’t require any labeling at the pump.