Ethanol in Vehicles

What types of vehicles use ethanol?

Gasoline vehicles.

• Most vehicles produced since 1982 can operate on gasoline/ethanol blends up to 10% ethanol
• Some states require seasonal or year-round use of up to 10% ethanol - an oxygenate additive to gasoline to mitigate ozone formation
• Low percentage oxygenate blends are not considered "alternative fuels"

Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs).

• Consist of a wide range of vehicles from compacts to sport utility to pickup trucks
• Have one fueling system (unlike bi-fuel natural gas and propane vehicles that have two unique fueling systems)
• "Ethanol vehicles" are capable of running on up to 85% ethanol / 15% gasoline (E85), or any mixture of the two, up to the 85% ethanol limit 
• E85 may be seasonally adjusted in colder climates, making the real proportion of E85 at less than 85% ethanol
• Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are those manufactured for E85 use

 Vehicle availability.

• FFVs are widely available from most major car manufacturers, including 27 models in 2007 
• There have been an estimated 6 million FFVs already sold in the U.S.
• Some current vehicle owners are unaware that they may fuel their vehicle with E85
• To determine if your vehicle can be fueled with E85, check your owner's manual, ask your dealer or check out our convenient flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) identifier 

 Fuel availability.

• More than 1,200 E85 stations are available nationwide, primarily in the Midwest
• The fueling process is the same as with gasoline or diesel
• Find a station in your area through this station locator  

Vehicle experience.

• FFVs are becoming widely used by consumers
• FFVs have been part of private and government fleets for years
• Millions of trouble-free miles have been driven on E85

Vehicle and fuel costs.

• E85 is generally sold at prices comparable to regular grade gasoline
• Prices vary regionally
• Auto manufacturers usually offer E85 compatible vehicles at the same prices as comparable gasoline vehicles  

Benefits.

• Compared to gasoline only vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles produce:
  • Lower carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
  • Lower levels of hydrocarbon and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions
  • About the same or lower oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions
  • Fewer evaporative emissions because they have fewer highly volatile components
• Ethanol is a high octane fuel (pure ethanol is 113 octane). It is beneficial in engines that are designed to operate on higher octane fuels
• If E85 is blended with 15% gasoline, the octane level of E85 is higher than premium gasoline Performance

Performance.

• A gallon of E85 = 73% of the energy of gasoline
• In actual use, drivers note a reduced range of 10 to 25%
• Some auto manufacturers install larger fuel tanks, making the range of FFVs more comparable to gasoline vehicles
• E85 vehicles operate the same as conventionally fueled vehicles in terms of power, acceleration, payload, and cruise speed