Ethanol and E85 - Fuels Of The Future?

Pure ethanol or E100 is also known as ethyl alcohol orpopularity to the point that lines of vehicles are being
grain alcohol. It is made when corn, grain, or otherdeveloped that will run on it alone? Compare it to the
agricultural products are fermented, distilled, andproperties of gasoline, and see for yourself:
denatured and because of this, it is a continually
renewable resource, a true benefit in the world ofIt is a renewable resource
alternative fuels. Another benefit is the fact that, unlikeReduces dependence on foreign oil
many other, mainly petroleum based, fuels, itReduces smog and emissions
contributes nothing to the build-up of greenhouse96 octane to 86-94 octane in gasoline
gases. Because of its renewable nature, it is possible12,500 lower heating value to 18,000-19,000 lower
to extensively reduce a nation's dependence onheating value of gasoline
foreign oil products.Pure ethanol is never used as an1.4 gallons of E85 is equal to 1 gallon gasoline
alternative fuel, but ethanol blends are. For example,Per gallon, E85 gets 72% of the miles that gasoline
E10 is a fuel made of 10 percent ethanol and blendedgets
with 90 percent gasoline. The most common blend isHolding tank is 1.4 times larger than a gasoline holding
E85, a fuel made of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percenttank
gasoline. E85 is officially classified by the U.S.In cold weather, E85 starts the car as well as gasoline
Department of Energy as an alternative energy fuel. ItVehicle power is increased 3-5% with E85
could be used in most cars today that are run on
gasoline with some modification, and new, flexible fuelFlexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV)A flexible fuel vehicle is a
vehicles, are being developed that could use E85.car that runs on any ethanol blend, E85 or less, and
Recently, lobbyists have been pushing for its use incan also run on regular unleaded gas. They have been
FFVs or flexible fuel vehicles, alternative vehicles thatin production for almost a decade and continue to be
have a lesser impact on the environment than today'sbuilt by some major car manufacturers including Ford,
gas guzzling cars.E85 PropertiesWhy is E85 gaining inGM, Mercury, Isuzu, and more.