| You have probably heard the term E85 used before, | | | | approach over a 50% reduction using corn and over |
| witnessed some vehicles badged with the FlexFuel | | | | an 80 percent reduction using cellulose. Ethanol is |
| signature or even stopped at a gas station that offers | | | | biodegradable and is a safe alternative to harmful |
| it and been slightly puzzled. E85 is an alcohol fuel | | | | additives like MTBE which is a groundwater pollutant |
| mixture that is composed of up to 85% denatured | | | | and soil contaminant. Ethanol based fuels adhere to |
| ethanol with the remainder standard gasoline. Currently, | | | | strict emission standards. Overall, not only are there |
| most fuel is composed of roughly 90% gasoline and | | | | fewer evaporative emissions but those also contain |
| 10% percent ethanol. With E85, this formula is pretty | | | | less carbon monoxide and dangerous toxins. (Although |
| much reversed. As E85 can reduce the dependency | | | | opponents will correctly point out that acetalkdehyde, a |
| on oil and has been touted as a superior option for the | | | | known toxin, is emitted in greater quantities than with |
| environment, it is quickly becoming a powerful force in | | | | gasoline alone). |
| the automotive industry. For better or worse, E85 is | | | | So, who's getting involved? General Motors is the |
| being added to the growing list of eco-friendly | | | | biggest manufacturer right now in the flex-fuel market. |
| alternative-energy sources to rival electric, hydrogen | | | | For the current calender year, there are 18 different |
| powered and hybrid vehicles. | | | | models with E85 capability available. Chrysler offers 10 |
| From a political standpoint, the biggest benefit is that | | | | models, Ford 8 and Nissan and Toyota just 2. Honda is |
| E85 is a biofuel as opposed to a fossil fuel. E85 is | | | | not playing ball at this point. Even luxury manufacturers |
| mainly derived from corn but can also be produced | | | | such as Bentley are coming on board. The company |
| from other grains such as sugar cane, beets, wheat, | | | | plans to provide flex-fuel options across its entire |
| milo or potatoes. The fact that these are all renewable | | | | product line by 2012. They also recently released the |
| resources is a major selling point. The equipment | | | | Bentley Continental Supersports, which is their first E85 |
| required for E85 is similar to the current infrastructure | | | | compatible vehicle. |
| required for oil so there is not a prohibitively high cost | | | | And, what's the biggest difference to your engine? |
| for handling or distribution. Vehicles that can run on E85, | | | | Commercial automobile gasoline has an octane rating |
| known as Flexible Fuel Vehicles, are becoming | | | | between 85 to 94. However, E85 has an octane rating |
| increasingly available and are no more expensive than | | | | between 100 and 105. An octane rating basically is a |
| their gas counterparts (as opposed to hybrids, which | | | | measurement of how resistant a fuel source is to |
| are). And with more than 1900 E85 capable fueling | | | | detonation and in turn, engine knocking. In addition, |
| stations in the US, which is expected to double in the | | | | higher octane ratings mean that higher activation |
| next year, availability should become widespread. | | | | energies are required for detonation. Each engine has |
| Opponents against electric powered vehicles often | | | | a specific compression ratio. The higher the number |
| suggest that the additional production of electricity | | | | the better an engine is at extracting energy and |
| required to charge larger and larger numbers of cars | | | | producing more power. Racing engines have high |
| ultimately does more harm than good. This is also the | | | | compression ratios and therefore need higher octane |
| case with E85 where opponents claim that the | | | | fuels. Regular gasoline powered cars have lower |
| production of grain alcohol actually is harder on the | | | | ratios and require lesser octanes. Engines that use E85 |
| environment than using fossil fuels such as oil. This is | | | | necessitate higher compression ratios due to the |
| also known as the "net energy" effect of ethanol | | | | higher octane level. But they also have to be capable |
| production. Basically, more energy is used to grow and | | | | of running regular gasoline. |
| process the raw materials in ethanol than actually ends | | | | Therefore, most current flex-fuel vehicles have to use |
| up in the final ethanol product itself. The agricultural | | | | a compression ratio that will work well for both |
| machinery used to both plant and harvest vast | | | | gasoline and E85. Because of this, E85 is used up |
| amounts of crops creates a massive carbon footprint. | | | | quicker than using strictly gas alone. The majority of |
| Shipping and processing grains is a more energy | | | | fueling stations discount E85 anywhere from 5 to 15% |
| intensive process than simply converting oil into gas or | | | | to compensate. So, if you see a lower price for E85 |
| diesel fuel. | | | | don't assume it's cheaper because in the long run it is |
| Large amounts of arid land are required to grow corn | | | | not. In flex-fuel vehicles E85 also gets less miles per |
| and other ethanol sources which can lead to | | | | gallon. The extent of which varies model to model. As |
| deforestation, typically by burning. Because of this, | | | | technology quickly improves, rest assured that this |
| there are fewer trees and plants to reduce CO2 | | | | disparity will disappear in short order and the discount |
| emissions which results in a hefty environmental impact | | | | built in as well. |
| by changing the balance of oxygen. Resources such | | | | I hope that this article presented a balanced argument |
| as water are needed in vast amounts which can lead | | | | both for and against the production and use of E85 |
| to deficiencies elsewhere such as a reduction in | | | | and that you are better informed because of it. More |
| ground water and natural reservoirs. And all of the | | | | and more scientific studies are sure to emerge that |
| fertilizers and pesticides used in grain production | | | | both support and negate the benefits of E85 and other |
| ultimately harm the soil and ecosystem. | | | | biofuels but this trend is definitely here to stay. As auto |
| Proponents of the ethanol production provide equally | | | | manufacturers get more proficient at using ethanol |
| compelling arguments. The entire life cycle of ethanol | | | | look for fuel economy to improve, power outputs to |
| production using corn provides roughly a 20% | | | | increase and biofuel engine options to become more |
| reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to | | | | available and widespread. |
| gasoline. As efficiencies improve, this number will | | | | |