E85 is an alternative fuel that has earned a place in the US, especially in the Midwest. However, not all vehicles can use this fuel. In August 2009, most of the vehicles that could use it were Americans, but some other brands have come to use ethanol as well.
Acts
E85 is a combination fuel that comprises a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent or more gasoline. Ethanol is a cereal alcohol, mostly obtained from corn, but it can be made from sugar cane and other starches, including agricultural waste products.
Background
In the 1880s, Henry Ford built the first ethanol-powered vehicle. Later, the 1908 Model T was designed to run on gasoline or ethanol. More than 100 years later, this technology is still in use and is being refined.
What vehicles can use E85?
The E85-friendly vehicle brand on the market is General Motors. Most of these are large trucks and sports utility vehicles, although the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Impala, and HHR are on this list as well. Other GM E85 compliant vehicles include the Buick Lucerne and the Pontiac G6. GM’s offerings have yellow badges advertising their “Flex Fuel” capabilities (meaning they can use traditional or E85 gasoline), but a GM survey found that nearly 70 percent of Flex Fuel vehicle owners were aware that their vehicles had this capability.
Other automakers offering E85-friendly vehicles include Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu, Mazda, and Mercedes. Check out the Resources section for a complete list of E85-friendly vehicles listed by the manufacturer.
Considerations
E85 is not available throughout the United States, as most E85 stations are concentrated in corn-producing states in the Midwest, such as Illinois and Iowa.
In August 2009, vehicles running on E85 fuel produced an estimated 27 percent less energy than when powered by the equivalent amount of gasoline. Therefore, more trips to the E85 stations are required, which is represented in the money invested for fuel consumption. E85 vehicles are priced the same as traditionally powered vehicles, unlike other vehicles that run on alternative forms of energy.
Controversy
Not all environmentalists are a fan of corn-based ethanol. In 2001, Cornell University scientist David Pimentel published a study in which he attacked ethanol production as “subsidized food burning.” Ethanol production was analyzed between the economic factor and the environmental factor and serious deficiencies were found in both fields. Check out the resources section for more details on the study. Some companies are focusing on ethanol produced from millet and other sources that make energy production more efficient. The US Department of Energy says that corn-based ethanol produces 20 percent less greenhouse gases than traditional gasoline.
