E85: Environmental Benefits As time goes on, it becomes more difficult to dispute the fact that global warming is a legitimate and immediate concern. It is also widely accepted that carbon dioxide emissions, which are largely a result of fossil fuel consumption, are increasing global warming and its frightening effects. Because of this, great efforts are being made to find alternative energy sources that are less harmful to the environment.  

E85, which is fuel made of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum, shows great potential as an alternative fuel. Not only is E85 domestically produced and completely renewable, but it is also an environmentally friendly source of energy.  

 #1- E85 Lowers Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions are believed to be one of the major culprits behind global warming, and automobiles are a significant contributor to the total emissions released into the environment. According to the American Lung Association, using E85 instead of regular petroleum will lower your vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to an incredible 30%.

 #2-E85 Reduces Ozone Forming Pollutants Ozone is a gas that occurs naturally in the upper levels of our atmosphere. However, when it forms at lower elevations, it can have serious impacts on human health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, inhaling ozone can aggravate asthma, cause breathing difficulties, and may even cause permanent lung damage over time. Nitrous oxide and volatile organic compounds, both of which are released by gasoline powered cars, contribute to the development of ground level ozone. According to the American Lung Association, using E85 to power your vehicle can reduce these emissions by up to 20%.

#3-E85 is Less Toxic
Some of the many harmful compounds founds in petroleum are benzene and xylene. Benzene is a known carcinogen, while zylene can affect brain function. Because of the harmful nature of petroleum compounds, being exposed to them is of great concern. Exposure could occur when fumes are inhaled when you fill your car with gas. A greater concern, however, is that huge accidental gas spills could release these substances into the environment on a large scale. Because E85 consists of only 15% petroleum, the potential for environmental damage is lessened.

#4-E85 Degrades Quickly in Water

In the United States, gasoline leaking from underground storage tanks is a genuine problem. Because so many Americans depend on groundwater as a drinking source, the risk of consuming water contaminated with gasoline is substantial. Large oil and petroleum spills in oceans and lakes can also harm wildlife and even entire ecosystems. Furthermore, cleaning up large spills is a time-consuming and difficult endeavor. Unlike gasoline, E85 degrades quickly in water. This not only cuts down on costly clean up projects, but also reduces the risk to people and wildlife.

#5-E85 Doesn’t Have to Travel as Far
Most oil used in the United States is imported from other areas of the world. Along with the costs to transport this oil such great distances, the trip also involves using fossil fuels. The freightliners and transport trucks delivering the oil are burning fuel while they travel. Because ethanol is produced domestically, it has a shorter distance to travel before it reaches the pumps, which aids in reducing emissions.  

Sources:

American Lung Associationhttp://www.cleanairchoice.org/outdoor/E85background.asp   Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/health/smog.pdf  

The price of E85 fuel, which is also referred to as ethanol, can be higher or lower than the cost of regular gasoline in different parts of the country. In addition to the actual prices, other factors should also be taken into account when comparing the cost of gasoline and ethanol.The US Dept. of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Price Report for March, 2007 indicated that E85 prices were, on average, about twenty cents lower than regular gas prices. The difference varied regionally, from $0.91 less in the midwest to $0.28 more in the central atlantic region. It also listed the price of E85 in November, 2006 as being lower than gas, but by a smaller margin. The cost of ethanol was lower than most other alternative fuels in both months as well.

Two of the most common fuels containing ethanol are E85 and E10, which is often referred to as “gasohol” because of its greater gasoline content. The number after the letter “E” refers to the ethanol percentage in the fuel, with the remainder consisting of gasoline. Both types offer some benefits and drawbacks.

VEHICLES: Gasohol can be used in just about any gasoline powered vehicle, while E85 is limited to flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on E85, gasohol, or gasoline. According to hawaii.gov, “all gasoline powered cars sold in the United States “can use gasohol with up to ten percent ethanol content”. There are a variety of flex-fuel vehicles available from a number of different brands, especially in recent years.

EFFICIENCY: Fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) is reduced as the percentage of ethanol increases; according to cleanairtrust.org, gas mileage decreases slightly when E10 gasohol is used, and more substantially for E85 ethanol. However, it also states that researchers are working on methods of improving the efficiency of ethanol, and E85 is cheaper due to its higher ethanol content.

AVAILABILITY: It is difficult to determine just how many gasohol stations there are, but they appear to be more common than E85 stations. According to the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2005), the states of Montana, Minnesota, and Hawaii have required or plan to soon require that all gasoline be replaced with 10% gasohol. The East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition website indicates E10 stations are the most common alternative station type in eastern Tennessee. GasWatch.info can be used to monitor the price of E85 in your area, along with regular gas and other fuels.

Overall, gasohol is available at more stations and can be used in a greater number of vehicles, but E85 produces fewer emissions and costs less.

Increasing use of ethanol fuel has sparked interest in some motorists for E85 conversion kits, which are designed to enable a gasoline powered car to run on ethanol. However, concerns regarding mechanical problems, pollution, and legality have prevented widespread use of such conversion kits in the United States.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy website, converting a car or other vehicle to run on E85 is in violation of federal law. It states that conversion kits which were sold in the past were determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to produce more emissions than unconverted vehicles. It also indicates that new conversion kits can still be tested and approved by the government, but none have received approval.

There is additional interest in E85 car conversion kits in Minnesota, where ethanol is in widespread use and there are many stations offering it. A press release from the Minnesota state government in June, 2007 indicated that the governor had announced that there will be testing of ethanol conversion kits at the Minnesota State University, and encouraged the EPA to permit their eventual usage. The release pointed out that many vehicles in Brazil were converted to use E85.

For now, it appears that some of the other alternative fuels are preferable for motorists who desire to convert a car to run on a different fuel. Fueleconomy.gov indicates diesel and gasoline vehicles can be converted to run on CNG or propane. Biodiesel can be used in many newer diesel vehicles, and older models are often converted to run on it. You can use GasWatch.info to check E85 ethanol prices in your area, along with the prices of gasoline and diesel.