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Alcohol, specifically ethanol, has been used to fuel cars since the 1920s, with the practice becoming more widespread in Brazil during the 1980s. Ethanol is an organic compound found in all liquors and beer, and it is produced by fermenting sugar solutions. While pure ethanol could theoretically power cars, it is generally not used due to various factors, including its impact on cold-starting and engine corrosion. Instead, ethanol is typically blended with petrol, with blends like E85 and E10 being used in flexible fuel vehicles designed to accommodate ethanol-gasoline mixtures. The use of ethanol as a fuel blend can reduce pollution and dependence on fossil fuels, but it also has drawbacks, including higher costs and potential food shortages due to the use of crops.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can cars run on alcohol? | Yes, but not all cars. |
| What type of alcohol can be used as fuel? | Ethanol, an organic compound found in liquors and beer. |
| What is ethanol made from? | The fermentation of glucose, found in grains and sugar-based crops containing starch. Common crops used include wheat, rye, corn, sugar cane, and barley. |
| What are the benefits of ethanol? | Ethanol is renewable, breaks down into less toxic substances compared to petrol and diesel, and burns cleaner than gas. |
| What are the drawbacks of ethanol? | Ethanol has a lower stored energy value than gasoline, requires a lot of crops to produce, can be corrosive to older car engines, and is more expensive to produce than gasoline. |
| Where is ethanol used as fuel? | Brazil, the United States, and India. |
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What You'll Learn
Ethanol is an alcohol that can be used as fuel
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is a colourless, flammable liquid with a distinct odour. It is the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic drinks, but it can also be used as fuel for cars.
Ethanol is produced by fermenting the sugar in the starches of grains such as corn, sorghum, barley, and sugar cane. It has been used as fuel since the 1920s, but its use became more widespread in the 1980s, starting in Brazil. Today, all fuels in Brazil must contain a minimum of 25% ethanol, and the country is the world's largest exporter of ethanol. In the US, nearly all fuel ethanol is produced from corn kernel starch, and more than 98% of US gasoline contains ethanol.
Ethanol can be used as fuel in flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are designed to run on any blend of gasoline and ethanol. The most common ethanol blend is E85, which contains 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. E85 is the most common biofuel in the US and can be used in FFVs or flex-fuel vehicles, which have special fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and lines to accommodate the ethanol blend.
While pure ethanol could theoretically be used to power cars, it generally isn't due to various reasons. For example, ethanol is bad for cold-starting as it doesn't burn as quickly as gasoline, and it can be corrosive to older car engines. Additionally, ethanol is more expensive to produce than traditional fuel sources, and using crops to produce ethanol could potentially hurt the world's food resources. However, as ethanol is produced from a renewable source, it is predicted to become cheaper than traditional fuel sources in the future.
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Flexible-fuel vehicles can run on ethanol
While you can't fill up your car with leftover vodka, cars can and do rely on alcohol, specifically ethanol, for fuel. Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is produced by fermenting a sugar solution and is found in alcoholic drinks. In the US, corn is grown and its starch is used, but grass, wood, and agricultural waste can also be used to make "cellulosic" ethanol.
Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are based on dual-fuel systems that supply both fuels into the combustion chamber at the same time in various calibrated proportions. The most common commercially available FFV in the world market is the ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle, with about 60 million automobiles, motorcycles and light-duty trucks manufactured and sold worldwide by March 2018. FFVs have an internal combustion engine and are capable of operating on gasoline and any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%.
E85 (or flex fuel) is a gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season. FFVs have one fuel system, and most components are the same as those found in a conventional gasoline-only car. Some special ethanol-compatible components are required to compensate for the different chemical properties and energy content in ethanol, such as modifications to the fuel pump and fuel injection system. The engine control module (ECM) is also calibrated to accommodate the higher oxygen content of ethanol.
In the past, when ethanol and gasoline were first combined, it was very corrosive to gaskets and seals. This issue has been resolved in newer cars, but older cars are still susceptible to corrosion. The problem with using high ethanol fuels in regular cars is that it attracts water, creating corrosive bacteria. If fuel isn't burned and refilled regularly, metal parts in your car's fuel system will corrode.
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Pure ethanol is not suitable for cars
Pure ethanol is rarely used as a standalone fuel for vehicles. While it is theoretically possible to power cars with 100% ethanol, it is generally not used for numerous reasons. Firstly, ethanol is not suitable for cold-starting as it doesn't burn as quickly as gasoline. Ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, which can be advantageous for engine performance and reducing engine knock. However, if the compression ratio is too high, uncontrolled explosions or engine knock can occur, potentially damaging the engine.
Ethanol also has lower energy content than gasoline, resulting in lower fuel mileage. This means that, gallon for gallon, you might get fewer miles from ethanol than from gasoline. This lower energy content could be a significant drawback, especially for long-distance travel or for vehicles requiring higher fuel efficiency. Additionally, ethanol has the potential to cause corrosion in older car engines. When ethanol and gasoline were first combined in the past, it was found to be highly corrosive to gaskets and seals in older cars. While this issue has been resolved in newer vehicles, it remains a concern for older models.
The use of ethanol as a fuel source also raises concerns about food resources and land usage. The production of ethanol from crops, such as corn, could impact the world's food resources and lead to potential food shortages. Additionally, the land-use aspects of growing corn for ethanol production are considered carbon-intensive, which may counteract the intended environmental benefits of using ethanol as a fuel source.
Furthermore, pure ethanol is challenging to obtain. In the United States, regulations require fuel alcohols to be diluted to 95.5% to make them undrinkable and avoid liquor tax. As a result, ethanol is typically blended with petrol or gasoline to produce common biofuels like E85, which contains 85% ethanol. Therefore, while pure ethanol may be theoretically possible as a fuel for cars, it is generally not suitable due to various practical, technical, and environmental considerations.
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Ethanol is derived from fossil fuels, biomass or carbon dioxide
Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, can be used as fuel for cars. In fact, in the UK, petrol from the pumps is mixed with about 5-10% ethanol. In the US, nearly all fuel ethanol is produced from corn kernel starch, while in Brazil, it is produced from sugar cane. Ethanol is also derived from other starchy grains such as sorghum and barley, and from cellulosic feedstocks like wood chips, crop residues, and grasses. The use of ethanol as fuel is particularly widespread in Brazil, where all fuels must contain a minimum of 25% ethanol, and 87% of newly registered vehicles in 2012 ran on alcohol.
Ethanol is derived from fossil fuels, biomass, or carbon dioxide. Firstly, ethanol is derived from fossil fuels when corn grain, or other starchy grains, are fermented to produce ethanol. This process requires energy, but the energy produced by the ethanol is greater than the amount of energy required to produce it.
Secondly, ethanol is derived from biomass when plant materials, or "biomass feedstocks", are grown, collected, and transported to an ethanol production facility. Examples of biomass feedstocks include wood chips, crop residues, and grasses. The use of biomass to power the process of converting non-food-based feedstocks into cellulosic ethanol reduces the amount of fossil fuel energy used in production.
Thirdly, ethanol can be derived from carbon dioxide through a process called carbon-dioxide-to-ethanol conversion. A study by an international collaboration of scientists has outlined a "roadmap" for successfully converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into ethanol. This process is made possible by bringing together cesium, copper, and zinc oxide in a specific configuration, which allows for the formation of a carbon-carbon bond. This technology has the potential to recycle CO2 emitted from combustion and convert it into usable fuel.
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Ethanol is more expensive to make than gasoline
The amount of ethanol to be used has been mandated as a political decision, intended to please the farm lobby and ethanol producers. However, Congress has set arbitrary amounts to be blended, and they have done so as an absolute number of gallons rather than a proportion of gasoline. This is based on gasoline demand projections, which have been notoriously erroneous.
Ethanol is also less efficient than gasoline, containing 30% less energy by volume. This means that more ethanol is required to achieve the same effect as gasoline, further increasing the costs of production.
In addition, ethanol is bad for cold-starting as it doesn't burn as quickly as gasoline, and it can be corrosive to older car engines. This means that ethanol may not be a practical or cost-effective choice for many consumers, despite appearing cheaper.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, but only certain types. Ethanol, an organic compound found in liquors and beer, can be used as fuel. However, it is not as simple as pouring vodka into your fuel tank. Pure ethanol could theoretically power cars but generally isn't due to numerous reasons, including the high cost of production and the amount of land required to grow enough corn to produce sufficient ethanol.
Ethanol is particularly common in Brazil, where it has been used since the 1980s. In 2012, approximately 87% of newly-registered vehicles in Brazil ran on ethanol. In the US, ethanol is blended with petrol, usually 85% ethanol to 15% petrol, to produce the most common biofuel. In the UK, petrol from the pumps is mixed with 5-10% ethanol.
No. While ethanol is a common fuel, other types of alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol, cannot be used as fuel.
