Regan Brown
E85, also known as flex fuel, is a blend of gasoline and ethanol that can be used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs). In Tennessee, E85 typically contains 51-83% ethanol, with the remaining percentage being gasoline. The price of E85 in Tennessee is influenced by factors such as location, local fuel taxes, and ethanol production costs, and it is generally cheaper in Midwestern states where ethanol production is higher. While E85 costs less per gallon than regular gasoline, vehicles using it may experience a decrease in fuel economy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is flex fuel? | A blend of gasoline and ethanol, also known as E85 |
| Ethanol percentage in flex fuel | Between 51% to 85% |
| Flex fuel vehicles | Can use E85, regular unleaded, or any mix of the two |
| Traditional gasoline engines | Cannot use E85 |
| Flex fuel cost | Varies depending on location, local fuel taxes, and ethanol production costs |
| Fuel economy with flex fuel | Lower than with regular gasoline |
| Flex fuel emissions | Lower than with regular gasoline |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
E85 flex fuel costs
E85, also known as flex fuel, is a blend of up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It is a type of flexible fuel that can be used in modified vehicles known as flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). These vehicles can use straight gasoline or any blend of ethanol up to 85%.
In Tennessee, ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be blended with gasoline and used in motor vehicles. While the typical blend found at convenience stores across the state is E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), E85 is growing in sales across the US.
The retail price for E85 fuel in the United States was 3.56 US dollars per gasoline gallon equivalent on October 1, 2024. This price tends to be around 0.20 to 0.30 US dollars more than regular gasoline, although the discrepancy was greater in 2022. The lowest fuel prices were recorded in April 2020, at the height of the pandemic-induced oil crisis, when the E85 fuel price was 2.28 US dollars per gasoline gallon equivalent.
Ethanol is a cleaner-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable resources such as corn, other starch-containing plant materials (biomass), and cellulosic materials such as switchgrass and crop residues. In the United States, ethanol is primarily derived from the starch in corn grain.
Hydrogen Fuel's Electricity Consumption: What's the Bottom Line?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Flex fuel vehicles
Flex-fuel vehicles, also known as flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) or dual-fuel vehicles, are automobiles designed to run on multiple fuels. They have an internal combustion engine capable of operating on gasoline and any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83% ethanol (E85). FFVs can also run on 100% ethanol (E100) or on E20 to E25, Brazil's normal ethanol gasoline blend. In Brazil, FFVs are known as "total flex" or simply "flex" cars, while in Europe, they are called "flexifuel" vehicles.
FFVs have been produced since the 1990s, and as of 2022, there were over 20.9 million FFVs in the United States alone. They are distinguished from bi-fuel vehicles, where two different fuels are stored in separate tanks, and the engine runs on one fuel at a time. In contrast, FFVs store both fuels in the same common tank, and modern flex-fuel engines can burn any proportion of the resulting blend as fuel injection and spark timing are automatically adjusted according to the blend detected by a fuel composition sensor.
The most common commercially available FFV worldwide is the ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle, with about 60 million automobiles, motorcycles, and light-duty trucks manufactured and sold globally by March 2018. The popularity of these vehicles is concentrated in Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Europe, particularly Sweden. In the US, FFVs are often identified by a yellow gas cap with the label "E85/Gasoline", while in Europe, automakers use badging with some variation of the word "flex" to indicate FFV models.
FFVs offer several advantages, including improved acceleration performance when operating on higher ethanol blends. They are also considered alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 for fleets complying with federal acquisition regulations. However, it is important to note that fuel economy (miles per gallon) generally decreases with higher levels of ethanol due to the lower energy content per volume compared to gasoline. As a result, FFV owners may experience a reduction of 15% to 27% in miles per gallon when using E85 fuel compared to gasoline.
Lucas Fuel Treatment: How Much to Add to Your Oil?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![[2-Pack] Reusable Ethanol Testing Kit - Wide Mouth Fuel Test Bottle for E85 and Ethanol Levels - Fewer Spills and Clear Results in Minutes - Test Hundreds of Times - Two Ethanol Test Bottles Included](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71sU-J0V11L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Ethanol-gasoline blends
In Tennessee, ethanol is blended with gasoline and used in motor vehicles. Ethanol is a grain alcohol that is produced from various plant materials, collectively known as biomass. In the United States, ethanol is primarily produced from the starch in corn grain, but it can also be made from cellulosic materials such as switchgrass and crop residues.
Ethanol is blended with gasoline to boost octane, meet air quality requirements, and satisfy renewable fuel standards. The most common blend is E10, which is composed of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. E10 is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in any conventional, gasoline-powered vehicle and is sold in every state. Most of the gasoline in the United States contains up to 10% ethanol. E10 is also the primary source of U.S. ethanol consumption.
Another common blend is E15, which contains between 10.5% and 15% ethanol. E15 is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty conventional vehicles. E15 is available from fuel terminals or through blender pump dispensers that draw from E10 and E85 tanks at a station.
E85, also known as flex fuel, is an ethanol-gasoline blend containing between 51% and 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season. E85 can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), which have an internal combustion engine designed to run on E85, gasoline, or any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. FFVs can also use intermediate blends such as E25 (25% ethanol, 75% gasoline) and E30 (30% ethanol, 70% gasoline).
The use of ethanol blends can result in lower vehicle fuel economy compared to gasoline without ethanol due to ethanol's lower energy content per gallon. However, ethanol is a renewable and cleaner-burning alternative fuel that can reduce air pollution and stimulate the economy by reducing oil imports.
Shipping's Dirty Secret: Heavy Fuel Oil Emissions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Flex fuel stations in Tennessee
In Tennessee, flex fuel is typically E85—a blend of 51% to 83% ethanol and the remainder gasoline. Ethanol is a grain alcohol produced from renewable resources such as corn and other starch-containing plant materials (biomass). It can also be made from cellulosic materials such as switchgrass and crop residues.
Flex fuel vehicles have modified fuel systems that allow them to use E85, straight gasoline, or any blend of ethanol up to 85%. Many gasoline stations provide a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, which can be used by vehicles without any modifications.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) maintains a list of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that are available to purchase. This list includes offerings from OEMs/auto brands dating back to the 1990s, so consumers can shop for used FFVs as well.
While E85 is now considered "flex fuel," there are also growing sales of E15 and "mid-level blends" like E30 and E40 across the US. However, these mid-level blends are not yet widely available in Tennessee.
Fuel Gallon CO2 Emissions: How Much is Too Much?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
E85 vs regular gasoline
E85 is an ethanol-heavy blend of gasoline that generally uses ethanol from domestic sources, such as corn. It is a liquid fuel consisting of up to 85% ethanol, with the rest being gasoline. It is pitched as an alternative to pure gasoline and is usually cheaper. In Michigan, for example, the average price for E85 is $4.06 per gallon, which is over $1 per gallon cheaper than normal gasoline.
E85 does get less mileage than regular gas, so it may not be worth it unless it is at a significant discount (20% or more) compared to gasoline. It can also be difficult to find, as it is in short supply and not all gas stations offer it. It also requires a flex-fuel vehicle with equipment designed for it, so not all cars are compatible.
E85 has a lower stoichiometric ratio (the amount of air required to burn 1 mole of fuel) than standard pump gas. This means that to extract the same amount of power from an engine running on pump gas, more E85 fuel is required. However, E85 produces more energy with a stoichiometric mixture.
For those with compatible vehicles, E85 can be a good option for saving money and reducing environmental impact, as ethanol is a cleaner-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable resources. In Tennessee, ethanol is available as E85 (51-83% ethanol) and E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), with E10 being the most common option found at convenience stores across the state.
Space Launch Fuel: Understanding the Massive Energy Requirements
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Flex fuel, also known as E85, is a blend of ethanol and gasoline. The ethanol component is typically made from plant materials, such as corn.
The ethanol-gasoline ratio in E85 flex fuel varies between 51% and 85% ethanol, depending on the season and region. During colder months, E85 often has lower levels of ethanol to aid cold-weather starting.
E85 flex fuel typically costs less per gallon than regular gasoline. However, vehicles using E85 tend to achieve lower miles per gallon, so it's worth comparing costs before filling up.
Many major gas station chains in Tennessee sell E85 flex fuel, including Shell, Exxon, BP, and Maverik. E85 is generally more common in the Midwestern states where ethanol production is higher. In urban areas, it is often available at larger fueling stations near highways and intersections.
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on E85. These vehicles have modified fuel systems that can also use regular unleaded gasoline or any blend of the two. A badge with "Flex-Fuel", "FFV", or "E85" on the rear of the vehicle, or a yellow gas cap, typically indicates that it is an FFV.
