Mercedes Mullins
Ethanol fuel is a motor fuel that contains ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a biofuel additive for gasoline. Ethanol is also available as E85, which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles that are designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages | N/A |
| Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles | 85% |
| Ethanol is also available as E15, which is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles | 15% |
| All Brazilian light-duty vehicles are built to operate for an ethanol blend of up to 25% (E25) | 25% |
| Since 1993 a federal law requires mixtures between 22% and 25% ethanol, with 25% required as of mid July 2011 | 22-25% |
| All light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10) | 10% |
| At the end of 2010 over 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with ethanol | 90% |
| In January 2011 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver to authorize up to 15% of ethanol blended with gasoline (E15) to be sold only for cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2001 or newer | 15% |
| Pure ethanol contains only 2/3 the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline | 2/3 |
| It takes a nearly a gallon of diesel to farm the materials to create a gallon of Ethanol | 1 gallon of diesel |
What You'll Learn
Ethanol fuel is a biofuel additive for gasoline
Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol as found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline.
Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. Another blend, E15, is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles.
There are several steps involved in making ethanol available as a vehicle fuel: Biomass feedstocks are grown, collected, and transported to an ethanol production facility. Feedstocks are converted to ethanol at a production facility and then transported to a fuel terminal or end-user by rail, truck, or barge. E10 is sourced from fuel terminals whereas E85 is sourced from a terminal or directly from an ethanol production facility.
All Brazilian light-duty vehicles are built to operate for an ethanol blend of up to 25% (E25), and since 1993 a federal law requires mixtures between 22% and 25% ethanol, with 25% required as of mid-July 2011. In the United States, all light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10). At the end of 2010 over 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with ethanol. In January 2011 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver to authorize up to 15% of ethanol blended with gasoline (E15) to be sold only for cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2001 or newer.
The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose. Anhydrous ethanol can be blended with gasoline (petrol) for use in gasoline engines, but with high ethanol content only after engine modifications to meter increased fuel volume since pure ethanol contains only 2/3 the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline.
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Ethanol is available as E85 (up to 83% ethanol)
Ethanol is available as E85, which is up to 83% ethanol and can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, which are designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol. All Brazilian light-duty vehicles are built to operate for an ethanol blend of up to 25% (E25), and since 1993 a federal law requires mixtures between 22% and 25% ethanol, with 25% required as of mid-July 2011. In the United States, all light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10). At the end of 2010 over 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with ethanol. In January 2011 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver to authorize up to 15% of ethanol blended with gasoline (E15) to be sold only for cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2001 or newer.
Ethanol is also available as E15, which is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles. There are several steps involved in making ethanol available as a vehicle fuel: Biomass feedstocks are grown, collected, and transported to an ethanol production facility. Feedstocks are converted to ethanol at a production facility and then transported to a fuel terminal or end-user by rail, truck, or barge. E10 is sourced from fuel terminals whereas E85 is sourced from a terminal or directly from an ethanol production facility.
The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose. Anhydrous ethanol can be blended with gasoline (petrol) for use in gasoline engines, but with high ethanol content only after engine modifications to meter increased fuel volume since pure ethanol contains only 2/3 the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline.
Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol as found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. Several common ethanol fuel mixtures are in use around the world. The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose.
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Ethanol is used in flexible fuel vehicles
Ethanol is a fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%.
Flexible fuel vehicles are manufactured with engines that can run on any fuel from 0% ethanol up to 100% ethanol without modification. All Brazilian light-duty vehicles are built to operate for an ethanol blend of up to 25% (E25), and since 1993 a federal law requires mixtures between 22% and 25% ethanol, with 25% required as of mid-July 2011. In the United States, all light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10).
Ethanol is also available as E15, which is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles. In January 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver to authorize up to 15% of ethanol blended with gasoline (E15) to be sold only for cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2001 or newer.
The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose. Anhydrous ethanol can be blended with gasoline (petrol) for use in gasoline engines, but with high ethanol content only after engine modifications to meter increased fuel volume since pure ethanol contains only 2/3 the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline.
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Ethanol blends up to 25% are used in Brazil
Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol as found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline.
In the United States, all light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10). At the end of 2010, over 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with ethanol. In January 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver to authorize up to 15% of ethanol blended with gasoline (E15) to be sold only for cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2001 or newer.
Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. Another blend, E15, is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles.
If you see a car with flex fuel listed as a feature, this type of vehicle can utilize ethanol as a fuel source. Fuel stations in the US utilize 10% ethanol in most gasoline-based fuels. In addition, many stations offer E-85 which is 85% ethanol.
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Ethanol blends up to 15% are used in the US
Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. Many cars and light trucks are designed to be flexible-fuel vehicles using ethanol blends up to 85% (E85).
If you see a car with flex fuel listed as a feature, this type of vehicle can utilize ethanol as a fuel source. Fuel stations in the US utilize 10% ethanol in most gasoline-based fuels. In addition, many stations offer E-85, which is 85% ethanol.
The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose. Anhydrous ethanol can be blended with gasoline (petrol) for use in gasoline engines, but with high ethanol content only after engine modifications to meter increased fuel volume since pure ethanol contains only 2/3 the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline.
Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol as found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline.
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Frequently asked questions
Ethanol fuel is fuel containing ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol as found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a biofuel additive for gasoline.
Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. Another blend, E15, is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles.
All Brazilian light-duty vehicles are built to operate for an ethanol blend of up to 25% (E25), and since 1993 a federal law requires mixtures between 22% and 25% ethanol, with 25% required as of mid-July 2011. In the United States, all light-duty vehicles are built to operate normally with an ethanol blend of 10% (E10). At the end of 2010, over 90 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with ethanol.
Ethanol fuel is a renewable resource and can be produced from biomass feedstocks, such as corn or sugarcane. It is also a cleaner-burning fuel compared to gasoline, as it produces fewer emissions and reduces air pollution.
