Sylvie Willis
Ethanol fuel is a renewable fuel typically made from food crops, used cooking oil, wood waste, or, in New Zealand, from dairy industry by-products. It can be blended with petrol or diesel fuel to improve fuel economy and performance. The use of ethanol fuel depends on the vehicle's engine type and model year. Most cars post-1986 can run on E10 fuel, which contains 10% ethanol, while older cars that ran on leaded fuel or are carbureted cannot. Some car manufacturers, such as Volvo and Volkswagen, offer vehicles that can use higher ethanol blends, such as E85. It's important to check the minimum octane rating and the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations before using ethanol fuel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ethanol Fuel Blend | E85, E100, hE15, E10, E5, E3 |
| Ethanol Percentage | 85%, 100%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 3% |
| Compatibility | Most cars post-1986 can run on E10. Most cars that once ran on leaded fuel or are carbureted cannot. |
| Fuel Economy | Minimal increase in fuel economy of vehicles using ethanol-blended petrol |
| Performance | Performance may be improved due to the higher oxygen content in bioethanol |
| Environmental Impact | Ethanol-blended petrol burns more cleanly and reduces carbon dioxide emissions |
| Country-Specific Usage | Used in the US, Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, New Zealand, Australia |
| Vehicle Types | Cars, light trucks, motorcycles, light flex-fuel vehicles, modern gasoline cars |
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What You'll Learn
E10 ethanol fuel
E10 is a blend of fuel composed of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. It is also known as gasohol. E10 is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in any conventional, gasoline-powered vehicle. It is also approved for use in all new U.S. automobiles.
E10 is used to reduce air pollution and carbon monoxide emissions. It is also used to boost octane and meet air quality requirements. The use of E10 was spurred by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, which mandated the sale of oxygenated fuels in areas with unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide.
E10 is the most common ethanol blend, used in more than 20 countries worldwide. It is available in every state in the U.S. and became standard in the UK in September 2021. It is also used in Thailand, where it replaced 91 octane pure gasoline in 2013. Other countries that have approved the use of E10 include Panama, Bolivia, Venezuela, and India.
While E10 is suitable for most modern automobiles and light-duty vehicles, it is not recommended for use in aircraft. It is also not suitable for use in marine vehicles, and owners of older vehicles should contact their manufacturer before using E10.
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E85 flex-fuel vehicles
E85, or flex fuel, is a blend of gasoline and ethanol, containing between 51% and 85% ethanol, depending on the season and region. E85 flex-fuel vehicles have an internal combustion engine and are capable of running on any mixture of unleaded gasoline and ethanol, from 0% to 85% ethanol by volume. Both fuels are mixed in the same tank and E85 is sold pre-blended.
However, there are also some drawbacks to using E85. It is not available at all filling stations, and vehicles using E85 travel fewer miles per gallon due to ethanol containing less energy than gasoline. It is important to note that E85 should only be used in flex-fuel vehicles, as it will damage a traditional gasoline engine.
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Biofuel pros and cons
Biofuels are renewable fuels made from biomass, such as plant or algae material, or animal waste. They are considered environmentally friendly because they produce much less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, which are the chief source of greenhouse gas emissions. Biofuels are also carbon-neutral or carbon-negative, depending on the source of biomass used, how it is grown and harvested, and how it is processed. This makes biofuels a cleaner option for generating energy.
Biofuels are commonly used in cars and buses. In the United States, ethanol biofuel is primarily made from corn grain and is blended with gasoline to produce "gasohol," which is 10% ethanol. In Brazil, ethanol biofuel is derived from sugarcane and is used as 100% ethanol fuel or in gasoline blends containing 85% ethanol. Other sources of biofuel include used cooking oil, wood waste, and dairy industry by-products.
Pros of Biofuel
The use of biofuel has several advantages:
- It is a renewable source of energy, which means it can be replenished readily, unlike fossil fuels.
- It produces less carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, helping to reduce the impact of global warming.
- It is made from organic materials that would otherwise be wasted, such as crop residues and food processing waste.
- It can be added to liquid petroleum to increase energy content and reduce emissions.
- It requires less land to produce than creating oil from fossil fuels.
- It reduces health risks by using fewer toxic chemicals than fossil fuels.
- It can improve engine performance due to the higher oxygen content in bio-ethanol.
Cons of Biofuel
There are also some drawbacks to consider:
- Biofuels are made from crops that could otherwise be used for food, which may impact food prices and the availability of arable land for food production.
- The production process has natural impurities (such as salt, vitamins, minerals, and nitrogen) that can cause problems if they are overloaded in the biofuel, potentially leading to health issues for those handling or consuming the fuel.
- The technology for producing biofuels has not advanced as quickly as other energy production technologies, sometimes resulting in less efficient and less safe methods.
- Biofuels are organic and therefore susceptible to corrosion.
- Ethanol-blended fuel should not be used for marine and aviation purposes, and it may not be suitable for older vehicles or those with carburetors.
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Ethanol-blend fuel
However, it is important to note that ethanol-blend fuel may not be suitable for all vehicles. While E10 is approved for use in any conventional, gasoline-powered vehicle, E15 is only approved for use in model year 2001 and newer light-duty conventional vehicles. FFVs, which are designed to run on E85, gasoline, or any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%, may also use intermediate blends such as E25 and E30. Vehicle manufacturers should be consulted to determine if a vehicle is suitable for ethanol-blend fuel.
The use of ethanol-blend fuel has been mandated or approved in several countries and states. For example, in the US, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 mandated the sale of oxygenated fuels in areas with unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide, leading to the growth of the ethanol industry. As a result, most US gasoline contains up to 10% ethanol. Similarly, in 2006, at least 36 states/provinces and 17 countries at the national level had mandates for blending bioethanol into vehicle fuels, with most requiring a blend of 10% to 15% ethanol. In Brazil, blends from E20 to E25 have been used since the late 1970s, while in Vietnam, all 92-octane fuel is mandated to contain 5% ethanol.
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Flex-fuel vehicles in Europe
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. As of 2008, a total of 70% of all flexifuel vehicles operating in the EU were registered in Sweden.
In Europe, FFVs are also known as "flexifuel" vehicles. Automakers, particularly in the European market, use badging in their FFV models with some variants of the word "flex", such as Volvo Flexifuel, or Volkswagen Total Flex, or Chevrolet FlexPower or Renault Hi-Flex. Ford sells its Focus model in Europe as Flexifuel and as Flex in Brazil. In 2005, both Volvo and Saab introduced their flexifuel models to the Swedish market. Saab began selling its 9-5 2.0 Biopower, joined in 2006 by its 9-5 2.3 Biopower. Volvo introduced its S40 and V50 with flexible-fuel engines, joined in late 2006 by the new C30. All Volvo models were initially restricted to the Sweden market, until 2007, when these three models were launched in eight new European markets.
In 2007, Saab also started selling a BioPower version of its popular Saab 9-3 line. In 2008, the Saab-derived Cadillac BLS was introduced with E85 compatible engines, and Volvo launched the V70 with a 2.5-litre turbocharged Flexifuel engine. Peugeot, Renault, and Citroën offer FFV (E85) models in several European countries, including Sweden, Benelux, France, and Switzerland. Audi offers the following FFV (E85) models in Sweden, Benelux, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Biofuel is a renewable fuel typically made from food crops, used cooking oil, wood waste, or, in New Zealand, from dairy industry by-products. Biofuel can either be petrol blended with a maximum of 10% bioethanol or diesel blended with a maximum of 5% biodiesel. While ethanol contains less energy than normal petrol, any increase in the fuel economy of a vehicle using ethanol-blended petrol should be minimal. However, bioethanol does contain more oxygen, so fuel will burn better and performance may be improved.
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Frequently asked questions
Ethanol fuel is a renewable fuel typically made from food crops, used cooking oil, wood waste, or, in New Zealand, from dairy industry by-products. It can be blended with petrol or diesel fuel.
Ethanol fuel burns more cleanly than standard fuel, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced by your car.
E10 fuel contains 10% ethanol by volume. In Australia, E10 is the maximum ethanol allowed in standard fuels. Most cars post-1986 can run on E10, but it is not suitable for older cars that ran on leaded fuel or are carbureted.
E85 fuel contains 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It is commonly used in the US and Europe for flex-fuel vehicles.
In addition to the Ford models mentioned previously, Volvo and Volkswagen also offer flex-fuel vehicles that can run on ethanol fuel.
