Ethanol and E85 - Fuels Of The Future?
Are Ethanol & Ethanol Blends Viable Alternative Fuels?
Pure ethanol or E100 is also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol. It is made when corn, grain, or other agricultural products are fermented, distilled, and denatured and because of this, it is a continually renewable resource, a true benefit in the world of alternative fuels. Another benefit is the fact that, unlike many other, mainly petroleum based, fuels, it contributes nothing to the build-up of greenhouse gases. Because of its renewable nature, it is possible to extensively reduce a nation's dependence on foreign oil products.
Pure ethanol is never used as an alternative fuel, but ethanol blends are. For example, E10 is a fuel made of 10 percent ethanol and blended with 90 percent gasoline. The most promising blend for the future is E85, a fuel made of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 is officially classified by the U.S. Department of Energy as an alternative energy fuel. It could be used in most cars today that are run on gasoline with some modification, and new, flexible fuel vehicles, are being developed that could use E85. Recently, lobbyists have been pushing for its use in FFVs or flexible fuel vehicles, alternative vehicles that have a lesser impact on the environment than today's gas guzzling car.
E85 Properties
Why is E85 gaining in popularity to the point that lines of vehicles are being developed that will run on it alone? Compare it to the properties of gasoline, and see for yourself:
- It is a renewable resource
- Reduces dependence on foreign oil
- Reduces smog and emissions
- 96 octane to 86-94 octane in gasoline
- 12,500 lower heating value to 18,000-19,000 lower heating value of gasoline
- 1.4 gallons of E85 is equal to 1 gallon gasoline
- Per gallon, E85 gets 72% of the miles that gasoline gets
- Holding tank is 1.4 times larger than a gasoline holding tank
- In cold weather, E85 starts the car as well as gasoline
- Vehicle power is increased 3-5% with E85
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
A flexible fuel vehicle is a car that runs on any ethanol blend, E85 or less, and can also run on regular unleaded gas. They have been in production for almost a decade and continue to be built by some major car manufacturers including Ford, GM, Mercury, Isuzu, and more. Over 2 million of today’s vehicles are flexible fuel vehicles, which can run on ethanol, gasoline, or a mixture of the two. You may own one of these FFV's without even being aware of it. Some of the benefits of flexible fuel vehicles include:
- Emissions that create smog are reduced 25 percent
- Cost effectiveness is equal to that of cars run on gasoline
- Similar warranties and original equipment are manufactured as they are for gasoline run vehicles
- Emissions that create greenhouse gases are reduced 35 to 40 percent
- Vehicle horsepower increased up to 5 percent
- Fuel is renewable
- New vehicles can be ordered with a flexible fuel engine option
- More and more E85 pumps are springing up all over the country
- Gasoline can be mixed with any amount of E85 if E85 is not available
Hybrid Vehicles And Ethanol
Most cars, including hybrid cars have no problems with a 10 percent ethanol blend. However, at this time, the combination of E85 and the hybrid car is only slowly making its way from the drawing board to the highway. Some instances have occurred where the two have been combined, but these are primarily in fleet situations and concept cars so far. However, it shouldn't be too long before you can buy a hybrid car that will run on E85.
Drawbacks of E85
There are a few disadvantages to E85 at this point in the game, though they hardly outweigh the benefits. Some of these include:
- The cost of E85 is formidable due to the cost of the fermentation process but research has already begun to develop a new and cheaper fermentation process that utilizes lower-grade feed stocks.
- Ethanol is quite a bit more corrosive than gasoline, which could lead to engine problems.
- Issues of things like vapor lock, flame visibility, and cold starts have experts concerned.
- The miles per gallon of E85 is less efficient than the miles per gallons of gasoline.
- It's not easy to find E85 gasoline tanks because distribution is difficult.
One present disadvantage that does outweigh the ecological value for the consumer is the scarcity of locations selling E85. This will probably continue to change over time however. For those in the military, there are some military bases where E85 can be found.
Despite the limitations, ethanol based alternative fuels like E85 are an incredible improvement over the use of gasoline. Some car manufacturers are offering to upgrade regular engines to E85 capability for no cost, and the fact that flexible fuel vehicles are not reliant upon E85 but can use gasoline in any combination with the ethanol blend makes it a simple choice. Scientists and researchers are working on ways to fix the remaining issues. This new technology is more than a trend but the direction in which the future is taking drivers.
You can learn more about alternative fuels and flexible fuel vehicles, including what vehicles are flexible fuel vehicles, and where to find E85, at the United States Government's Alternative Fuel Data Center. You can locate them online at http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/fuel_inf.html
The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He is keenly interested in the fuels of the future, America's dependence on foreign oil, the physical limits of stores of petroleum based products, and the futures of his grandchildren. Visit the author's links to learn more about hybrid cars, and fuel economy.
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E85 Ethanol as an Alternative to Gasoline; are Flex Fuels the Answer?
Flex Fuel Marketing Efforts Depend on Supply Chain Distribution
Can E85 Take Off as an Alternative Fuel?
Ford is planning on ramping up production on their mini-SUV escape models and GM has announced producing flex fuel models, which can also run on either gasoline or E85. If the major US Automakers can agree on E85 and make cars, trucks and SUVs to run on E85, then we can bring it from Midwest US Ethanol Refineries to East Coast via rail and CA to be used. These markets have many environmentally conscious folks who would partake in a change for the common good. Is it possible with the tremendous infrastructure requirements to get all this E85 to market? Will we have enough?
We must also create a supply network gas stations to offer E85 Flex Fuel. Once the Ethanol E85 is brought in we will need storage facilities and since refineries have space, we should build the fuel storage tanks there. However for refinery storage to be built quickly to coincide with the fact ramp up of E85 cars that both GM and Ford are planning to build; there must be fast track EIRs and incentives for jobbers and wholesalers too.
We must also be cognizant that the big oil boys need to have an option to play with us here at home in our sand box and learn to share the plastic shovels with all. And if it makes sense economically for them, of course they will. Don't worry everyone gets paid, that’s the plan and the benefactor of all this collaboration will be the American People, as we kick our addiction to foreign oil.
Visit this link to check out Lance Winslow's report on Flex Fuel distribution:http://oilchangeguys.com/oilbbs/index.php?s=560e04d5ca8888d5927fec335a373cb7&showtopic=76
Visit Lance Winslow's Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World. (www.WorldThinkTank.net)
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The Benefits of Ethanol as an Alternative Fuel
E85 & Other Ethanol Blends Have Key Advantages
- E85 is easy to use and handle - E85 fueling equipment is slightly different and of similar cost to equipment used to store and dispense petroleum fuels. In some cases, it may be possible to convert your existing petroleum equipment to handle E85.
- Using E85 reduces petroleum consumption - Use of E85 will reduce a fleet's overall use of petroleum and replace it with a renewable-based fuel produced ("grown") in the United States.
- E85 is good for the environment - Beyond operational ease, E85 offers considerable environmental benefits. To learn more about fuel economy, greenhouse gas scores, and air pollution scores for individual vehicles, go to the U.S. Department of Energy/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's on-line Fuel Economy Guide. You can search for E85-fueled vehicles by selecting "flexible-fueled vehicles" in the "Select Vehicle Type" pull-down menu. Once you are there, select individual vehicles to get fuel economy, greenhouse gas, and air pollution details.
Additionally, Ethanol Offers these Promising Advantages
- Reduced ozone-forming and overall toxic tailpipe emissions
- Reduced fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide)
- It is primarily composed of ethyl alcohol (ethanol), derived from renewable resources
- Ethanol is biodegradable and much less of a spill threat to surface and ground water than petroleum-based fuel spills.
The Benefits of Ethanol-Powered Flexible Fuel Vehicles
- Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are available and affordable - FFVs specifically designed to run on E85 are becoming more common each model year, and FFVs are typically available as standard equipment with little or no incremental cost. See the current model year FFVs.
- FFVs have flexible fueling options - FFVs may operate on gasoline, and, in fact, most of the 4 million FFVs on US roadways do today. Although that is not a positive from an E85-use standpoint, it does underscore the flexibility FFVs offer fleets. When E85 is not available, or an FFV travels outside the fueling network, a driver may simply fuel with either fuel as the situation dictates.
Article Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
