E85 is…
E85 is a clean-burning alternative to petroleum gasoline. Derived from fermented grains and sugars, it is formulated for use in FlexFuel engines. Unlike petroleum, E85 is made from renewable resources like corn, and next generation sources such as switch grass and agricultural waste material. Using E85 not only decreases CO2 emissions by up to 21%, but has also helped cut the consumption of crude oil by one million barrels a day. In addition, E85 ethanol improves vehicle performance due to a higher octane rating which provides more horsepower and torque.
Food and Fuel
Grown in the USA—feedstocks for E85 production are farmed and refined domestically.
Ethanol production simultaneously produces both food products and clean fuel. Ethanol is produced from the starchy portion of the corn kernel leaving the proteins, fats and other nutrients for a variety of food products. These food products include distillers grains for animal feed, corn gluten meal and corn oil used in food processing. Ethanol is just one product of the agricultural crop’s output and can be used to create a clean-burning, renewable fuel.
Environmental Benefits
In 2007, ethanol use in the U.S. reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 10.1 million tons, equal to removing more than 1.5 million cars from America's roadways. This analysis generated by the GREET Model, examines the total life cycle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, from farm to fuel, of ethanol production. Overall, ethanol is shown to have a net reduction of harmful pollutants. E85 use reduces:
- CO2 emissions by an average of 21%
- Carbon monoxide (a major contributor to smog) emissions by up to 30%
- Cancer-causing particulate matter (PM) emissions by 50%
E85 GHG reductions based on various energy input sources:
Source: U.S. DOE, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Energy Balance: Is E85 more efficient than gasoline?
E85 yields more energy than is used in its production. This includes all the energy used to grow it, make it, transport it and distribute it.
More Power to Its Punch
The difference between how much energy is created when producing these top fuel sources:
Fuel |
Energy IN |
Energy OUT(Longer bars are better) |
|---|---|---|
Ethanol |
1.0 |
|
Petro-diesel |
1.0 |
|
Gasoline |
1.0 |
|
1.34
0.84Joint study by U.S. Dept of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA), 1998.
Food vs Fuel: Is ethanol production hurting our food supply?
Ethanol production does not jeopardize food supplies. In 2007, American farmers grew 13.1 billion bushels of corn on 85 million acres. Of that, 22% went to make about 7 billion gallons of ethanol. Enough corn remained to supply the domestic market, increase exports to record levels, and stockpile a 10% surplus. And crop yields are projected to continue to increase.
No single factor is driving up food prices. Rather a combination of issues contribute, including higher fuel prices, which have lead to increased costs of production and transport for agricultural commodities. Raw agricultural product costs account for less than 20% of the price of food. Additionally, prices consumers pay at the store are impacted most by marketing, labor and energy costs. According to the USDA the increase in agricultural commodity prices has caused retail food prices to increase by just 5% in 2008.
Why is E85 it better?
- Grown in the USA
- Reduces dependence on foreign oil by 1 million barrels a day
- Cleaner than petroleum
- Reduces emissions
- Higher octane and better performance for FlexFuel vehicles
Web Resources
