[edit] E85 Ethanol Gas | Flex Fuel | Ethanol
There has been much talk of flex fuel and E85-ready engines. Automakers are expanding their lineup of E85-compatible vehicles to comply with emissions standards and to appeal to a more environmentally conscious car buying public. E85 is an alcohol-fuel mixture that contains up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline by volume, hence the term E85. While not as readily available as regular unleaded gasoline, E85 is less expensive at the pump, burns with fewer emissions and is derived primarily from organic material. On the downside, E85 gas also generates less power, which results in significantly less mileage. Many drivers report the use of E85 is often a wash from a money saving standpoint.
[edit] E85 Controversy
Even though ethanol has been around since the days of Henry Ford, opinions are still divided as to the benefits provided by the production and use of ethanol as a motor fuel. Ethanol is touted as a renewable resource that does not need to be imported, but because the biomass needed to make ethanol is limited, ethanol is being imported in large quantities. Statistics kept by the United States International Trade Commission indicate 400 million gallons of ethanol was imported from Brazil in 2006. Brazil produces ethanol from sugar cane, which is more efficient than corn. Because of environmental conditions, government support and lower overall costs associated with producing ethanol in Brazil, it is currently less expensive for wholesalers to import ethanol than it is to purchase it from U.S. producers. This imbalance will flatten as U.S. producers ramp up capacity, but ramping up capacity has its own problems.
| Money saved at the gas station is taken back at the grocery store.
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The primary ingredient used to produce ethanol in the U.S. is corn. Corn and derivative products such as corn syrup and vegetable oil are used in a vast array of industries, but are most prevalent in food products.The transfer of resources from corn produced as a food ingredient to an ingredient in ethanol production decreases the supply available to food producers, and therefor raises their cost. When the cost to produce food goes up, so does the cost of food at the retail level. Money saved at the gas station is taken back at the grocery store. This is one of the keystones used by critics who claim ethanol does not save money, but instead just redistributes it.
The financial aspect of ethanol is just half the story. Ethanol supporters often cite studies that declare ethanol a cleaner burning fuel, which is good for the environment. Even though ethanol burns with overall fewer emissions, studies indicate ethanol increases the emissions of several cancer-causing carcinogens, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Ethanol also contributes to ozone emissions and related environmental and health problems associated with ozone.
| As technology progresses, the production of ethanol should become more efficient.
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The use of ethanol is just part of the bigger picture. An additional environmental concern is the energy used to produce ethanol. The life cycle of a gallon of ethanol is long, complex and consumes a surprisingly large amount of energy before it even hits your gas tank. Hundreds of gallons of water are used to produce each gallon of ethanol. This water us consists primarily of water used for irrigation, but water is used throughout the ethanol production process for washing, cooling and other uses. Irrigation water creates runoff, which carries with it the consequences of erosion and the spread of groundwater contaminants such as fertilizers and pesticides. Irrigation also saps the supply of fresh water available for home use in drought-stricken areas.
The water consumption is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the energy consumed in growing the corn, distilling the alcohol, mixing the ethanol, storage and finally the delivery of the ethanol fuel to a gas station near you. Ethanol can't be piped due to moisture absorption, so it has to be delivered via systems that burn enormous amounts of fuel -- such rail and truck. Add to this all of the other resources that are consumed -- such as electricity (much of it via coal-fired power plants), labor, construction of facilities, administration, fuels, waste management, and chemicals to name a few -- and ethanol becomes a less attractive option. As technology progresses, the production of ethanol should become more efficient.
Additional costs rise from upgrading existing delivery infrastructure and the construction of new delivery outlets. Both the production and delivery infrastructure of ethanol is concentrated in the Midwest, the heart of corn production. In Wisconsin and Minnesota, for example, E85 fuel is readily available at hundreds of gas stations. However, there are entire swaths of the country that have no access to ethanol-based fuels.
[edit] E85 Compatibility
Few vehicles on the North American market are fully E85 compatible, and automobiles that are not rated for E85 should not be used with the fuel. Seals and other internal engine components such as fuel delivery, emissions and the exhaust system must be compatible with the ethanol fuel or premature failure and wear can occur. Converting a regular fuel vehicle into an E85-compatible vehicle is possible, but the cost and technical complexity can be a barrier. If unsure whether your vehicle is ready for E85, check your owners manual or ask your dealer.
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