What Is E85?

E85 fuel is a blend of 85% ethanol and just 15% petroleum that is designed for use in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). Ethanol can be made from virtually any starch feedstock, such as sugar cane, wheat or milo. Today, US ethanol is produced mainly from corn, an abundant and renewable source. A bushel of field corn will yield 1.6 lbs of corn oil, 10.9 lbs of high protein feed (distillers dried grains or DDG), 2.6 lbs of corn meal and 31.5 lbs of starch-which can be converted to beverages, sweeteners or 2.7 gallons of fuel ethanol. Some ethanol producers are running at even higher efficiencies. The US Department of Agriculture reports a net energy balance for ethanol production of 1.67. In other words, for every one unit of energy used to produce ethanol and its accompanying co-products, 1.67 units of energy results. However, the US Department of Energy reports that petroleum refining can actually have a negative energy balance. For example, every unit of energy expended in gasoline production is reported to result in only 0.79 units of energy in the form of gasoline.

E85 has several benefits as a renewable-based fuel. It helps reduce tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the economy and reducing our need for overseas oil imports. It’s also very easy to use.

E85 is environment-friendly. It has the highest oxygen content of any fuel available today, allowing it to burn more completely (cleaner) than conventional gasoline. E85 contains 80% less gum-forming compounds, like the olefins found in gasoline. Production and use of E85 results in a nearly 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Many major U.S. cities suffer from unhealthy levels of smog (ground-level ozone). E85 may be able to help. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that high-blend ethanol fuels can significantly reduce harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide (-40%) and smog-forming pollutants (-15%).