A number of car companies have flex-fuel vehicles available which can take E85, an ethanol-based fuel, instead of regular gasoline, and more gas stations are starting to carry it. But, what are the facts when it comes to E85? Ethanol based fuels, like E85, have a lot of advantages over traditional gasoline.
Because E85 is created using ethanol, a plant-based fuel, instead of one based on fossil fuels like traditional gasoline, E85 is a renewable resource. E85 is also biodegradable and has lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional gasoline, according the U.S. Department of Energy.
According to the Renewable Fuel Association, ethanol-based fuels, like E85, reduce carbon emissions by as much as 30 percent.
Lower carbon dioxide emissions mean less smog. According to the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, since 1990, use of ethanol-based fuels, like E85, have reduced smog-forming emissions by as much as 25 percent .
Ethanol for E85 and other ethanol-based fuels can be obtained from a variety of plant-based sources, including wood byproducts, corn stalks, energy crops, like sorghum, and municipal waste, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Although E85 fuel does burn faster, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, vehicles using ethanol-based fuels achieve higher horsepower and overall performance. So, your vehicle will last longer.
