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Ethanol

| Ethanol Vehicles | Fuel Availability | Additional Resources | Ethanol Blend Strategies |

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel produced from a variety of sources. The most common method is the fermentation and distillation of grain crops, principally corn. Waste products from agricultural and forest practices, called "cellulosic biomass", are also being used as ethanol feedstocks.

McChord Air Force Base was the first fleet in the state to use E85. The ethanol fuel facility opened in the fall of 2002.

Ethanol is most commonly used as a low-percentage blend to increase octane and improve the emissions of gasoline. According to the US Department of Energy, approximately 2 billion gallons of ethanol are added to gasoline each year as an oxygenate to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. Most vehicles manufactured today are designed to operate on low-percentage ethanol blends, such as E10 (10 percent ethanol). See our ethanol blends page for more information on low-percentage ethanol blends. 

High-percentage blends of ethanol are also being used. E85 is a high-percentage blend, consisting of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Blends of at least 85 percent ethanol are considered alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). E85 is used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) developed to operate on either E85 or gasoline. FFVs operating on E85 typically exhibit comparable power, acceleration, payload, and cruise speed of vehicles operating on conventional fuels. More than 3 million FFVs, including sedans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, are currently being used in the United States, though most are powered by gasoline due to the limited availability or higher price of E85, or simply due to owners being unaware that they have the option to fuel with ethanol.

There are currently more than 35,000 FFVs in Washington State, however,  there are currently no publicly accessible E85 fueling stations. Two fleets, McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis, are using E85 their fleet vehicles as part of their sustainability efforts. Efforts are underway to establish an ethanol industry in Washington State, including ethanol production and E85 fuel stations. Washington State has adopted tax incentives to encourage the development of in-state production facilities, distribution services and retail sales facilities for ethanol fuel.

Environmental & health benefits: Emissions reductions for E85 range from 30 to 50 percent reductions in hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide. Life-cycle reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide (CO2)) are also significant.

Safety characteristics: Ethanol, in general, has a higher flash point than gasoline, thus posing less risk.  At low temperatures (32 degrees), E85 vapor is more flammable than gasoline vapor, but E85 vapor is less flammable at higher temperatures.  The lower vapor pressure and lower heat of combustion of E85 reduce risk of fire compared to gasoline.  In the event of a fire, the flame is less bright than a gasoline flame, but is visible in daylight.  Ethanol is treated to prevent consumption.

Availability:  Available flex-fuel vehicles range from passenger cars, trucks and vans, to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Conversion of a gasoline vehicle to operate on ethanol is possible, but there is currently no conversion equipment available that meets federal regulations. Ethanol can be obtained from fuel suppliers for those with their own fueling facilities, but there are no public access fuel stations in the state.  Those interested in using ethanol are encouraged to contact the Coalition, as this will assist with efforts to establish a regional distribution system and fuel station network.

Economics: The cost of flex-fuel vehicles is typically similar to that of traditional gasoline vehicles. Ethanol fuel prices tend to vary significantly across the country. For Puget Sound, the per gallon cost is projected to be comparable to, or slightly higher than, the price of gasoline.  However, because ethanol has a lower energy content (one gallon of E85 provides the same energy as 0.72 gallons of gasoline), overall fuel costs will likely be somewhat higher than for gasoline.

Additional considerations: E85 vehicles may have a more limited range than gasoline vehicles. The ability to use pure gasoline in flex-fuel vehicles provides flexibility when operating the vehicle in areas where E85 is not available. Special materials are required for fuel lines, hoses, valves, gaskets and fuel tanks due to the corrosive properties of ethanol.  In severe cold weather, there may be cold start problems.  It is recommended that the ethanol content be lowered in severe cold weather conditions.  A minimum of 70 percent ethanol in the winter is within the ASTM standard.

Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition strategies: Ethanol use in Washington State is currently limited to a low-percentage blend as an oxygenate in a few regions of the state. With more than 100,000 flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) in the state capable of operating on E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline), there is a significant opportunity to expand the ethanol market in the state. In fact, McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis have begun using E85. Proponents recognize that ethanol provides environmental benefits, as well as opportunities for economic development with in-state production facilities and the use of agricultural feedstocks. FFVs are seen as extremely flexible, since they can operate on standard gasoline when taken outside of an area where E85 is available. Plus, since the vehicles already exist in great numbers, it makes sense to provide the E85 fuel. However, there is concern and confusion concerning the emissions and other benefits of ethanol, particularly when the full lifecycle from feedstock growth to fuel production and distribution is analyzed.

The following strategies will guide the work of the Coalition in this area:

• Work to secure in-state production facility(ies). Continue to work with those interested in developing production facilities. Facilitate communication with key parties, such as economic development offices and those involved in permitting.

• Provide education via website and displays. Research and provide information on lifecycle issues related to ethanol.

• Watch for opportunities for fuel station development and hosting workshops.

• Focus on E85, but also explore opportunities for promoting low-level blends, such as 10%, as a fuel oxygenate and as a means to reduce petroleum use.
  

Additional Resources:

• The US Department of Energy provides additional information on ethanol and ethanol vehicles.

• National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) The mission of the NEVC is to promote the use of 85 percent ethanol as a renewable form of alternative transportation fuel while enhancing agricultural profitability, advancing environmental stewardship and promoting national energy independence.  The website provides detailed information about ethanol, vehicle availability, fueling locations, and a pricing worksheet.  

• Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) The RFA is the trade association for the US ethanol industry.  The website resources include information on ethanol and the production process, publications, and discussion of public policy and legislation.   

• Custom Fuel Comparison Tools  The US Department of Energy provides a variety of tools that allow users to select fuels and compare their properties side-by-side.

Documents to Download:

• Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85 : A guidebook that contains information about E85 properties and specifications; E85 handling, dispensing, and storage guidelines; EPAct alternative fuels regulations for fleets; safety procedures for handling ethanol fuel; and flexible fuel vehicles.. (NREL, Apr. 08)
• Flexible Fuel Vehicles: Providing a Renewable Fuel Choice: Flexible Fuel vehicles are able to operate using more than one type of fuel. FFVs can be fueled with unleaded gasoline, E85, or any combination of the two. Today more than 6 million vehicles on U.S. highways are flexible fuel vehicles. The fact sheet discusses how E85 affects vehicle performance, the costs and benefits of using E85, and how to find E85 station locations. (DOE, Apr. 08)
• Cost of Adding E85 to Existing Gasoline Stations: The results of a 2007 NREL survey of actual costs to install E85 infrastructure are reported as are major variables and a guide to applicable literature. (NREL, Mar. 08)
• E85 Retail Business Base: When and Why to Sell E85: Adding E85 to the product line of a fueling station has the potential to increase customers, differentiate the station, and it can be a profitable investment. The document identifies seven variables that make E85 profitable and weighs their influence using a model NREL created based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Since fuel throughput was identified as the most important project variable, guidance is offered to help the station owner assess potential E85 throughput. A fact sheet on this report is also available. (NREL, Dec. 07)
• Securing a Clean Energy Future - Green Fuels, Greener Vehicles: A State Resource Guide: The U.S. transportation sector is currently 97% dependent on oil. This heavy reliance on mostly imported oil leaves the U.S. vulnerable to supply interruptions, price fluctuations, economic instability, and consumer hardships. Yet there are core challenges to address before viable alternatives become available. These challenges include lack of alternative fuels in the marketplace; limited fuel distribution systems to get alternative fuels to consumers; and inadequate supply of alternative vehicles produced. The National Governors Association is suggesting that state governors can take four policy actions to meet the challenges: provide financial incentives through tax credits, deductions, grants and other financial means; pass rules and mandates specifying that state fuel distributors sell a certain quantity of alternative fuels; use their state's purchaing power to boost the adoption of alternative fuels or vehicles; and invest in research and demonstration efforts to speed new technologies to the marketplace. (National Governors Association, Feb. 08)
• Transporation Fuels for the Future: The Western Governors' Association decided that a policy roadmap was needed to integrate alternative fuels into a transporation fuel portfolio, taking into account the specific resource attributes of the West. The fuels and technologies covered are biodiesel and renewable biodiesel, biofuels, coal-to-liquids, compressed natural gas, propane, electricity, and hydrogen. The roadmap set out in the report addresses: potential resources, technologies and capabilities in Western states to develop alternative fuels; issues surrounding sustainable feedstock development, environmental impacts, and availability of conversion technologies; challenges common to all fuel types, including changing century-old dependence on petroleum; and the development of measurable goals and analytical tools to determine and mitigate the environmental impacts of new fuels. (Western Governors Associatiion, Feb. 08)
• E85 and Biodiesel Deployment: Oil consumption is growing rapidly while oil production is declining. We cannot "conserve" our way out of this dilemma. The transportation sector currently consumes 68% of global oil every year. We must develop new sources of transportation fuel for the U.S. and the world -- and we need to start now. Presentation discusses federal incentives for E85 and biodiesel; the Clean Cities Program; and the National Renewable Energy Lab's role in deployment of alternative fuels. (NREL, Sep. 07)

Can a Vehicle Be Converted to Run on Ethanol (E85)? 

Yes, it is possible, but there are currently no aftermarket conversion kits that meet EPA standards. The standards were developed in response to numerous alternative fuel conversion vehicles that were actually emitting more pollutants then when operating on gasoline.  EPA established Memorandum 1A, requiring that conversion equipment complete a certification process documenting that exhaust emissions of converted alternative fuel vehicles have as clean or cleaner exhaust emissions than when they were in their original gasoline powered state. The certification process is expensive and time consuming. There are no known efforts to develop and certify ethanol conversion equipment. Fortunately, the domestic automakers are producing several E85 vehicles at no incremental cost over the gasoline only vehicles and conversion kits.

Photo Credits: 1) Corn is the most common feedstock for ethanol production, Warren Gretz; 2) The leaf logo and FFV symbols designate the vehicle as an FFV, Warren Gretz.