Fuel Blends

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Fuel Blends - Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel that can be produced from a variety of sources. The most common method is the fermentation and distillation of grain crops, such as corn, barley and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from the waste products of agricultural and forest practices, called "cellulosic biomass". This form of ethanol is referred to as bioethanol. 

Ethanol has many benefits:

• Ethanol is domestically produced and allows us to reduce our use of imported petroleum.
• Ethanol emits less carbon monoxide than gasoline.
• Adding oxygenates like ethanol to gasoline reduces carbon monoxide emissions.
• Ethanol production supports U.S. farmers and creates jobs.

High-Percentage Blends:
Ethanol can be combined with gasoline in high-percentage blends. The most common is E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 is used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are specifically designed to operate on E85 or 100% gasoline. The use of E85 provides significant petroleum displacement and emissions reductions. Emissions benefits with using E85 range from 30 to 50 percent reductions in hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. Life-cycle reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide (CO2)) are also significant. In addition to these benefits, the ability to use pure gasoline in flex-fuel vehicles provides flexibility when operating the vehicle in areas where E85 is not available.

More than 150 public E85 stations are available across the United States, with the majority of E85 stations located in the Midwest. The cost of E85 is generally comparable to regular grade gasoline, although prices vary regionally. There is currently one publicly accessible E85 pump in Washington State although that number will hopefully grow soon. Two fleets, McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis, are using E85 their fleet vehicles.

Flex-fuel vehicles are widely available. As of 2005, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition estimated that approximately 4-5 million FFVs have already been sold in the United States. There are approximately 100,000 FFVs in Washington State. The majority of FFVs, both nationally and in Washington, are fueled on conventional gasoline due to the lack of E85 availability or because  many buyers are unaware that the vehicle is capable of operating on E85. The price of FFVs is generally the same as conventional vehicles. FFVs operating on E85 typically exhibit comparable power, acceleration, payload, and cruise speed of vehicles operating on conventional fuels.

Additional information on ethanol (E85) and flex-fuel vehicles is available through other pages of this website.

Low-Percentage Blends:
The majority of ethanol is used to increase octane and improve the emissions of gasoline. Ethanol is typically combined with gasoline as a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, known as E10. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one out of every eight gallons of gasoline sold in the United States contains ethanol. 

Use of oxygenated gasoline was mandated by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 in areas with unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide. The primary oxygenates were ethanol and MTBE. The demand for ethanol has been increasing, as MTBE has been shown to contaminate ground water supplies. In Washington State, oxygenated gasoline is sold during the winter in areas that do not meet the federal carbon monoxide standard under the Clean Air Act. In past years, these areas were central Puget Sound and Spokane and Clark counties. The oxygenated gasoline program has been phased out in central Puget Sound and Clark County due to air quality improvements in those areas.

While low-percentage ethanol blends are sold in every state and are available in Washington, consumers typically do not have a choice between E10 and 100% gasoline. In areas where oxygenated gasoline is mandated and E10 is used to meet that mandate, the ethanol blend makes up nearly 100% of the gasoline sold. And the blend is typically not available in areas where the mandate does not apply. 

Low-percentage ethanol blends are approved for use by all auto manufacturers and have been used for years in all types of vehicles and engines that require gasoline. There is typically a minimal impact on vehicle performance with the addition of the 10% ethanol. 

Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition strategies:
Clean Cities strategies to promote low-percentage ethanol blends include:

• Working with state and local governments to explore opportunities for programs to increase fuel blend use, even in areas in compliance with the federal air quality standards.
• Working with fuel refiners, blenders, suppliers and stations to create the fuels and provide them to fleets and the public.