The Facts on Ethanol

> Overview

> Food and Fuel

> Higher Blends

> Performance

> Blender's Credit

> Ethanol Tariff

> Natural Carbon Cycle

> Indirect Land Use Change

> Water Use

> Renewable Fuel Standard

The Facts on Ethanol - Higher Blends

The benefits of ethanol are undeniable. It's better for the environment. It's better for our economy. And it's better for future generations. Currently, gasoline is limited to 10 percent ethanol. As the ethanol industry grows, it only makes sense to produce higher blends of ethanol to maximize the benefits.

General Motors: GM has 12 FFV (flex fuel vehicle) models in its 2008 line, and the company hopes to make half of its fleet compatible with biofuels by 2012. Currently, some 2.5 million GM vehicles are FFV, the company states.

E10

Approximately 70 percent of all gasoline sold in the United States contains some ethanol. Most of that is in E10 blends - 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline - which can be used in any standard car engine. In fact, many automakers recommend using E10 because of its high-performance, clean-burning characteristics. E10 can also be used in all small engines like motorcycles, lawn mowers, trimmers, ATVs, boats, personal watercraft and snowmobiles.

Ethanol does have fewer BTU per gallon than gasoline. However, ethanol's combustion efficiency makes up for some of its lower energy content. Iowa State says that due to ethanol's octane rating of 113-115 as compared to 87 for unleaded gasoline, high-compression engines can perform just as well on fewer BTU.

E85

E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) have been manufactured to run on E85. Allowing the consumer to have a choice between regular unleaded and E85. This choice allows the consumer to select the most cost efficient fuel for their vehicle. The E85 gas pumps are clearly labeled since it can only be used in FFV. The number of FFV continues to increase each year.

Flex Fuel Vehicles

Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are manufactured to run on ethanol of all blends (E10, E20, E30, E40, E85) and regular gasoline. The number of FFVs continues to increase each year.

Senators John Thune, Sam Brownback, Ken Salazar and Joseph Lieberman introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act on July 22, 2008. This bill requires 50 percent of new automobiles to be flex fuel by 2012 and 80 percent to be flex fuel by 2015. This bill will provide consumers a choice at the pump and will give all consumers the option of purchasing cheaper homegrown fuel such as ethanol and biodiesel.

Chrysler: Chrysler has produced more than 2 million FFVs since 1998 and is committed to making half of its fleet ethanol-compatible by 2012.

Ford: The company says more than 5 million Ford vehicles out there today are FFVs, and Ford has pledged to make half of its fleet capable of running on ethanol by 2012.

General Motors: GM has 12 FFVs models in its 2008 line, and the company hopes to make half of its fleet compatible with biofuels by 2012. Currently, some 2.5 million GM vehicles are FFVs, the company states.

Flex Pumps

Flex pumps let consumers choose at the gas pump the ratio of ethanol to gasoline in their fuel. Anywhere from E10, E20, E30, E40 all the way to E85.