Ethanol Fuels
Ethanol is a type of alcohol derived from plant sources. When people talk about drinking alcohol they are referring to ethanol. However there is also ethanol fuel. In order to go from something you drink to something you put in your car, a substance must be added to the ethanol to make it unfit for consumption. Therefore it is not taxed under the alcoholic beverage tax law. Usually the substance is gasoline, which no one in their right mind would consider drinking. Many people are unaware that there are three different types of ethanol fuels that can be used in vehicles.
The most commonly utilized type of blended ethanol is E10. It contains 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. Every auto manufacturer approves the use of this blend in USA sold vehicles. Up to ten percent of ethanol is normally included in gasoline anyway, so you might even refer to E10 as regular, midgrade or premium gas depending on the octane rating. Of course some consumers would prefer a higher level of ethanol in the ratio. For them, there is E85.
E85 is a blend of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol. This fuel can only be used in vehicles known as Variable or Flexible Fuel Vehicles. These vehicles can run on regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, E85 ethanol fuel or a combination of E85 with traditional gasoline. There are at least four million vehicles of this type on the road in the U.S. and around 400 stations where you can refuel with E85. The other type of ethanol that deserves a brief introduction is E95, which is actually dry ethanol mixed with five percent gasoline denaturant. A denaturant is any substance that renders ethanol unfit for drinking.
Ethanol fuels are the subject of much debate these days. Supporters feel ethanol fuel will reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil. Detractors think the production of ethanol will reduce our food supply and is not very cost efficient. Drivers on the road have varying opinions depending on who you ask. Some enjoy the clean burning of an ethanol enhanced fuel while others don't care for the reduced mileage. Of course your experience with and opinion of ethanol as a fuel or fuel additive depends on your own personal preferences, driving habits and various other factors.
People & Power - Ethanol & Bio-fuels - 17 Sep 07 - Part 1
Sao Paulo Ethanol Import Tax Could Violate GATT - Domestic Fuel
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The case for biofuels in our energy mix - Montreal Gazette
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Is Cellulosic Ethanol The Loch Ness Monster Of Biofuel? It was one of those "blink and you miss it" things. In June of last year, Congress formerly repealed the nation's ethanol subsidies in a bipartisan vote that raised few eyebrows and generated only a handful of news reports... | ||
Trash-to-Ethanol Producer Backed by Valero Sets $125 Million IPO - Bloomberg
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Cutting Edge Fuel Solutions From Sierra Help Boaters Protect Critical Engine . - DigitalJournal.com (press release)
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Fears for jobs as ethanol producer stops work on plant THE NSW ethanol mandate will be ''appropriately enforced'', the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has assured Australia's biggest ethanol producer, Manildra, after the company reacted to his decision to dump a ban on regular unleaded fuel by suspending the expansion of its Nowra plant... | ||
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