E85 Fuel
E85 is a form of alternative alcohol fuel commonly used in Sweden and becoming more and more popular in the United States. E85 is composed of a blend of about 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline which is how it obtains its name. While Sweden has been using E85 fuel widely for quite some time, the United States only has about 800 filling stations that currently sell E85 to the general public. However, this number should rise over the next few years as this form of alternative fuel continues to grow in popularity.
There are many benefits for using E85 fuel as supposed to ordinary petroleum based gasoline which could help with the rise in popularity in the United States. Such benefits include lower cost of production, less pollution and cleaner air, and an increase in farming value. With advantages like that, it is hard to imagine a world without ethanol fuel in the first place which is why many of today's leading automobile manufacturers have already begun developing cars that can run on E85 ethanol fuel.
E85 is currently being used in automobile engines that have been altered and adjusted to accept a higher amass of ethanol. These types of modified engines are called Flexible-Fuel Engines found in Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). The main difference between an ordinary engine and a Flex Fuel Engine is noted by the removal of aluminum, bare magnesium, and all rubber parts in the fuel system including the use of certain pumps designed to function with electrically conductive fuel (ethanol) instead of non-conducting dielectric fuel (gasoline.) There are a few more differences in Flex Fuel Engine modifications but the primary reasons are those above.
One of the most exhilarating aspects of E85 fuel is how it can be manufactured from natural starchy crops such as wheat, canola, milo, and what Brazil commonly uses to produce its supply of ethanol, sugar cane. On the other hand, the United States likes to produce ethanol mainly from corn which is grown in plentitude in the Midwest of the country. The fact that ethanol can be produced from corn drastically cuts manufacturing costs as supposed to making gasoline from petroleum. Not only does it eliminate importing costs but it allows the US to be independant and not rely on foreign suppliers. It also increases profitability from farming and agricultural companies as the demand for corn is high.
Finally, the use of E85 fuel in Flex Fuel Engines helps reduce the toxic exhaust emissions that lead to the greenhouse effect. The reason for this is that E85 fuel has a higher oxygen count. Therefore it is burned in a cleaner manner and produces less carbon monoxide when compared to the burning of traditional petroleum gasoline.
As research and development of ethanol continues to rise, we can expect E85 fuel to become more popular in the United States. At the moment, the majority of the E85 suppliers are located in the Upper Midwest where most of the corn is currently grown.