What is the difference between e10 and e85

We approached flex motorists at fuel stations immediately after they began fueling with either E10 or E85, and we asked a few questions to assess their knowledge and preferences. Ignorance about E85 appears to be one of the reasons why more motorists do not fuel with E Table 1 shows survey responses from motorists who fueled with E We found that 13 percent of motorists who fueled with E10 did not know their vehicle was an FFV that could use E Among those who knew their vehicle was an FFV, 62 percent had never fueled with E85, and 26 percent did not know that the fuel station where they were interviewed offered E Table 2 summarizes responses to opinion questions about which fuel is better, either ethanol E85 or gasoline E First, observe that many motorists could not correctly answer several of our questions, signaling lack of information about the two fuels, especially among motorists who selected E As expected, motorists who fueled with E85 tended to have a better opinion of ethanol than those who fueled with E However, for the questions about which fuel is better for their engine and which fuel yields the most miles per gallon, the facts are established.

Car manufacturers are clear that E10 and E85 are equally as good for the engine, but small proportions of E10 and E85 flex motorists responded that there is no difference.

FFVs which can operate on E85, gasoline, or any blend of the two are available nationwide as standard equipment with no incremental cost, making them an affordable alternative fuel vehicle option. Fueling stations offering E85 flex fuel are located in 42 states. Find ethanol E85 fueling stations in your area. More Ethanol Publications All Publications. More in this section Ethanol Benefits and Considerations Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced transportation fuel.

Fuel Economy and Performance A gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, resulting in lower fuel economy when operating your vehicle. Knoll, K. West, W. Clark, R. Graves, J. Orban, S.

Przesmitzki, and T. General Motors. Thomas, J. Huff, and B. West, and S. Also In This Section…. Domestically produced reduces oil dependence Lower emissions of some air pollutants More resistant to engine knock Added vehicle cost is negligible.

In Austalia, E85 is the preferred fuel among motor racing clubs and sports car enthusiasts. The motor racing industry has always preferred ethanol- or methanol-based fuels because these fuels tend to give performance vehicles more thermal efficiency and increased torque.

In an advanced engine, E85 can improve the engine's fuel consumption. In the United States, the government has tried to encourage the production and sale of E85 by providing subsidies, particularly to corn producers in the Midwest.

Department of Agriculture. This new infrastructure will make E15 and E85 more readily available across the country. When fueling their flex-fuel vehicles with E85 instead of regular gasoline, drivers won't notice many differences other than a decrease in miles per gallon.

Compared to gasoline, ethanol provides less energy per gallon, meaning that the higher the percentage of ethanol, the more significant the impact on fuel economy. Depending on the driver's location and the ups and downs of the energy markets, the cost of E85 can vary greatly, especially when compared to regular gasoline and E While E85 gas costs less than regular gasoline at the pump, the decrease in miles per gallon makes it more expensive when driving.

Despite the lower miles per gallon, flex-fuel vehicles often put out more torque and more horsepower when running on E85 instead of regular gasoline. Like all consumer products, there are pros and cons to using E The pros include:.

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel derived from several different plant materials, including corn, sugar cane, or various grasses. It is a renewable resource that is produced domestically rather than imported. The U. Department of Energy reports that the use of ethanol can lead to less dependence on oil and a reduction in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.