Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Ethanol Fuel (E85)

lindalove · 08-17-2006, 01:40 PM

I'm just curious as to the opinions and thoughts of TFPers about E85 fuel.

Basically, it's a blend of fuel that is 85% ethanol (made from corn at the moment) and 15% unleaded gas. Many late-model domestic cars can run on it (and many people who own them may or may not even know this) and are also known as flex-fuel capable. Here is a link with all E85-capable cars.

Right now E85 fuel is pretty pricey because there is a huge shortage of it, although more ethanol plants are set to go online in the next 12 months, which will reduce the price. Also, as the technology advances and the production of it becomes more efficient, the price should drop.

Right now retailers are beginning to introduce the product to market. Most likely you DON'T have a station near you, although that will probably change in the next year or 2. Here is a database of current stations - http://www.e85refueling.com/

The biggest disadvantage to the consumer besides the current market price (which is expected to go down eventually, although it is competitive with regular gasoline, and some retailers are actually selling it at a temporary loss in order to make it competitive) is that it is less efficient than petroleum gas (except for on acceleration), and will require more fill-ups, most likely.

My questions are:

Would you consider using E85 fuel if it was cheaper per gallon than regular gas?

If it was about the same per gallon as regular gas? (Though, keep in mind it's less efficient.)

Even if it were more per gallon than regular gas?

And why?

I would use it even if it's just a little more than petrol gas since it's a cleaner burning fuel. I wonder what the long term ramifications for using this type of fuel will be, though it should be better than using fossil fuel, like we do now.

08-17-2006, 01:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
lindalove Registered User	Ethanol Fuel (E85) - Would you use it? I'm just curious as to the opinions and thoughts of TFPers about E85 fuel. Basically, it's a blend of fuel that is 85% ethanol (made from corn at the moment) and 15% unleaded gas. Many late-model domestic cars can run on it (and many people who own them may or may not even know this) and are also known as flex-fuel capable. Here is a link with all E85-capable cars. Right now E85 fuel is pretty pricey because there is a huge shortage of it, although more ethanol plants are set to go online in the next 12 months, which will reduce the price. Also, as the technology advances and the production of it becomes more efficient, the price should drop. Right now retailers are beginning to introduce the product to market. Most likely you DON'T have a station near you, although that will probably change in the next year or 2. Here is a database of current stations - http://www.e85refueling.com/ The biggest disadvantage to the consumer besides the current market price (which is expected to go down eventually, although it is competitive with regular gasoline, and some retailers are actually selling it at a temporary loss in order to make it competitive) is that it is less efficient than petroleum gas (except for on acceleration), and will require more fill-ups, most likely. My questions are: Would you consider using E85 fuel if it was cheaper per gallon than regular gas? If it was about the same per gallon as regular gas? (Though, keep in mind it's less efficient.) Even if it were more per gallon than regular gas? And why? I would use it even if it's just a little more than petrol gas since it's a cleaner burning fuel. I wonder what the long term ramifications for using this type of fuel will be, though it should be better than using fossil fuel, like we do now.