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A New Cleaner-Burning Fuel Blend Is Coming to Arizona
E85, the blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, promises to reduce pollution and lessen our dependence on foreign oil - and it soon could be coming to a gas station near you.
 E85, a blend of Ethanol and conventional fuel, would reduce pollutants and may cut gas consumption, but can't be used in all vehicles. This fuel offers some benefits - the price is typically lower than conventional fuel, it may reduce pollution, and it can reduce Arizona's dependence on foreign oil. But it has some significant drawbacks. You get less energy per gallon than conventional gasoline. And not every vehicle can use E85. Your engine could be damaged if you put E85 in a car that is not properly equipped to be a "Flex-Fuel" vehicle. Check your owner's manual, check the websites listed on this page under "OTHER LINKS", and consult with your car's manufacturer before you fill up with E85.
What is it?
E85 employs ethanol, a "renewable" fuel that is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. A wide array of plant material can be used, including corn, barley, and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from cellulose material, such as wild grasses or plant waste. When a blend of 15 percent conventional gasoline by volume is added to a mixture of 85 percent ethanol, the resulting blend is known as E85.
A University of Toronto study found that ethanol could replace up to 30 percent of U.S. consumption of conventional fuel. This cleaner-burning fuel could play an important role in efforts to reduce Arizona's dependence on fossil fuels. A new state law allows E85 to be sold throughout the state, including the Cleaner Burning Gasoline (CBG) Covered Area, which includes the Phoenix area.
But it does have some drawbacks:
E85 typically sells for less than convention fuel, but yields less energy than conventional gasoline. A motorist needs about 1.3 gallons of E85 to produce the same amount of energy as a gallon of conventional fuel. Some carmakers, including General Motors, are working on new technology that would increase the efficiency of ethanol-fueled vehicles.
Not every vehicle can use E85. It's more corrosive than conventional gasoline. It can damage a car that is not properly equipped, and it could lead to poor fuel performance. Service stations that want to sell E85 will need special equipment. Service station owners are not liable if a motorist puts the fuel into a vehicle that is not equipped to handle E85.
Many environmental groups support the use of E85 because it can reduce toxic emissions, and it emits fewer ozone-forming chemicals and compounds. In addition, a national study found that ethanol produced from corn reduces greenhouse gases by 20 percent. Ethanol from cellulose can reduce these gases by 60 to 65 percent.
Most Arizona motorists already use a much lower ethanol blend during the winter season because of the environmental benefits from reduced carbon monoxide emissions. State law mandates that fuel sold in the Tucson area contain a 5.1 percent blend of ethanol, by volume, between Oct 1 and March 31, while Phoenix-area fuel must include a 10 percent blend of ethanol, by volume, between Nov. 1 and March 31. Despite its drawbacks, E85 is growing in popularity - and it is creating some additional problems.
Ethanol supplies are limited. Most of the U.S. supply is produced in the Midwest, where it is distilled from corn. Droughts and crop shortages can affect supply, as well as the price. This means the price of ethanol can fluctuate as corn prices rise and fall on the grain markets.
Currently, there are no Arizona ethanol producers, but there are plans to build an ethanol facility in the City of Maricopa, Arizona. That facility is expected to produce about 55 million gallons of ethanol each year, with plans to expand annual production to 110 million gallons. Operators of this facility will import corn from the Midwest to produce ethanol. The byproducts will be used in cattle feed lots adjacent to the ethanol facility.
Still, if E85 becomes widely available, Arizona will need to compete with other states for ethanol. California, for example, is expanding its ethanol use until it accounts for 20 percent of its fuel use, or 110 billion gallons a year. Most major automakers have produced so-called "Flex Fuel" vehicles for several years that can handle E85, but, no motorist should use the fuel unless they carefully check their owner's manual, consult their dealer, or visit a website that lists the various FFV cars that are currently available. One such site is the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.
Some carmakers designate their "Flex Fuel" or FFV vehicles, with a special logo. Ford, for example, uses a green leaf to designate cars that can run on cleaner-burning fuels. And most automakers plan to equip their FFV cars with a yellow gas cap that will help motorists know whether their vehicle is FFV compatible. They may even provide existing "flex fuel" cars with the yellow gas caps. One major automaker is launching a national ad campaign, "Live Green, Go Yellow," to promote their FFV products. But even this system has flaws, so motorists should check before they use the fuel.
Gasoline retailers must also take steps to accommodate E85. Their storage tanks should be new, and dispensing equipment must have a Certificate of Conformance for E85 from the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP).
Arizona's new E85 law includes the following provisions:
Within the so-called "CBG-Covered Area," which includes the Phoenix Metropolitan area, E85 can only be sold if the 15 percent of gasoline it contains is Clean-Burning Gasoline, which is designed to reduce air pollution.
Producers and retailers selling E85 must place notices on their fuel pumps warning that E85 is not gasoline, and can only be used in vehicles that are properly equipped. Motorists must be urged to consult their owner's manual before using the alternate fuel.
Retailers who sell E85 must ensure that they have the E85 compatible equipment, and they must make sure the fuel conforms to all applicable federal standards.
A dealer who complies with all state requirements cannot be held liable if a consumer buys E85 and puts it in a vehicle that is not a Flex Fuel vehicle. |