Ethanol is a new type of fuel for cars. Unlike gasoline that relies on oil, ethanol producers make ethanol gasoline locally from crops like corn. You may also have it heard it called grain alcohol. Ethanol is cheaper to produce than gasoline and is more environmentally friendly both when produced and when burned.
Ethanol fuel is becoming a popular choice for businesses that need fuel for cars and trucks, since it’s more economical and environmentally friendly. If you’re thinking about using ethanol in your business, consider this:
1. Learn about the different types of ethanol and which one is appropriate for your business.
2. Purchase vehicles that can use ethanol.
3. Find ethanol stations in your area.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Obtain valuable information about ethanol production
There are many types of ethanol. E10 is easy to find is safe for all vehicles. E10 ethanol is a 10% mixture of ethanol and a 90% mixture of gasoline. E85 ethanol is the environmentally friendly, cheaper ethanol that you're probably looking for. E85 ethanol is a mixture of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol. You must have a special vehicle for E85 ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is a specific way of making ethanol from cellulose in plants.
I recommend: Go to the
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) website for more information about cellulosic ethanol. If you’re curious about ethanol production and how an ethanol plant runs, go the
American Coalition for Ethanol.
Find a car that runs on ethanol
E85 requires a special car, called a flexible fuel vehicle, to effectively run the vehicle's motor. Luckily, more and more car manufactures are building flex fuel vehicles.
I recommend: Ford Motor Company has flexible fuel vehicles and is continuing to work to build models that use ethanol. You can also go to the
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition for a list of cars compatible with E85.
Find ethanol pumping stations
Once you have a car that runs on ethanol, you have to find ethanol vendors in your area. While E10 fuel is fairly standard in gas stations across the nation, finding E85 is harder. Luckily, as the demand for ethanol increases, more and more vendors will sell it.
I recommend: Go the
U.S. Department of Energy to find a ethanol vendor that sells ethanol in your area. Can’t find a station in your area? You can request a service station to start offering E85 in your area at the
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- As the cost of gasoline continues to rise, there will be more and more interest in alternative fuel sources like ethanol. While ethanol is popular choice, we're still learning about how to use ethanol cheaply, without impacting the environment.
The official source of Ethanol is the Ethanol page at Business.com
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