Introduction:
The use of an alternative fuel can lessen dependence upon oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops, such as corn.
Ethanol formation:
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Ethanol can be made from plants such as trees and grasses.
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E10 is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% petrol (gasoline). Almost all manufacturers approve the use of E10 in their vehicles.
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E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol and can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).
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FFVs are specially designed to run on petrol, E85, or any mixture of the two.
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These vehicles are offered by several manufacturers.
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There is no noticeable difference in vehicle performance when E85 is used.
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However, FFVs operating on E85 usually experience a 20–30% drop in miles per gallon owing to the lower energy content of ethanol.
There are some advantages and disadvantages of using ethanol:
Advantages:
● lower emissions of air pollutants
● more resistant to engine knock
● added vehicle cost is very small.
Disadvantages:
● can only be used in fl exible fuel vehicles
● lower energy content, resulting in fewer miles per gallon
● limited availability.
