85% Ethanol
An Alternative FuelConcept For Today

An Alternative Fuel

Illinois leads the nation in the use of ethanol blended gasoline. Ethanol  became a popular additive to boost the octane level of gasoline when  environmental concerns resulted in the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Ethanol is an oxygenate, meaning it has a high oxygen content, burns more completely and pollutes less. Nearly half of the gasoline sold in Illinois contains 10 percent ethanol.

Illinois is taking the lead once again with the introduction and operation of  one of the nation's largest variable fuel fleets. These vehicles are capable of operating on E-85 or a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded  gasoline. The 200 proof ethanol is made from Illinois corn. The small percentage of gasoline enhances starting in extremely cold weather.

The driving force for this blossoming automotive fuel technology is society's  multiple concerns of increasing air pollution from fossil fuels like gasoline, our dependence on foreign suppliers for half our fuel needs, and the dim prospects for gasoline in the future as the world's oil supply dwindles.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board brought the first E-85 car to Illinois in  order to introduce the technology to the public. Governor Jim Edgar and the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources introduced the state's first  fleet shortly after. This fleet of 12 Chevrolet Luminas was introduced in 1992,  part of only 50 manufactured that year. E-85 cars are virtually identical to regular gasoline vehicles except for some variable fuel features. In 1996 Ford  will manufacture 6,000 E-85 Tauruses equipped with 3.0L Vulcan. More than 350 E-85 cars are being tested by government and private business in Illinois today  and they will enter mainstream commercial channels in 1996-97.

E-85 vehicles have been designed for versatility. They will operate with unleaded gasoline or any mixture of gasoline and ethanol up to an 85 percent  concentration. A key component in all ethanol vehicles to date is a sensor which  determines the percentage of ethanol in the fuel, optimizes performance and adjusts emission control devices.

Fueling The Economy

Ethanol is a home-grown fuel that can help us become independent from  imported oil and help our balance of trade. Ethanol is made from corn, a  renewable resource, and a crop grown in abundance in Illinois.

Illinois produces about 685 million gallons of ethanol annually, making it the largest ethanol producer in the nation. This burgeoning industry uses 274  million bushels of Illinois corn each year, or about 17% of the Illinois corn  crop. Farmers benefit because ethanol production provides cconsistent demand for surplus corn and improves corn prices.

The general economy benefits because the industry creates nearly 2,000 industrial jobs and about 6,000 indirect jobs in related industry and  services.

Ethanol Production

Each bushel of corn can produce 2.5 gallons of ethanol fuel. Only the starch from the corn is used to make ethanol, leaving the protein and valuable co-products for other uses. For example, that same bushel of corn can also produce: 1.5 pounds of corn oil, 12.4 pounds of 21% protein feed, 3 pounds of  60% protein gluten meal, and 17 pounds of carbon dioxide (used for carbonating  soft drinks and other beverages).

Manufacturers utilize increasingly sophisticated technology to convert the starch to sugar. This sugar is then fed to yeast which converts the sugar to  ethanol. It has been argued that it takes more energy to produce ethanol than is gained in the conversion process. Nothing could be further from the truth. On  average, there is a 33% net energy gain, or more than 25,000 BTU's, while the industry's best plants produce an 87% net energy gain.

The Testing

Illinois has conducted formal testing for three years to evaluate ethanol's  role as an alternative fuel for the future. E85 state vehicles are being put through their paces in various settings including urban, rural, and highway  driving. Performance in hot and cold weather conditions and ethanol's ability to  reduce polluting emissions has been evaluated. Testing continues on performance,  reliability, cost of operations and emissions. To date the cars have recevied  high marks for driveability and general operation in user surveys.

Emissions testing on the E-85 vehicles and a control vehicle operating on  gasoline are being conducted at various mileage levels, up to 100,000 miles.  Testing shows the E-85 cars performing well, with significant reductions in  emissions compared to use of unleaded gasoline. Reductions in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, two particularly troublesome pollutants, are reduced significantly. Ethanol is one of only two liquid fuels available that combats global warming because its raw material, corn, converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Ethanol's Future Role

Two specific pieces of federal legislation, the Clean Air Act Amendments of  1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandate the phased-in adoption of cleaner  burning vehicles. Under these federal laws, state, municipal and private fleets  must meet stricter emission guidelines starting in 1998. This will be  accomplished by replacing existing fleet vehicles with new "Clean Vehicle"  technology like E-85. By 2000 70 percent of all new fleet vehicle purchases must meet these new standards. Auto manufacturers are gearing-up to meet these new standards. By 1996 new model cars will have On-Board Diagnostic Monitoring systems capable of monitoring tailpipe emissions and any fluid loss. Advances in computer technology will make this possible. Programs are also in place to  update engine technology and cut pollution levels in mass transit city buses and over-the-road trucks. The introduction of E-85 has been a cooperative effort.  Some of the key players who have made it possible include: Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Great Lakes Regional Biomass Program, Illinois  Ethanol Industry, Growmark, Inc., General Motors Corporation and Ford Motor  Company. Special thanks to Governor Jim Edgar for his leadership on ethanol.

Frequently Asked Questions On E-85

Who is currently making E-85 models?

In 1996 Ford Motor Company will manufacture 6,000 E-85 Tauruses. They  produced their first E-85 car in 1994 for test and demonstration purposes in the  state of Illinois and federal government fleets. In late 1996, General Motors will begin making an estimated 100,000 model year 1997 S-10 and Sonoma light-duty trucks designed to run on E-85. Currently, the state of Illinois has more than 350 E-85 Tauruses and Chevrolet Luminas in operation.

How much can I expect to pay for an E-85 car, compared to a gasoline burning model?

In 1992, GM charged a $2000 per vehicle premium on its first E-85 vehicles,  but by 1993 they were priced the same as conventional gasoline Luminas. Ford's "Ethanol Ready" offering, the 1996 Taurus, is selling for $400 to $1,000 more  than the base price of a gasoline Taurus. There will be no additional charge for  the E-85 GM S10 and Sonoma pickups.

How will mileage and fuel economy be effected?

A gallon of E-85 ethanol fuel contains about 2/3 the energy of a gallon of gasoline. This means the E-85 vehicles should get about 2/3 the fuel mileage of the gasoline versions of these vehicles. However, the E-85 vehicles in the  Illinois fleet are getting 5-10% above what was expected or 18-20 miles per  gallon. Repairs and reliability of the E-85 Luminas have been slightly better than their gasoline counterparts.

Is E-85 price competitive with gasoline?

Using the Blender's Tax Credit, the price of E-85 ethanol fuel is about the  same or slightly less than the price of gasoline. Research continues to improve  ethanol production efficiency, which should allow ethanol to remain cost competitive as tax incentives are phased out.

What is the expected useful life of an E-85 car and the three to five  year cost of operation?

Because E-85 ethanol fuel is a cleaner-burning fuel than gasoline, it is expected that the life of an E-85 vehicle will be somewhat longer than a comparable gasoline vehicle. E-85 three-year lifecycle costs compete well with other alternative vehicle technology. It's competitiveness is enhanced because  it comes ethanol-ready from the manufacturer and has no conversion costs.