SEPA United States Transportation and Air Quality EPA420-F-00-035 Environmental Protection Transportation and Regional March 2002 Agency Programs Division www.epa.gov SUCCESS STQfty In January 2000: the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) made the largest purchase of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) by a federal govern- ment agency, agreeing to buy nearly 23,750 vehicles powered with up to 85 per- cent ethanol. Roughly 21,000 FFVs will serve as postal carrier vehicles, with the remainder used for administrative duties. Because its fleet is con- centrated in 11 areas of the country, USPS believes this purchase will promote ethanol use and availability and support development of a commercial ethanol infrastructure. In fact, state and local governments, in conjunction with the ethanol industry, the U.S. Department of Energy, and potential additional fleets, are creating master plans based largely on the USPS commitment. While USPS will depend in large part on commercial fueling stations, the agency also is converting many on- site tanks to ethanol for supplemental supplies. For more information, contact Marguerite Downey at (202) 268-5073. Clean Alternative Fuels: Ethanol One in a series of fact sheets E thanol-fueled vehicles date back to the 1880s when Henry Ford designed a car that ran solely on ethanol. Subsequently the popular Model T was designed to operate on either ethanol or gasoline. Four generations later, ethanol-blended gasoline accounts for more than 10 percent of total gasoline sales in the United States. Essentially 100 percent pure grain alcohol made unfit to drink, ethanol is produced by fermenting plant sugars. It can be made from corn, potatoes, wood, waste paper, wheat, brewery waste, and many other agricultural products and food wastes. Anything containing sugar, starch, or cel- lulose can be fermented and distilled into ethanol. More than 90 percent of U.S. ethanol production comes from corn. Pure ethanol is rarely used for trans- portation; usually it is mixed with gasoline. The most popular blend for light-duty vehicles is known as E85, which is 85 per- cent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Heavy-duty trucks typically use E95 (ethanol blended with five percent unlead- ed gasoline) and E93 (ethanol blended with five percent methanol and two per- cent kerosene). For many years, ethanol has also been used as a 10 percent mixture with gasoline in a blend called "gasohol" or E10 to reduce carbon monoxide emissions during winter. Finally, ethanol is often blended in gasoline as an oxygenate to meet clean fuel requirements. The technology to produce ethanol is well established, and all the resources need- ed to produce it can be supplied domesti- cally. AVAILABILITY The use of E10 ethanol is covered under warranty by every automaker selling cars in the United States. American automak- ers also produce a variety of automobiles, light-duty pickup trucks, and minivans known as flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). These vehicles can operate on any combi- nation of ethanol and gasoline by auto- matically sensing the percentage of alcohol in the fuel tank and adjusting the engine's parameters accordingly. EMISSIONS CHARACTERI Actual emissions will vary with engine design; these numbers reflect the potential reductions offered by ethanol (E85), relative to conventional gasoline. • Fewer total toxics are produced. • Reductions in ozone-forming volatile organic compounds of 15 percent. • Reductions in carbon monoxide of 40 percent. • Reductions in particulate emissions of 20 percent. • Reductions in nitrogen oxide emis- sions of 10 percent. • Reductions in sulfate emissions of 80 percent. • Lower reactivity of hydrocarbon emissions • Higher ethanol and acetaldehyde emissions. • Estimates based on ethanol's inherently "cleaner" chemical properties with an engine that takes full advantage of these fuel proper- ties. ------- Ethanol is primarily used in the Midwest, where excess corn is dis- tilled into fuel. Nearly 60 fueling sta- tions offering E85 are located in 16 states. In states such as South Dakota and Iowa, ethanol-blended fuel (E10) is available at virtually every gas sta- tion. E95 is available only through bulk suppliers. AFFORDABILITY With mass production, manufactur- ers can offer FFVs at the same price as comparable gasoline vehicles. Gener- ally, purchasing ethanol-blended gasoline is more expensive than tradi- tional fuels. In the Midwest, however, E85 and other ethanol blends are sold at prices equivalent to or less than those for midgrade unleaded gasoline; prices vary due to a number of fac- tors. Because ethanol contains approximately 60 percent of the ener- gy content of gasoline, it takes more ethanol to get the same mileage as a similar gasoline vehicle. For heavy- duty vehicle applications, diesel prices tend to be lower than E95. PERFORMANCE Ethanol vehicles exhibit the same power, acceleration, payload, and cruise speed as conventionally fueled vehicles. In addition, ethanol use has several benefits. It has a higher octane rating than gasoline, which reduces engine "knock" and can result in higher energy efficiency. Ethanol also absorbs moisture and helps prevent gas-line freeze-up in cold weather, preventing the need to add expensive and possibly harmful fuel additives. In addition, ethanol has some deter- gent properties that reduce buildup, which keeps engines running smoothly and fuel injection systems clean for better performance. On the other hand, ethanol vehicles have about 75 to 90 percent of the range of comparable gasoline vehicles and might require more frequent fuel- ing. Some auto manufacturers are installing larger fuel tanks in E85 vehicles to prevent this inconvenience. Another potential concern is that ethanol is a more volatile fuel than gasoline, with a low volatility in win- ter and a high volatility in summer. In addition, ethanol does not mix well with diesel fuel. Consumers with diesel vehicles who wish to use ethanol should completely replace diesel fuel with pure ethanol or use a special injection method. SAFETY Ethanol is not considered a toxic pollutant at levels likely to be inhaled when used as a motor fuel. It is much less flammable than gasoline, thus fires are less frequent and less severe when spills or releases of vapor occur. It is safer than gasoline to store, transport, and refuel. Because ethanol is water soluble and biodegradable, land and water spills are usually harmless, dispersing and decomposing quickly; the gasoline portion of a spill is still a problem in these situations. Adequate training is required to operate and maintain ethanol vehicles, however. MAINTENANCE Maintenance practices for ethanol- fueled vehicles are very similar to those for conventionally fueled vehi- cles. Special lubricants for ethanol- fueled vehicles are sometimes needed at a slightly higher cost than standard motor oils, but not all vehicles require these lubricants. In addition, oil changes are required less frequent- ly, defraying some or all incremental costs. FFVs are designed specifically for ethanol's slightly more corrosive properties. But consumers who want existing vehicles to accommodate ethanol-blended gasoline beyond E10 might have to modify engines and fuel delivery systems to protect parts. Vehicle owners or maintenance shops should also identify the car as an ethanol vehicle when ordering replacement parts. For More Information EPA Alternative Fuels Web Site www.epa.gov/ otaq/consumer/ fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm American Coalition for Ethanol Web site: www.ethanol.org Renewable Fuels Association Web site: www.ethanolrfa.org National Corn Growers Association Web site: www.ncga.com Governor's Ethanol Coalition Web site: www.ethanol-gec.org Alternative Fuel Refueling Station Locator Web site: afdcmap.nrel.gov/nrel (E85 only) Alternative Fuels Data Center Web site: www.afdc.nrel.gov National Alternative Fuels Hotline Phone: 800 423-1 DOE Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber. ------- |