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E85 Pros Cons

With cars, there are is always the “new thing”, and it is usually some sort of innovation that brings us more efficient, powerful, of comfortable vehicles.  One of the more recent developments in past years pertains to what you fill your tank with.  Yes, there have been some notable changes to gasoline.  One of the most notable alterations has been the advent of E85 fuel.  Many may know a lot, some, or none, but this form of fuel has made a pretty large mark on the auto industry.  Here are the E85 pros and cons:

E85, as the name suggests, is a hybrid of gasoline (15 percent) and ethanol alcohol (85 percent).  The gasoline portion of E85 safeguards against a vehicle’s engine not starting in the winter.  The ethanol alcohol comes from corn.  Not everyone can use this fuel style, however.  Flexible-fuel vehicles can utilize E85 and normal gasoline.

What is the bottom line on E85 when it comes to price?  Well, it is a complicated question.  At the pump, with the numbers rolling on the meter, E85 is cheaper, but that does not tell the whole story.  Since E85 is dependent on a crop, the price can fluctuate when the market for corn dictates. Still, the price at gas stations for E85, even with a high corn demand, should be lower than that of straight gasoline generally.  The biggest difference that makes E85 not as cost-effective as its price implies is in the fuel economy.  E85, according to the US Department of Energy, gets between 15 to 25 percent MPG.  That makes E85 actually more expensive per mile in many cases.

There is also some debate as to how much better for the environment E85 actually is; a quick Google search shows varying opinions.  While it is becoming more readily available, there are still many places where E85 does not have a strong presence.  Naturally, the midwestern, corn-growing states have seen more of an impact from the biofuel.

So what is the benefit of E85 if it is not necessarily cheaper or cleaner?  A big reason E85 is seen as a positive advancement is because of the less money going overseas for foreign oil.  By only using 15% gasoline, that means more money stays in the USA.  Lessening the dependency the country has on foreign oil has been a priority for a long time.  E85 allows this, however gradual, to start happening, and that is a good thing.  We do not have a lot of places that offer E85 in the Seattle area, but at Seattle Metro Used Cars we do have a number of flex fuel vehicles.  E85 is not perfect, but it is another choice to consider when buying your next car, especially as it becomes a more popular fuel alternative.