What is Ethanol and Why Should I Care?

 

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is a cleaner-burning, efficient biofuel made for combustion engine vehicles. Ethanol is primarily made from corn starch and blended with petroleum fuel. The most common blends sold today are E10 (10% ethanol, 90% petroleum), E15/Unleaded 88 (15% ethanol), and E85 (70-85% ethanol).

Why Should I Care? 

Ethanol is a renewable fuel that provides drivers with a variety of benefits, including saving them money at the pump. The higher the blend, the higher the savings. Unleaded 88 it typically sold for five to ten cents less per gallon than E10 and E85 can save drivers $0.40 to $1.00 a gallon. Latest studies have found ethanol significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum gasoline. The more ethanol your fuel contains, the higher the carbon reduction benefits. Ethanol also displaces other components in gasoline that are toxic, reducing your exposure to cancer-causing chemical emissions. Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, meaning ethanol also provides a substantial economic boost to the state, accounting for tens of thousands of jobs and billions in Iowa GDP.

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