Yes! Currently, over 98% of all gasoline in the United States is blended with ethanol. When you choose ethanol at the pump, you save money, support local farmers, and help the environment.
E15, a blend of gasoline and 15% ethanol, is safe and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use in vehicles 2001 or newer, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs), and all flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs). Flex fuel vehicles can use the highest ethanol blends, up to E85.
How much money can you save?
- With E10, expect a $.40 to $.50 savings per gallon versus ethanol-free fuel options.
- E15 (also called Unleaded 88) can provide up to an additional $.10 savings per gallon.
- Have a flex fuel vehicle? You could save $1 or more per gallon when you choose E85.
How does ethanol support the environment?
- Using renewable, low carbon fuels like ethanol is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Ethanol is a simple alcohol. It’s the result of fermentation of corn sugars. It’s the same alcohol in spirits, wine and beer.
- Unlike petroleum-based fossil fuels that are in limited supply, ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants we grow right here in America. When refiners create gasoline, toxic chemicals called aromatics are used for octane. Ethanol is a natural, non-toxic octane booster that can be used instead to displace aromatics.
- Ethanol in gasoline reduces greenhouse gases and cancer-causing tailpipe emissions. According to the USDA, its use reduces greenhouse gases by 43%.
- A recent study by the University of California-Riverside directly compared emissions between E15 and E10. The results found that E15 reduces particulate matter by 18%, carbon monoxide by 17%, and NOx by 3%.
Biofuels, including ethanol, are underutilized in today’s fuel market but don’t need to be. With an ethanol blend rate of 9.7%, Nebraska drivers are ranked No. 45 nationally. However, we are the No. 2 producer of ethanol in the country. Nebraska ethanol plants have the capacity to produce 2.6 billion gallons each year but typically produce about 2.2 billion gallons. Broader use of lower-cost ethanol blends by Nebraskans could enhance our nation’s energy security and increase its economic benefits.
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Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability. All vehicles require octane (which comes from gasoline). Higher compression engines require higher octane gas, because if the gas has too low of an octane rating, it will ignite early in the stroke and create knocking, which can damage your engine.
Check your vehicle's owners manual to know what octane rating your vehicles needs. The higher the ethanol blend, the more octane in the gasoline.
