Biofuel Facts

Benefits: Biofuels, such as E85 ethanol and B20 biodiesel, are cleaner burning, homegrown, renewable fuels.
Vehicles running on biofuels emit less air pollution, including cancer-causing compounds. The use of biofuels also helps reduce our dependence on petroleum and provides alternative markets for farm and forest products.
E85 Ethanol
E85: A blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 must only be used in flexible fuel vehicles.
Ethanol: Ethanol is a high-octane, domestic and renewable alcohol fuel produced primarily from plant sugars. It is blended with gasoline to make a cleaner burning, high performance vehicle fuel.
Flexible fuel vehicle (FFV): A vehicle designed to use any combination of gasoline or ethanol from 100% unleaded gasoline to E85. There are over six million FFVs in the U.S. and approximately 90,000 in Tennessee.
How can I tell if my vehicle is an FFV?
Visit www.e85fuel.com for the most recent list of FFVs. You can also check your vehicle owner’s manual, visit your dealer, or check inside the fuel cap door to determine if you can use E85.
How is an FFV different from a gasoline-only vehicle?
An FFV contains a fuel sensor that detects the ethanol/gasoline ratio and adjusts engine operation accordingly. Because alcohols are corrosive, any parts that come in contact with the fuel (e.g., fuel tank, fuel lines, injectors) must be modified slightly to tolerate alcohol.
How does E85 ethanol perform?
Ethanol has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded gasoline, making E85 a premium fuel. Because a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, vehicles running on E85 will get fewer miles per gallon than unleaded gasoline (mileage varies depending upon type of vehicle and personal driving practices).

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