Technical Highlights

E85 and Flex Fuel Vehicles

Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants. Essentially non-drinkable 

grain alcohol, ethanol is produced by fermenting plant sugars. It can 

be made from corn, sugar cane, and other starchy agricultural product. 

The cellulose in agricultural wastes such as waste woods and corn stalks 

(also know as “cellulosic ethanol”) can also be used as a base. In the 

United States, most ethanol is currently made from corn, although because 

of rapidly developing research, cellulosic ethanol may soon become a 

larger part of the market. 

E85 Fuel

While pure ethanol is rarely used for transportation fuel, there are several ethanolgasoline blends in use today. E85 is a blend of 85 percent denatured ethanol and 15 

percent gasoline. In certain areas, higher percentages of gasoline will be added to 

E-85 during the winter to ensure that vehicles are able to start at very cold temperatures.

E85 cannot be used in a conventional, gasoline-only engine. Vehicles must be 

specially designed to run on it. The only vehicles currently available to U.S. drivers 

are known as flex fuel vehicles (FFVs), because they can run on E85, gasoline, or any 

blend of the two. Much like diesel fuel, E85 is available at specially-marked fueling 

pumps. Today, over 1,900 fueling stations offer it. 

Another common mix is E10, a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. 

E10 is available in many areas across the United States and can be used in any gasoline 

vehicle manufactured after 1980.

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

EPA-420-F-10-010

February 2010
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Flex Fuel Vehicles

Ethanol-fueled vehicles date back to the 1880s when Henry Ford designed a car that ran solely 

on ethanol. He later built the first flex fuel vehicle: a 1908 Model T designed to operate on 

either ethanol or gasoline.

Today’s FFVs feature specially-designed fuel systems and other components that allow a vehicle 

to operate on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol that can vary from 0 percent to 85 percent 

ethanol. These cars and trucks have the same power, acceleration, payload, and cruise speed as 

conventionally fueled vehicles. Maintenance for ethanol-fueled vehicles is very similar to that 

of regular cars and trucks. However, owners should identify the car as an FFV when ordering 

replacement parts.

Today, the United States has nearly 8 million FFVs on the road. These vehicles are available in 

a range of models, including sedans, pick-up trucks, and minivans. Additionally, several auto 

manufacturers have announced plans to greatly expand the number of FFV models they will offer. 

In fact, you may even be driving one now. To find out, check the inside of your gas tank door for 

an identification sticker.

Affordability

FFVs are priced the same as gasoline-only vehicles, offering drivers the opportunity to buy an 

E85 capable vehicle at no additional cost.

In general, E85 reduces fuel economy and range by about 20-30 percent, meaning an FFV will 

travel fewer miles on a tank of E85 than on a tank of gasoline. This is because ethanol contains 

less energy than gasoline. Vehicles can be designed to be optimized for E85--which would reduce 

or eliminate this tendency. However, no such vehicles are currently on the market. The pump 

price for E85 is often lower than regular gasoline; however, prices vary depending on supply and 

market conditions.

E85 & Conventional Vehicles

Consumers should never use E85 in a conventional, gasoline-only vehicle. This can lead to a 

range of problems, including not being able to start the engine, damage to engine components, 

illumination of the check engine light, and emissions increases. 

It is technically possible to convert a conventional gasoline vehicle to run on E85; however, 

such conversions would likely be illegal unless they are certified by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA). In addition, converting a conventional vehicle to E85 may violate 

the terms of the vehicle warranty. For more information on the vehicle conversion processs, 

please visit EPA’s Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/dearmfr/cisd0602.pdf. 
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Benefits

Much of the increased interest in ethanol as a vehicle fuel is due to its ability to replace gasoline 

from imported oil. The United States is currently the world’s largest ethanol producer, and most 

of the ethanol we use is produced domestically from corn grown by American farmers. 

E85 can also provide important reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

EPA’s stringent Tier II vehicle emission standards require that FFVs achieve the same low 

emissions level regardless of whether E85 or gasoline is used. However, E85 can further reduce 

emissions of certain pollutants as compared to conventional gasoline or lower volume ethanol 

blends. For example, E85 is less volatile than gasoline or low volume ethanol blends, which 

results in fewer evaporative emissions. Using E85 also reduces carbon monoxide emissions and 

provides significant reductions in emissions of many harmful toxics, including benzene, a known 

human carcinogen. However, E85 also increases emissions of acetaldehyde--a toxic pollutant.