The growth of the ethanol industry has been a slow process, one where the automakers are way ahead of the game, building cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs which can run on either straight gasoline or a mixture of gas and ethanol, flex fuel vehicles (FFV) that now number in the millions. Lagging far behind are the number of available pumps able to dispense E85 fuel — which is a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline — the most common blend being marketed.
Where Can I Find Ethanol?
Ethanol fuel is currently available across the US except in six states which are: Hawaii, Alaska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. To date, more than 1400 locations are dispensing ethanol fuel, but the majority of them are in the corn growing states of the upper midwest. As ethanol is currently derived chiefly from corn, those states producing this grain are also the ones pushing the hardest to see that ethanol succeeds. Unfortunately, ethanol’s capacity is woefully limited, especially outside of those states.
The U.S. Department of Energy tracks the spread of ethanol pumps on its website at http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/ethanol_locations.html – There, visitors can view a map of the United States and click on their state to find where pumps are located. That list offers the name of the station, its address, type of access (public or private), and you can click on a link to a map that will show you where it is located.
In some cases, consumers are searching the internet themselves to find local E85 stations and comparing prices online. Please note this: even if E85 prices are 20% lower than the price of gasoline where you live, you probably will pay more for fuel over the long run. This is due to E85’s inefficient nature – you’ll achieve better performance by using this fuel, but it comes at a price. Specifically, running any car on E85 means a net increase in fuel consumption upwards of 30%.
Other Options For E85?
Because E85 is much less efficient then straight gasoline, there is a movement underfoot to sell different blends of this fuel to consumers. In Kansas, for example, one company is selling E50 fuel which is a 50-50 ethanol-gasoline blend. Government subsidies and introductory specials are keeping prices competitive, offering perhaps the best option for drivers.
Ultimately, thousands of more pump locations need to be set up across our country in order to make ethanol a viable option. Other methods of developing ethanol, cellulosic for example, can help drive down the cost which would make choosing an ethanol blend a wise one.
Until then ethanol is only widely available in four states and in blends that are simply fuel inefficient. True, the environment benefits every time a driver chooses E85, but with fuel costs at a higher amount than straight gasoline, few cash-strapped consumers will make the switch.