Ethanol Benefits and Considerations

Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced transportation fuel. Whether used in low-level blends, such as E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), or in E85 (a gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season), ethanol helps conserve petroleum and reduce emissions. Like any alternative fuel, there are some considerations to take into account when contemplating the use of ethanol.

Energy Security

In 2015, the United States imported about 24% of the petroleum it consumed, and that number would have reached 32% if ethanol had not been domestically produced and consumed. Because transportation accounts for nearly three-fourths of total U.S. petroleum consumption, using ethanol fuel blends has a significant impact. This also supports the U.S. economy, helps diversify the U.S. transportation fleet, and reduces the impact of international supply disruptions. All of this adds to our nation’s energy security.

Fuel Economy and Performance

A gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline. The result is lower fuel economy when operating your vehicle. The amount of energy difference varies depending on the blend. For example, E85, which contains 83% ethanol content, has about 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline (the impact to fuel economy lessens as ethanol content decreases). Gasoline vehicles, including flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), are optimized for gasoline. If they were optimized to run on higher ethanol blends, the fuel economy penalty would likely be less.

To learn more about fuel economy, GHG scores, and EPA smog scores for FFVs, visit, or see the Clean Cities 2016 Vehicle Buyer's Guide.

Job Impacts

Ethanol production creates jobs in rural areas where employment opportunities are needed. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production in 2015 led to the addition of nearly 86,000 direct jobs across the country, $44 billion to the gross domestic product, and $24 billion in household income. (See the Pocket Guide to Ethanol 2016).

Lower Emissions

The carbon dioxide released by a vehicle when ethanol is burned is offset by the carbon dioxide captured when the feedstock crops are grown to produce ethanol. This differs from gasoline and diesel, which are refined from petroleum extracted from the earth. No emissions are offset when these petroleum products are burned. On a life cycle analysis basis, GHG emissions are reduced on average by 40% with corn-based ethanol produced from dry mills, and up to 108% if cellulosic feedstocks are used, compared with gasoline and diesel production and use.

Equipment and Availability

Low-level blends of E10 or less require no special fueling equipment, and they can be used in any conventional gasoline vehicle.

It is also possible to accommodate blends above E10 in existing fueling equipment, however, some equipment needs to be upgraded to comply with federal code. See the Codes, Standards, and Safety page and the Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85 and Other Ethanol-Gasoline Blends for detailed information on compatible equipment.

FFVs (which can operate on E85, gasoline, or any blend of the two) are available nationwide as standard equipment with no incremental cost, making them an affordable alternative fuel vehicle option. Fueling stations offering E85 are predominately located in the Midwest. Find E85 fueling stations in your area.