E85 Questioned
E85 is used in flex fuel vehicles as an alternative to petrol. The fuel really has Gauze in it---15 percent Gauze and 85 percent ethanol. In truth, it was heavily promoted as the fuel that would foot America's Subordination on oil. Nevertheless, the conclusion of E85 on fuel economy is one of many matters hampering the transition from Gauze to flex fuel for American drivers. Van and Chauffeur Periodical did an experiment to proof honorable how all the more E85 affects fuel economy.
The Experiment
The magazine used a 2007 Tahoe flex fuel truck. It filled the tank with E85 and ran the gas to empty. It did the same with gas in the tank. While using the gas, it measured the miles per gallon achieved using both fuels. See the resources section for more information on the experiment.
The Results
Car and Driver magazine found that the Tahoe got 30 percent less miles per gallon using the E85. The truck ran 390 miles on a tank of gas and 290 miles on a tank of E85. Thus, the E85 actually forces the customer to fill up more often. This is much more expensive in the long run. The E85 did not affect the Tahoe's performance, however.
The Reason
The NHTSA states that under CAFE, the fuel economy of each new vehicle must average 27.5 miles per gallon of gas (22.5 for trucks like the Tahoe). The law was created to reduce American dependence on oil.
The Dilemma
Many of the sport utility vehicles, trucks and cars being churned out by automakers did not meet this standard.So, if E85 is actually costing the consumer more money in fuel costs, why are the vehicles being forced onto the public? The answer is the Corporate Average Fuel Economy. This is a Federal requirement for automakers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ensures that CAFE regulations are being followed.The Tahoe, like the one in the Car and Driver test, was only getting 20.1 mpg. But the companies did not create vehicles that were better at burning gas conservatively. This was too costly and an endeavor that would take too long to complete. Instead, they decided to "tweak" the gas a little.
The Solution
E85 is only 15 percent gas. If 100 percent gas produced a fuel economy of 20.1 percent, then 15 percent gas produces a much smaller (more attractive, according to the NHTSA) number at 33.3 percent. Thus the flex fuel vehicle passed federal requirements without the cost of converting gas engines to E85. (See the resources section for more information on the costly conversion.) That is why E85 and flex fuel vehicles are being peddled across the country.
