I found this to be interesting if it is good research.
Gasoline Research findings released last week strongly suggests that there is an "optimal blend level" of ethanol and gasoline -- most likely E20 or E30 (20 or 30% ethanol) -- at which cars will provide better mileage than the fuel's per-gallon btu content would predict.
The new study, cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), shows mid-range ethanol blends -- fuel mixtures with more ethanol than E10 (10% ethanol) but less than E85 (85% ethanol) -- can in some cases provide better fuel economy than regular unleaded gasoline, even in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles. The new study also found that mid-range ethanol blends reduce harmful tailpipe emissions and that vehicles without any adjustments can operate well on higher ethanol blends than previously thought.
Previous assumptions held that ethanol's lower energy content should always directly correlate with lower fuel economy for drivers. Those assumptions were found to be wrong
"Initial findings indicate that we as a nation haven't begun to recognize the value of ethanol," says Brian Jennings, ACE executive vice president. "This is a compelling argument for more research on the promise of higher ethanol blends in gasoline. There is strong evidence that the optimal ethanol-gasoline blend for standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles is greater than E10 and instead may be E20 or E30. We encourage the federal government to move swiftly to research the use of higher ethanol blends and make necessary approvals so that American motorists can have the cost-effective ethanol choices they deserve at the pump."
The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and the Minnesota Center for Automotive Research (MnCAR) conducted the research using four 2007 model vehicles: a Toyota Camry, a Ford Fusion and two Chevrolet Impalas, one flex-fuel and one non-flex-fuel. Researchers used the EPA Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET) to examine a range of ethanol-gasoline blends from straight Tier 2 gasoline up to 85% ethanol. All of the vehicles got better mileage with ethanol blends than the ethanol's energy content would predict, and three out of four actually traveled farther on a mid-level ethanol blend than on unleaded gasoline.
The research provides strong evidence that standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles can operate on ethanol blends beyond 10%. The three non-flex- fuel vehicles tested operated on levels as high as E65 before any engine fault codes were displayed. Emissions results for the ethanol blends were also favorable for nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and non-methane organic gases, showing an especially significant reduction in CO2 emissions for each vehicle's "optimal" ethanol blend (E20 for the flex- fuel Chevy, E30 for the Toyota and Ford, E40 for the non-flex Chevy).
"These studies show that moderate 20-30% ethanol blends can reduce air pollution, improve gas mileage and save drivers money in the most popular cars on the road today," says Brett Hulsey, president of Better Environmental Solutions, an environmental health consulting firm. "Moderate ethanol blends are homegrown in America, can be delivered with existing pumps to current vehicles and cost less than gasoline. Ethanol lowers CO2 emissions 20% from gasoline, making it one of our most effective greenhouse-gas-reduction programs currently in place."
For more information on the key findings of the study or to download the full report, click here:
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