What Is E85 Gas?
E85 is the name for a type of gasoline that is ostensibly made of up to 85% ethanol, but which, according to the EPA, contains between 51% and 83% ethanol depending on the season. Ethanol is an alcohol that in the U.S. is typically made from corn, which is why gas stations offering E85 fuel are most common in the Midwest.
Related: What Is Flex Fuel?
E85 is usually cheaper than regular gasoline — roughly 9% as of this writing — but is also less energy-dense than regular gasoline, which can lead to a reduction in mpg of 15% to 27%, making E85 slightly more expensive than regular gas on a per-mile basis. Regular fuel, or E15, is currently allowed to include up to 15% ethanol.
E85 is only appropriate for “flex fuel” designated vehicles, as non-flex-fuel vehicles lack the necessary engine components and engine software to run on E85 without risking potential damage. Having said that, E85 fuel has a higher octane rating than regular — and even premium — pump gasoline and is sometimes used as a performance fuel. Car and truck owners looking for increased performance at a drag strip, for example, sometimes modify their vehicle’s engine and engine software to accommodate the increased ethanol content in E85 fuel.
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