What's in your gas tank? It could be E85

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General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler, Nissan Motor Co., Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corp. make flexible-fuel versions for certain models, sometimes only for sale as fleet vehicles. The differences under the hood are relatively few, so prices are similar to vehicles with comparable standard engines. But E85 should not be used in vehicles not designed for it.

One way to tell if a vehicle can use E85 is to check the owners manual. Many flexible-fuel cars also have decals inside the fuel door saying they can use it. The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition keeps a comprehensive list on its Web site, as well as a guide for telling definitively from the car’s vehicle identification number.

Mileage is somewhat lower with E85 depending on the vehicle, Gerlach said. But drivers say the lower cost per gallon more than makes up for that.

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Supply, subsidies keep prices down
Minnesota emerged as the nation’s leader in E85 because it was one of three pilot markets, along with Chicago and Denver, in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, Gerlach said. The program seeks to build up an alternative fuel infrastructure so people burn less gasoline, he said.

While regular gasoline prices have been rising, ethanol prices have stayed down because of a rapidly growing ethanol supply and federal tax subsidies. That’s meant E85 running anywhere from 30 to 60 cents a gallon cheaper than gasoline.

Mike Jorgenson said he could save big money if he had a flexible-fuel vehicle for his daily 130-mile round-trip commute. His ’97 Chevy Blazer gets a depressing 15.5 miles per gallon, he said, as he filled it up with regular unleaded from a pump that also offered E85 for 45 cents less.

“I really wish I had a vehicle that I could convert over to E85,” he said wistfully.

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