Ethanol Blends
Ethanol is blended with gasoline in various amounts for use in vehicles. Low-level blends, up to E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), are classified as "substantially similar" to gasoline by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), meaning they can be used legally in any gasoline-powered vehicle. Research is underway to inform the EPA's determination of whether intermediate ethanol blends, such as E15 and E20, also can be used legally in standard gasoline-powered vehicles. Low-level and intermediate blends do not qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct).
E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) qualifies as an alternative fuel under EPAct. E85 can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, which are designed to tolerate the fuel's high ethanol content. E85 cannot be used legally in standard gasoline-powered vehicles.
To learn more about ethanol blends, choose from the following pages.
