Ethanol


Did you know your gas-fueled vehicle is probably running on ethanol right now?

Ethanol is a type of fuel made from plant materials that, combined with regular gasoline, help reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. A variety of ethanol-blended fuels are readily-available in the U.S., from E10 (90% gasoline, 10% ethanol) to E85 (15% gasoline, 85% ethanol) for flexible fuel vehicles.Though most commonly linked with corn, ethanol can also be made from cellulosic materials, such as wood and grass. Cellulosic ethanol is even cleaner than corn-based ethanol and reduces emissions up to 86% more than gasoline.

Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are similar to cars with conventional engines, except FFVs are specifically adapted to handle fuel that is primarily ethanol, which generates extra oxygen. There are currently more than 17 million flexible fuel vehicles in the U.S., but many FFV owners aren’t even aware that their car can use E85 fuel.

Member Fleets Using Ethanol

  • King County
  • Pierce County
  • Port of Seattle
  • Snohomish County
  • University of Washington

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Alternative Fuels