With gas prices expected to go north of $3 a gallon this spring, every expert in the country is insinuating the E-85 gasohol is going to be the wave of the future.
So far when gas goes up the E-85 fuel follows right along. The jobs created, plants being built and less dependence on foreign oil is great. But I believe there has to be a clear advantage to the consumer to buy it instead of gas.
I have a 2000 Taurus with the green EHG - flex fuel HEG car thats built for the E-85. My car consistently gets 26mpg. Mostly highway driving at 60 mph on gas. Say on a 300 mile trip it would use about 11.5 gallons (11.5 gal x 2.20/gal = $25.30)
My car driving on pure E-85 only gets 20 mpg on the same conditions Car well tuned up, tires properly inflated 60 mph or we go on a 300 mile trip. Going to use 15 gal of fuel. Say the E-85 is $.50 cents less per gallon
Do the math 15 gal x $1.70 = $25.50; 11.5 gal x $2.20 = $25.30
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Gas is $.20 cents cheaper.
E-85 is 85 percent alcohol remember your chemistry it all boils down to the energy on BTU takes more E-85 to equal the same BTU found in a gallon of gas.
The only way people are going to go to E-85 is to save money. Fifty cents per gallon difference between the E-85 and gas is the break even point.
So far around here the E-85 fuel is less than $.50 cents a gallon difference, so $2.20 gas costs less than E-85 for $1.70 to run your car.
Cal Drake
Frazee
