Ethanol Basics

Wisconsin Clean Cities

• Basic properties

• Blends

• Production

• Distribution

• Benefits

• Uses: Vehicles & Fueling Options

• Resources

Wisconsin Clean Cities 2

Overview

Wisconsin Clean Cities 3

Basic Properties of Ethanol

• Renewable fuel produced from plant materials (biomass)

• Comes from starchy feedstocks (corn, sugar cane, sugar beets) and cellulosic feedstocks (yard waste, grasses, poplars)

• High-octane fuel

• Blended at low levels into 80% of gasoline sold in the United States

• E10: Most common blend in U.S.

• E15: EPA approved for use in MY2001 and newer vehicles

• E85: Alternative fuel under Energy Policy Act of 1992; Used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs)

Wisconsin Clean Cities 4

Ethanol Blends

• Intermediate Blends (E20, E30, E50, etc.)

• Blender Pumps

– Mix E10 with E85 for intermediate blends

– Provide flexibility for future changes in regulations

– Allow for choice, based on prices and performance

Wisconsin Clean Cities 5

Blends Continued

• Ethanol from Starch and Sugar

• Ethanol from sugar beets and sugar cane most common in Brazil

• Corn ethanol most common in U.S.

– Dry milling

– Wet milling

Wisconsin Clean Cities 6

Ethanol Production

• Cellulosic Ethanol

• Uses woody, structural parts of plants

• Crop residues, small trees, grasses

• Research under way to improve cost and efficiency

Wisconsin Clean Cities 7

Production Continued

Wisconsin Clean Cities 8

Ethanol Distribution

Wisconsin Clean Cities 9

Benefits of Ethanol

• Energy Security

– 1/2 of U.S. petroleum imported

– 1 unit of corn ethanol = 0.78 units of fossil energy

• Public Health and Environment

– Reduces GHGs by 19% to 52% (corn) and 75% (cellulosic)

– Reduces NOx, CO, benzene, and other harmful emissions

• Existing Infrastructure

– Modifications required

Wisconsin Clean Cities 10

Ethanol Uses: Vehicles

• Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)

• Qualify as alternative fuel vehicles under the Energy Policy Act of 1992

• Operate on gasoline, E85, and lower-level blends

• Comparable acceleration, payload, speed

• Single fueling system

• Lower fuel economy on ethanol

Wisconsin Clean Cities 11

Ethanol Uses: Fueling Options

• Existing E85 Stations

• Converting Existing Equipment to E85

• Installing New E85 Equipment

Wisconsin Clean Cities 12

Ethanol Resources

• Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol.html

• Clean Cities http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/

Name

Title

Wisconsin Clean Cities

(414) 221-####

First.Last@WICleanCities.org

Wisconsin Clean Cities 13

Contact