Ethanol Blends Used around the World
Low ethanol blends of E5-E25 range are used in more than 20 countries around the world, led by the United States, where ethanol represented approximately 10% of the US gasoline fuel supply in 2011 [4]. Blends from E20 to E25 have been used in Brazil since the late 1970s, and E85 is commonly used in the US and Europe for flexible-fuel vehicles. Some of the ethanol blends used around the world are shown in Table 16.6.
Federal and local initiatives to increase the use of ethanol in transportation have resulted in several initiatives and applications for FFVs. One option is the ethanol blender-pump dispenser. Blender pumps offer FFV owners a variety of ethanol-blended gasoline products between E15 and E85. E20 (20% ethanol, 80% gasoline) and E30 (30% ethanol, 70% gasoline) are the most common blends selected. Stations offering blender-pump blends to FFV owners are concentrated in the Midwest. Blender pumps are also a legal method to dispense E15 to 2001 vehicle model years and newer once the fuel is approved for sale. Blender pumps draw fuel from two separate storage tanks (E10 and E85) and can dispense preprogrammed blends of those two fuels. Labels must clearly indicate blender pump fuels for FFVs.
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Table 16.6 Some of the ethanol blends used around the world.
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