Ethanol

Ethanol, a renewable transportation fuel, is made primarily from starch crops like corn. About one-third of U.S. gasoline contains a small percentage of ethanol, used to reduce air pollution. Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane motor fuel that is produced from renewable sources.

Pure, 100% ethanol is not generally used as a motor fuel, rather a percentage of ethanol is combined with unleaded gasoline. Any amount of ethanol can be combined with gasoline, but the most common blends are E10 — 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent unleaded gasoline. E10 can be used in any make or model of vehicle sold in the U.S. E85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. E85 is an alternative fuel used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). When E85 is not available, FFVs can operate on straight gasoline or any ethanol blend up to 85 percent.