The closed circle:

Ethanol made of biomass is a part of the natural circuit. When biomass is cultivated and burned, oxygen is exhausted and carbon dioxide is released. This also happens if products containing ethanol become separated. The carbon dioxide is absorbed as soon as the plant transforms solar energy into chemical energy in the form of sugar, whereas oxygen is released. This oxygen is used again, if the ethanol is burned and so on. So we have got a closed circle.

Contrary to ethanol there is no natural circle with petroleum. By burning it in radiators or automobiles the share of atmospheric carbon dioxide is increased. This accelerates the greenhouse effect.

E85

E85 is a fuel which consists of 85% ethanol and 15 % gasoline. It is designed for special ethanol automobiles, so called Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) that can run on both E85 and gasoline or even a mixture of both. The admixture of gasoline follows from the small heat value of ethanol. It is admixed to solve cold start problems.

Contrary to gasoline operation, a Flex Fuel Vehicle produces only half of nitrogen emissions in E85 operation. The hydrocarbon emissions are nearly the same, apart from the admixed gasoline. The major difference is the lowering of carbon dioxide exhaust emissions of up to 80%.

You can admix 30% of E85 in not converted automobiles with Otto engine. E85 is available at more than 200 filling stations in Germany.
Download list of filling stations

E10:

In the year 2000 the EU adopted new specifications for gasoline fuels saying that the part of ethanol in traditional gasoline must not be higher than 5%. Higher blends cannot be called "gasoline" anymore. Today the EU works on an increase up to 10%. This wouldn't interfere with the common engines and is approved by almost every automobile manufacturer. Besides the reduced dependence on mineral oil, the admixing of ethanol has positive effects on our environment.

E5:

Ethanol is a regenerative fuel which, from the ecological point of view, is its most important characteristic. Regular gasoline is blended with only up to 5% which keeps the ecological effect rather low. Anyhow, even small blends already increase the ecobalance compared to pure gasoline.

E95:

Ethanol busses by Scania drive with a fuel consisting of bioethanol and additives that improve the injection and protect against denaturation and corrosion. The fuel was developed especially for modified diesel engines.

Exhaust measurement showed that the exhaust emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon are lowered compared to diesel fuel considerably. Without particle filter and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) the particle emissions are reduced about 60%. The output of fossil carbon dioxide is reduced about 80%.

An ethanol bus needs about 60% more fuel than normal diesel busses, because one litre of ethanol contains less energy than one litre of diesel.

For more detailed information on the topic E85 and the filling station list please visit www.e85.biz.