E85 is a joke. The Gov't had to do something with all those corn subsidies.
So why not waste precious water at the same time?
Adding alcohol to gasoline doesn't make it burn more efficient or reduce negative effects out of your tailpipe. It will burn hotter and may, for one tank, "clean" your engine somewhat. Just buy a 2$ additive that does it better.
Co2, carbon dioxide is the least "bad" thing on what comes out of a tailpipe. Gasoline is a complex molecule; natural gas is a simple molecule.
If all our cars were powered by Propane or Natural Gas, we would pollute 99% less.
Alcohol - the more pure it is - the less "energy" per volume. So 15% in regular gasoline makes the same "us gallon" travel less miles.
Same is true of Premium versus Regular - less energy per volume.
Diesel has the most energy per volume - 20% + above regular.
So when you see a Jetta TDI VW that does 65 MPG - you have to look deeper.
- US gallons or Imperial gallons! Not the same volume.
- 1 US gallon = 1.201 Imperial - a 20% difference!
- Diesel has 20% more energy per volume
- Makes the Jetta TDI "seem" 40% more efficient than a Honda Civic 4 cylinder
- The MPG on the Jetta was obtained with a manual I'm stupid, automatic loses another 10%+ energy
If the US Prius could use Diesel, it would get 20% above its rated 50 US MPG, thus 60 MPG on Diesel. If Imperial gallons, 72 MPG.
However, the US Prius = 50 MPG and the UK Prius = 60 MPG, petrol rating.
- Prius is cheaper than a Jetta TDI
- Prius is less confort / less sporty ride
- Prius has more cargo space
- Upkeep on a diesel car is more expensive than ANY car on the road
One must not forget that no matter the technology, burning diesel in a car pollutes much more, as in NOx, than regular gasoline.
Not for trucks and 18 wheelers - diesel pollutes less than gasoline would. 18 wheelers would have to fuel up more often, or carry larger tanks, with gasoline.