Fuel Consumption and Emissions Comparisons between Ethanol 85 and Gasoline Fuels for Flexible Fuel Vehicles

摘要

Ethanol-based fuels may offer advantages of reduced national dependence on imported petroleum. Since ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, the use of ethanol may offer environmental benefits such as reduction in emissions of products of incomplete combustion (namely carbon monoxide) as well as total hydrocarbons (THC). However, there is some concern that E85 is associated with higher emissions of some hydrocarbon species, such as aldehydes. Ethanol can be blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline by volume. The objective of this research is to evaluate differences in fuel consumption and emissions of flex fueled vehicles (FFVs) operated on E85 versus gasoline powered vehicles.