In Promotion of Ethanol

Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol made from corn, Ethanol is a flammable and colorless chemical compound, which can also be used as a biodegradable fuel additive. The renewable alternative fuel is an alcohol fuel mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, by volume; Ethanol derived from crops (bioethanol) is a biofuel. E85 is an alternative fuel blend made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, hence the name “E85”. E85 is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel, and a versatile solvent which mixes easily with water and most organic liquids. Most new cars sold in Brazil, and many newer domestic vehicles are flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on ethanol, gasoline, or any mixture of the two.

In the United States, current ethanol / gasoline blends are at a mere 10% ethanol, commonly known as "gasohol" and is widely sold throughout the U.S. Midwest, which contains the nation's chief corn-growing centers.

Ethanol E85 Pumps The largest single use of ethanol is as a motor fuel and fuel additive with the largest national fuel ethanol industries in Brazil and the United States. The Brazilian ethanol industry is based on sugarcane; as of 2004, Brazil produces 14 billion liters annually, enough to replace about 40% of its gasoline demand.

The United States fuel ethanol industry is based largely on corn. As of 2005, its capacity is 15 billion liters annually, although the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires U.S. fuel ethanol production to increase to 7.5 billion gallons (28 billion liters) by 2012.

In 2005, the Indy Racing League announced its cars will run on a 10% ethanol - 90% methanol blend fuel, and starting in 2007, the indy cars will race on 100% ethanol.