Not Logged In Log In   Sign Up   Points Leaders
Follow Us    12:45 PM

GasBuddy News Article

55
votes
Even with High Gas Prices, E85 makes little sense

Detroit News --
With gasoline prices hovering near record highs, many of the millions of motorists who drive so-called "flex fuel" vehicles are wondering when it makes sense to switch to ethanol.

The answer is probably never.

While the price of ethanol, or E85, is lower than the price of regular unleaded — the average price in Michigan at the end of last week was $3.45 per gallon for E85 vs. $3.82 for regular gas — it provides less energy and, therefore, worse mileage than gas.

"Typically, it's hard to make an economic case for using E85," acknowledged Coleman Jones, head of alternative fuels for General Motors Co.

At least in the United States.

In Brazil, where most cars and trucks are capable of running on either gasoline or ethanol, it is often cheaper to fuel up with the latter.

Th

Read the Full Article

Submitted Oct 08, 2012 By: AmericanMAN
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Even with High Gas Prices, E85 makes little sense Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
First
1234
Next Last
Profile Pic
slicerette
Champion Author South Bend

Posts:3,515
Points:540,305
Joined:Jan 2011
Message Posted: Oct 10, 2012 3:12:22 PM
 Ignore slicerette Report Abuse

Price of Ethanol is 20% Higher -
2012 Drought has driven the wholesale price of Ethanol from $2.00 a gallon on June 1 to $2.40 a gallon today, Oct. 10, 2012.
That's added to our cost of E10 regular gasoline across the nation.

NOW, the EPA is mandating we use more Ethanol in 2013, but we are buying less gasoline. Look Out - EPA is pushing E15 to get us to use more ethanol. Pres. Obama has mandated U.S. gov't flexfuel cars to use E85.


[Edited by: slicerette at 10/10/2012 3:14:13 PM EST]
Profile Pic
flagtown25
Champion Author New Jersey

Posts:1,177
Points:492,405
Joined:Oct 2011
Message Posted: Oct 10, 2012 12:09:04 AM
 Ignore flagtown25 Report Abuse

It never did.
Profile Pic
ktyson13
Champion Author Maryland

Posts:1,541
Points:397,075
Joined:Aug 2010
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 2:07:05 PM
 Ignore ktyson13 Report Abuse

Ethanol never made sense. This was a buyoff to the farm industry by Congress
Profile Pic
remay
Champion Author Houston

Posts:6,963
Points:2,117,390
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 9:06:35 AM
 Ignore remay Report Abuse

"In many parts of the U.S., consumers have no way of knowing which blend they are getting"

That is NOT comforting information!
Profile Pic
dieselfiendSC
Champion Author South Carolina

Posts:2,186
Points:846,830
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 8:16:05 AM
 Ignore dieselfiendSC Report Abuse

Old news
Profile Pic
mrpc90
Champion Author Illinois

Posts:8,143
Points:1,926,535
Joined:Dec 2004
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 8:07:14 AM
 Ignore mrpc90 Report Abuse

Yesterday's news
Profile Pic
wally52
Champion Author Little Rock

Posts:27,452
Points:814,510
Joined:Jan 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 1:38:31 AM
 Ignore wally52 Report Abuse

It makes no sense, so quit producing it.
Profile Pic
kgbellman
Champion Author Ann Arbor

Posts:2,713
Points:731,840
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 1:02:58 AM
 Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse

Agreed - cheaper price, but lower MPG
Profile Pic
nurdco
Champion Author Colorado Springs

Posts:9,231
Points:1,694,410
Joined:Apr 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:55:21 AM
 Ignore nurdco Report Abuse

Rises quickly despite its LOW Gasoline mixture
Profile Pic
Zonk
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:6,481
Points:2,102,765
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:54:54 AM
 Ignore Zonk Report Abuse

Whether or not it comes from sugar cane or corn is not important. Let's just ban ethanol as a fuel for automobiles.
Profile Pic
granitestater
Champion Author New Hampshire

Posts:8,824
Points:1,430,750
Joined:Oct 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:54:12 AM
 Ignore granitestater Report Abuse

Ethanol of any percentage makes no sense...
Profile Pic
jackson661
Champion Author Columbus

Posts:3,768
Points:1,476,915
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:53:28 AM
 Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse

we shall see.
Profile Pic
bobdec
Champion Author Miami

Posts:8,964
Points:1,769,820
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:51:31 AM
 Ignore bobdec Report Abuse

do away with all ethanol
Profile Pic
dhdiesel
Veteran Author Riverside

Posts:400
Points:44,800
Joined:Feb 2012
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:49:31 AM
 Ignore dhdiesel Report Abuse

Is it true the production of ethanol causes more pollution than burning it for fuel?
Profile Pic
BobD2009
Champion Author Long Island

Posts:6,989
Points:1,239,785
Joined:Apr 2009
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:49:05 AM
 Ignore BobD2009 Report Abuse

Abolish ethanol.
Profile Pic
SaturnSC
Champion Author Columbus

Posts:1,051
Points:832,600
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:47:53 AM
 Ignore SaturnSC Report Abuse

Agreed
Profile Pic
gaspricemachine
Veteran Author Tampa

Posts:275
Points:1,193,085
Joined:Aug 2009
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:47:25 AM
 Ignore gaspricemachine Report Abuse

More money on repairs..
Profile Pic
langolera
Champion Author Akron

Posts:1,761
Points:665,980
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:43:22 AM
 Ignore langolera Report Abuse

bad for cars
Profile Pic
shores4now
Champion Author Kentucky

Posts:2,406
Points:523,800
Joined:Jul 2009
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:42:50 AM
 Ignore shores4now Report Abuse

ok
Profile Pic
slkmoo
Champion Author Ontario

Posts:1,253
Points:328,725
Joined:Apr 2012
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:42:00 AM
 Ignore slkmoo Report Abuse

won't cut it here
Profile Pic
NavyEOD
Champion Author Los Angeles

Posts:10,006
Points:2,021,150
Joined:Jul 2007
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:39:51 AM
 Ignore NavyEOD Report Abuse

No corn for me...
Profile Pic
SparkieMi
Champion Author Kalamazoo

Posts:3,258
Points:588,325
Joined:Sep 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:39:49 AM
 Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse

Good post by rodzilla123!!!!!
Profile Pic
Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

Posts:3,795
Points:413,315
Joined:Mar 2012
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:35:57 AM
 Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse

Leave the environmentalists out of this fight, @rodzilla123. They NEVER backed ethanol. That was 100% the corn lobby, backed by Archer Daniels Midland and Monsanto.
Profile Pic
1fulltank
Champion Author Buffalo

Posts:7,903
Points:1,544,310
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:34:20 AM
 Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse

Even with the general public opposed to it, it is still being mandated.
Profile Pic
vulcan96
Champion Author Ohio

Posts:26,916
Points:3,103,675
Joined:Aug 2004
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:33:30 AM
 Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse

no to ethanol - not now, not ever......stop the bribes !
Profile Pic
CarefreeVT
Champion Author Burlington

Posts:1,806
Points:258,055
Joined:Aug 2012
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:31:40 AM
 Ignore CarefreeVT Report Abuse

T@c0$
Profile Pic
J4romeo
All-Star Author Gary

Posts:506
Points:1,214,925
Joined:Jan 2006
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:30:48 AM
 Ignore J4romeo Report Abuse

very true!!
Profile Pic
rodzilla123
Champion Author San Diego

Posts:4,395
Points:1,033,390
Joined:Jul 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:29:32 AM
 Ignore rodzilla123 Report Abuse

E85 is another Evil plan of the Environmentalist in Cahoots with the Politicians and the Corn Farmers to Screw the Consumers of America and all the good Taxpaying Americans. TIme to stop the Insanity Give the BOOT to all these Degenerates!!!
Profile Pic
Rooster922
Champion Author Wilmington

Posts:3,788
Points:656,070
Joined:Jan 2009
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:28:34 AM
 Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse

Wow!
Profile Pic
scu227
Champion Author New Haven

Posts:4,152
Points:771,880
Joined:Feb 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:28:02 AM
 Ignore scu227 Report Abuse

even without high gas prices E85 makes no sense, corn should be used for food not fuel.
Profile Pic
gaswatchON
Veteran Author Ontario

Posts:463
Points:118,405
Joined:May 2012
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:26:16 AM
 Ignore gaswatchON Report Abuse

ethanol is not good for the internal combustion engine as it is made right now
Profile Pic
silverfox63
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:8,120
Points:1,611,715
Joined:Oct 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:26:13 AM
 Ignore silverfox63 Report Abuse

It is time to be rid of E85.
Profile Pic
vibdata
Champion Author Massachusetts

Posts:4,085
Points:848,325
Joined:Nov 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:25:51 AM
 Ignore vibdata Report Abuse

Gas is Gas. Alcohol is Alcohol. Never mix the two.
Profile Pic
10k
Champion Author North Carolina

Posts:21,249
Points:2,254,020
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:25:35 AM
 Ignore 10k Report Abuse

no ethanol whatsoever makes sense..

unless your sole purpose is to ruin the economy..
Profile Pic
rawdog1313
Champion Author Lexington

Posts:3,299
Points:1,642,805
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:25:21 AM
 Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse

Get rid of ethanol!
Profile Pic
crreed1
Champion Author West Virginia

Posts:1,985
Points:2,526,335
Joined:May 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:24:42 AM
 Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse

just say no
Profile Pic
bbigred
Veteran Author Lansing

Posts:427
Points:297,950
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:24:35 AM
 Ignore bbigred Report Abuse

E85 could be cheaper but is not allowed
Profile Pic
arb0526
Champion Author Greensboro

Posts:1,976
Points:410,620
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:24:28 AM
 Ignore arb0526 Report Abuse

Well...if this is all that is offered we would be forced to use despite its negative issues
Profile Pic
LanguageMan1
Champion Author Tampa

Posts:11,723
Points:1,661,790
Joined:Apr 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:23:55 AM
 Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse

Ethanol from any kind of food or vegetable source doesn't make sense. Now from other sources where more would be produced at a lower cost, then yes, it does. They won't do that though.
Profile Pic
cloud23465
Champion Author Virginia Beach

Posts:8,304
Points:1,617,050
Joined:Aug 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:23:51 AM
 Ignore cloud23465 Report Abuse

renewable... also needs to be RELIABLE! if something goes wrong with a crop and that will drive prices up... that's NOT reliable.
Profile Pic
us4usa
Champion Author Missouri

Posts:5,987
Points:1,112,310
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:23:30 AM
 Ignore us4usa Report Abuse

Corn water, less MPG and higher food cost...
Profile Pic
DrCashFlow
Champion Author Massachusetts

Posts:7,064
Points:1,627,125
Joined:Jun 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:22:19 AM
 Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse

no, repeat no, sense
Profile Pic
Matt G
Champion Author Boston

Posts:4,533
Points:2,773,040
Joined:Jun 2004
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:21:46 AM
 Ignore Matt G Report Abuse

Ok
Profile Pic
bluetatanka
Champion Author Philadelphia

Posts:55,901
Points:780,855
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:20:41 AM
 Ignore bluetatanka Report Abuse

No to E85!
Profile Pic
Petrock
Champion Author Lexington

Posts:9,123
Points:2,557,760
Joined:Apr 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:20:37 AM
 Ignore Petrock Report Abuse

The corn/ethanol group will make sure that E-85 is never cheaper than gasoline. ... and this with government subsidies!
Profile Pic
HYEgasCA
Champion Author Fresno

Posts:2,111
Points:910,000
Joined:Dec 2008
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:20:31 AM
 Ignore HYEgasCA Report Abuse

No more ethanol.
Profile Pic
bvrbill
Champion Author Eugene

Posts:3,217
Points:518,525
Joined:Jul 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:19:06 AM
 Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse

No more ethanol.
Profile Pic
jkpsr
Champion Author New Jersey

Posts:4,079
Points:1,101,905
Joined:Jun 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:18:57 AM
 Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse

E85 destroys engines.
Profile Pic
jtfftj
Champion Author New Hampshire

Posts:2,178
Points:1,248,220
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:17:02 AM
 Ignore jtfftj Report Abuse

Only made sense to those folks making money on the deal.
Profile Pic
dwh724
Champion Author Pittsburgh

Posts:1,531
Points:634,175
Joined:Apr 2011
Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 12:16:33 AM
 Ignore dwh724 Report Abuse

Okay
Post a reply Back to Topics
First
1234
Next Last
"Consumers working together to save on gas"