Introduction
Ethanol is now being routinely used as a vehicle fuel. The idea is not new and other countries have been utilizing ethanol for some time. Brazil has been a leader in the use of ethanol. The country primarily uses sugar cane as a source for the ethanol. That country’s ethanol production supplies 20% of its vehicle fuel needs.

In the US, corn has been the leading ethanol source. Currently ethanol is blended with gasoline in two formulations – E10 and E85. E10 is a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. This fuel has popularity since some areas of the country mandate a fuel oxygenate to improve air quality. Most of today's commercially available vehicles can run on blends of E10. Many newer vehicles can use E85. This mixture is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The 15% gasoline is used as a compromise in order to improve engine starting reliability. This fuel qualifies as an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Vehicles that can run on E85, gasoline, or any mixture of the two are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).

Fuel sources
Many biological sources are possible to use for producing ethanol. Sugar cane, corn, sugar beets, switch grass are some of the most commonly used.

Fuel production technology
In order to extract the ethanol, first a process of fermentation is required. After fermenting the ethanol source, distillation is required. Byproducts are also a key element in ethanol production. For example, distiller’s grain (which can be used for livestock feed) is produced with corn based ethanol production and can be sold to improve the economic aspects of the ethanol production.

Distribution and use
E10 is attractive as a fuel because it can be used within the existing gasoline distribution systems in the US. Further, no engine modifications are typically required so it is really a direct replacement for other gasoline formulations. E85 requires independent pumps and also requires vehicles designed to operate with E85. Typical modifications include engine control software optimization and fuel line materials for contact with the E85 fuel. Several of these Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are currently on the market today.

See http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm for a database where you can search for these vehicles.

See http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/e85_stations.cgi for a list of stations that sell E85.

Toltec provides services in several facets of ethanol production, distribution, and use. Services include:

• Ethanol plant process engineering
• Testing and optimization
• Energy efficiency optimization in the production of ethanol
• Pilot plants for process refinement
  • Provides economic method for testing new feed stocks
  • Tests of alternate fermentation methods
  • Energy predictions based on small scale tests
• Fleet vehicle analysis and selection