Ethanol is a high-octane, clean-burning renewable fuel that’s added to gasoline to improve air quality, engine performance and environmental impact. It’s primarily made from field corn, much of which is grown in Nebraska.

Biofuels are fuels made from living things. Ethanol is a biofuel because it is made from plants, usually corn. Ethanol is sustainable because corn can be planted and grown year after year. Other common biofuels include biogas (often made from methane gas) and biodiesel (made from the fats in plants and animals).

Ethanol biofuel is made from corn by breaking down the starch in kernels into sugar and then fermenting it into a liquid. Protein and fiber solids left over from the making of ethanol, called distillers’ grains, are used as a high-quality livestock feed.

How does ethanol reduce pollution?

Adding ethanol to gasoline reduces air pollution by reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses in vehicle exhaust. Cars and trucks designed to run on flex fuel can use either ethanol biofuel or traditional gasoline for power. Blending ethanol with gasoline can sometimes increase the fuel’s octane and can help engines run better by cleaning the engine and preventing buildup of deposits. Ninety-eight percent of vehicle fuel sold in the United States is a blend of up to 10% ethanol, called E10.

E10, a blend of 10 percent American Ethanol, is the most widely available ethanol blend and warranted by all automakers.

E15 is a blend of 15 percent American Ethanol (also known as Unleaded88 or UNL88). E15 is approved for use in all standard vehicles model year 2001 or newer. E15 can also be used in all flex fuel vehicles year-round.

E85 is a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol (minimum 70 percent) that is approved for use in flex fuel vehicles only. E85 pumps are typically identified with a yellow hose and/or yellow nozzle.

What is a flex fuel vehicle?

About one in seven Nebraskans is driving a flex fuel vehicle (FFV) and many don’t even realize it. A FFV can operate on any blend of American Ethanol from E10 up to E85 (85 percent ethanol) – and you can fill up with any blend in any amount at any time. A computer in the engine automatically adjusts for the varying percentage of ethanol in the fuel.nnTo see if your car is compatible with flex fuel, check your owner’s manual. Look for a flex fuel badge on your vehicle (usually on the truck lid, tailgate or rear quarter panel). You might also have a yellow gas cap or a decal inside your fuel door.

Octane is a measure of the ignition quality of gasoline. The higher the octane number, the less susceptible the fuel is to “knocking.” Knocking occurs when the fuel prematurely burns in the engine’s combustion chamber due to compression – instead of being ignited by the spark as the engine is designed. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before igniting. And ultimately, the more efficiently the engine performs.nEthanol naturally adds octane to gasoline and does so with a renewable, clean-burning and less expensive octane source. The higher the ethanol blend, the higher the octane rating. Straight ethanol has a 113 octane rating.

Unleaded 88 is another name for E15. Both terms are used to describe a fuel blend of 15% ethanol biofuel and 85% gasoline.nnLike other ethanol biofuel blends, Unleaded 88 is a cleaner-burning fuel than regular gasoline, because it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in vehicle exhaust.

How much ethanol is in regular gas?

More than 98% of the fuel in the United States is a blend that contains up to 10% ethanol. This blend is often called E10. This blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline is sold in every state. It is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in every conventional gas-powered engine.

Why is ethanol in regular gas?

Ethanol is a biofuel added to regular gas because it burns cleaner and has a higher octane than gas alone. Because of this, ethanol benefits the environment by reducing harmful vehicle emissions. These benefits have made ethanol a major part of United States environmental policy for decades, including the Clean Air Act of 1990.nnAnother reason ethanol is blended into gas sold the United States is that ethanol increases the country’s energy security. Because it is made in America, ethanol reduces the country’s reliance on foreign oil.

The true value of corn farmers isn’t something that can be measured, weighed or counted.

The true value of corn farmers isn’t something that can be measured, weighed or counted. That’s because the traditions and values they represent are as much a part of our state as the soil in which they grow their crops. The sense of pride and commitment they feel — to the land, their families, and their communities — are why they are Nebraska corn farmers.

And why we’re proud to celebrate them.

A message from Brandon Hunnicutt

Nebraska Corn Board Chairman
Farmer from Giltner, Nebraska

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The true value of corn farmers isn’t something that can be measured, weighed or counted.

A message from Brandon Hunnicutt

Get to Know Our Farmers

Working Hard While Fields Rest: What Farmers Do in the Winter

Agriculture In the Classroom: Connecting Nebraska Students with Agriculture

Laying the Groundwork: How Nebraska Farmers Prepare for Planting Corn

Are you a Nebraska Corn Farmer?

Corn 101

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