How does ethanol-blended fuel benefit the environment?
Ethanol is a much cleaner burning fuel than regular unleaded petrol, offering a significant reduction in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions. Research in the USA shows that every city and state that has switched to ethanol-blended fuel has experienced improved air quality. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2005 alone ethanol-blended fuels reduce CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by 7.8 million tons; this has the effect of removing the annual GHG emissions of more than 1 million automobiles from the road. Additionally, ethanol-enriched fuels reduce tailpipe emissions of volatile organic compounds, which readily form ozone in the atmosphere. Thus, the use of ethanol plays an important role in smog reduction.
Ethanol is a much cleaner burning fuel than gasoline, offering a significant reduction in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions. Research shows that every city and state that has switched to ethanol-blended fuel has experienced improved air quality. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2005 alone ethanol-blended fuels reduce CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by 7.8 million tons; this has the effect of removing the annual GHG emissions of more than 1 million automobiles from the road. Additionally, ethanol-enriched fuels reduce tailpipe emissions of volatile organic compounds, which readily form ozone in the atmosphere. Thus, the use of ethanol plays an important role in smog reduction.
