Adding alcohol to gasoline dilutes the fuel, and lowers the heat energy.
One US gallon of Gasoline (regular unleaded) = 114,100 BTU/gal
One US gallon of Ethanol (E100) = 76,100 BTU/gal [67% of gasoline BTU]
One US gallon of 10% Ethanol/Gasoline Blend (E10) = 111,300 BTU/gal [97% of gasoline BTU]
Adding 10% ethanol to gasoline requires burning 3% more fuel to accomplish the same task.
Ethanol blended gasoline requires buying more gallons of fuel in order to travel the same distance.
Why do state and federal governments really like ethanol blended fuels?
Highway fuels are taxed “by the gallon”, so governments collect more taxes with blended fuels.
Mandating the use of ethanol blended fuel is a disguise for a hike in gasoline taxes.
The ethanol in gasoline will also absorb water whereas gasoline always separates itself from it.
I know when the local gas supply switches from the “summer” blend to the “winter” blend my mileage drops immediately from 21 mpg to 19 mpg.
In the Spring, when the “summer” blend returns, so does my mileage.
Yes it is, in effect, but I don't give the Congresscritters credit for having enough brains to deduce that in advance.
They should advertise it as “Low Calorie” or “Lite” gasoline.
“Mandating the use of ethanol blended fuel is a disguise for a hike in gasoline taxes.”
I wonder what the mileage tests for the EPA are done with? I know the answer. Hint: IT DOESN’T CONTAIN ETHANOL.
Ethanol supports a government-mandated criminal cartel; it wastes US land resources and threatens the US food supply.