ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Common ethanol fuel mixtures

Okay kiddo, so first let's talk about what ethanol is. Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is made from plants, like corn, sugarcane or wheat. It's used as a fuel because it can be mixed with gasoline to make the gas we put in our cars.

Now, there are different levels of ethanol that can be mixed with gasoline, and those mixtures are called ethanol fuel blends. The most common ethanol fuel blends in the United States are called E10, E15, and E85.

E10 means that 10 percent of the fuel you put in your car is ethanol and 90 percent of it is gasoline. This is the most common blend of ethanol and gasoline that you'll find at gas stations across the country.

E15 means that 15 percent of the fuel you put in your car is ethanol and 85 percent of it is gasoline. This blend is approved for use in cars and light-duty trucks that were made in 2001 or later.

E85 means that 85 percent of the fuel you put in your car is ethanol and only 15 percent of it is gasoline. This blend is only for use in vehicles specifically designed to run on it, called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).

Why do people use ethanol fuel blends? Well, it's because ethanol is a renewable resource, which means we can make more of it from plants, unlike gasoline which is made from oil, a non-renewable resource. More ethanol in the fuel we use means less reliance on foreign oil, and it also produces fewer greenhouse gases, which are bad for the environment.

So there you have it, ethanol fuel blends are basically just different levels of ethanol mixed with gasoline and they can be a better choice for the environment and our energy security.