With gas prices crossing $4 a gallon, the EPA says cheaper, more ethanol-rich fuel will ease the pain. The math doesn't really add up—but the risks sure do.
The concern for most people is not the range of a gas tank. It’s about the fact that they’ll have to fill the tank more often, which means paying more often to travel the same distance, which rather undermines the claim of lowering the cost.
The price per mile matters more than the price per gallon.
And then there’s the additional cost of repairs when the ethanol prematurely dissolves your car’s seals and hoses.
I get that Americans can’t do simple math, but 30% less range for 60% less cost always makes economic sense.
Ethanol does not prematurely dissolve seals and hoses on any car made in the last 30 years, and even if it does on older classic gas guzzlers, the hoses can be replaced for tens of dollars.
The Dalton Highway is an isolated and mostly unpaved road that begins outside of Fairbanks, Alaska and ends 414 miles (666 km) later just shy of the Arctic Ocean in Deadhorse, AK. It’s the farthest north you can drive on a public road on the North American Continent. With one section being 240 miles between gas stations, it includes the longest stretch of road in America without services.
Even if range drops, if the price goes down and CO2 emissions go down too, it’ll be a win. I’m virtually never worried about the range of a gas tank.
The concern for most people is not the range of a gas tank. It’s about the fact that they’ll have to fill the tank more often, which means paying more often to travel the same distance, which rather undermines the claim of lowering the cost.
The price per mile matters more than the price per gallon.
And then there’s the additional cost of repairs when the ethanol prematurely dissolves your car’s seals and hoses.
I get that Americans can’t do simple math, but 30% less range for 60% less cost always makes economic sense.
Ethanol does not prematurely dissolve seals and hoses on any car made in the last 30 years, and even if it does on older classic gas guzzlers, the hoses can be replaced for tens of dollars.
Lot of Facebook Dad facts in this thread.
Note that “rather undermines” does not mean “completely negates”. In any case…
Be sure to let everyone know when this new mix sells for 60% less than the current mix.
As far as I can tell, it’s closer to 25 years. Be sure to let everyone with an older car know when you plan to buy them an upgrade.
Lots of assumption and rudeness in your comment. Please learn to be better. Goodbye.
Ethanol still makes C02, but that C02 was captured the previous season during growth. Gas releases C02 captured millions of years ago.
It does produce less CO2 for the equivalent energy release.
If you’re setting out on a trek away from gas stations, you can also haul jerrycans.
In 2026, not so bad in the Contiguous 48 in the US, but if you do Alaska, I’m sure that there are still long stretches.
searches
https://www.focusonadventure.com/Adventures/Dalton_Highway/