Diesel Out Performs E85 in New Cost-Benefit Study
New findings from work at the Pardee Rand Graduate School finds that in a cost-benefit analysis of alternative fuels, ethanol blended E85 fares the worst. In fact, E85 was found to perform worse even than conventional gasoline.
According to the new study, an individual is likely to spend as much as $1,600 more on fuel over the lifespan of a vehicle burning E85, than one would burning gasoline.
Due to the fact that ethanol has less than 70-percent of the energy of gasoline, and is relatively expensive, the Rand study predicted that gas prices would have to rise to over $4 per gallon while ethanol prices fell to make the system economically viable.
Meanwhile, diesel-burning vehicles scored the highest in the new study, saving drivers a predicted $2,300 over the life of the vehicle, and surprising the researchers.
"We were kind of expecting that hybrids would outperform diesels when we went into the study," said one researcher. “It's close, but the advanced diesel provides better performance and fuel economy for the price.
Comments
detroit9000
I don't understand why they regard "hybrid" as a technology separate from diesel or E85. It seems to me they're complementary. Perhaps they mean "gasoline hybrid".
I wonder how well E85 would do in this study if you invested the money used to develop the diesel infrastructure into the E85 infrastructure.
Ducati Minor
Wow. Ethanol burns faster than petrol? I didn't know that!
The matter of diesel depends on location. A gallon of diesel ranges from 10¢ to 20¢ more than premium unleaded gasoline here in Southern California.
Steve
... is anyone really surprised by this? Not me... Great study, though.
chartguy
"We were kind of expecting that hybrids would outperform diesels when we went into the study,
bmwloco
No surprise here.
Diesels rock. Torque. Speed possible.
Just ask Audi. Seems they set course records at Sebring and LeMans... and they're still at it.
You can make diesel from post consumer flotsam too. Hell, with an old Benz 240 or 300 series you can run straight veggie oil with no mod (as long as ambient temps are high enough)
hwyhobo
No one is surprised. There is too much at stake in corn/E85 subsidies to let reality get in the way of profits.
Mark M
"The matter of diesel depends on location. A gallon of diesel ranges from 10¢ to 20¢ more than premium unleaded gasoline here in Southern California."
And that same gallon of diesel will take you a good 50-75% further. I'll pay a 6% premium on the price to go 50%+ further before filling up.
That sure beats E85 -- save 20% on the price drive 30-50% less distance. Yeah, that's a good idea!
E10 is an even worse idea. In the DFW area of Texas, everybody switched over to E10 in place of Regular. My car despises E10, my mileage PLUMETTED more than 20%, all to save a DIME on $3 gas. In effect, the switch to E10 COST ME $0.50/gallon.
Recently moved to Nebraska, and even here in the heart of Ethanol Country, they don't force ethanol blends on anyone. Yeah, Regular and Plus are actually swapped in cost here because Plus is made by blending in cheaper higher-octane Ethanol. But many people, at least those that know better, opt to pay the extra 10 cents or so per gallon for Regular to avoid the E10 because most cars on the road today WAY more than make up for the extra dime with extra mileage.
Ben
Isn't it time for all car manufacturers with diesel engines to meet emissions and start offering them in the U.S.?
Ducati Minor
"And that same gallon of diesel will take you a good 50-75% further"
Based on...your car and E10? First, you're spending a premium moving to a diesel engine over a small-displacement engine, and the fuel economy gains range from 20% to 30% on average. That 50% to 75% "further" is a big stretch. The examples we do have in the States don't inspire. The torquey Jeep CRD diesels, a bitch to buy in the first place, produce modest gains in mileage and move as quickly as a Yugo. So torque isn't everything.
The battery argument is invalid. HEV batteries are under extended warranty, and they don't cost the vast sum that some claim to replace--which, under that logic, would be 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of the vehicle MSRP. Of the ten years HEVs have been on the market, a grievous battery expense or shortened powertrain life has yet to come up.
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