What is E85 gasoline?

E85 gasoline is an alternative fuel type containing a higher amount of ethanol, typically between 51 and 83 percent. This type of fuel only works in flexible fuel vehicles designed to run on both E85 and traditional fuel. Flexible fuel cars often have a yellow gas cap for identification.

Not all gas stations have pumps for E85 fuel. The pumps are clearly marked to avoid confusion with other fuel types. E85 fuel is often cheaper than lower ethanol fuels, but the vehicle gets lower gas mileage when running on E85. This is because the higher ethanol blends have less energy based on volume than gasoline.