E15 Saves Consumers Money: Setting the record straight on ethanol’s energy density
Recently, some have made the claim that ethanol is more expensive than gasoline because it has a lower energy density. The truth is that ethanol blends like E10 and E15 have almost the same heat energy (measured in BTUs) as non-ethanol gasoline, but they are offered at a much lower retail cost. On a cost per BTU basis, ethanol blended fuels are less expensive than non-ethanol fuels.
This is what “energy density” claims leave out: PRICE. Gasoline may pack a hair more energy per gallon, but ethanol blends cost so much less that drivers get more energy for every dollar spent — savings that show up directly at the pump.