Ethanol fuel is considered a type of renewable energy. We can grow and use plants, which are natural and self-replenishing, as raw materials for its production. It can be blended with gasoline in different proportions to make gasohol, or with diesel to form diesohol. In addition, pure ethanol can be used directly as a fuel. The use of an appropriate proportion of ethanol to fuel engines reduces nearly all types of pollution emissions; for example, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, gasoline, and nitrogen oxides, etc.
Gasohol is a mixture of gasoline and ethanol in different proportions. Currently, Thailand promotes the use of gasohol containing 10%, 20% or 85% ethanol. Gasohol is therefore classified by its ethanol content, i.e. Gasohol E10, E20 and E85.
- The gasoline used in automobiles was originally derived from fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide. On the other hand, ethanol is made from plants, and its emissions are absorbed by plants, including sugarcane. It is therefore considered clean energy compared to the use of fossil fuels.
- One liter of ethanol reduces CO2 emissions by 1.55 kg. Presently, the ethanol consumption in Thailand equals 3.5 million liters per day, amounting to 1.2 billion liters of ethanol consumption per year, with a reduction of approximately 2 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. This is equivalent to the CO2 absorption of a teak forest covering 900000 rai / 355,831 acres / 144,000 hectares.
In the past, the market demand for molasses was relatively low, which made it inexpensive. However, since Thailand uses molasses as a feedstock for ethanol production, its demand and price have gradually increased. Since molasses is also used for calculating sugarcane prices, the price of sugarcane is currently much higher than before.
Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are capable of operating on any blend of gasohol, from Gasohol 91, Gasohol E20 to Gasohol E85. Currently, FFVs are sold by many car manufacturers such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Chevrolet, Toyota, Mazda, etc.