# Energy in Ethanol v Gasoline?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 19, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238 "2008-02-19T12:26:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238/1 "2008-02-19T12:26:14Z")
Someplace (Car & Driver?) I read something along the lines of:
The trouble is that Ethanol only has 65% or the energy per gallon of gasoline, but does not cost 65% as much.
I have forgotten the correct figure. Anyone out there know?
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### Author:  [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238/2 "2008-02-19T12:56:38Z")
These are DOE figures
```auto
Gasoline 125,000 Btu/gal(gross) = 115,400 Btu/gal(net)
Hydrogen 134,200 Btu/kg(gross) = 113,400 Btu/kg(net)
Diesel 138,700 Btu/gal (gross) = 128,700 Btu/gal (net)
Biodiesel 126,206 Btu/gal (gross) = 117,093 Btu/gal (net)
Methanol 64,600 Btu/gal (gross) = 56,560 Btu/gal (net)
Ethanol 84,600 Btu/gal (gross) = 75,670 Btu/gal (net)
Gasohol 120,900 Btu/gal (gross) = 112,417 Btu/gal (net)
```
The energy bit is easy (75670/115400 = 0.655 or 65%)
the costs are a little less scientific in their numbers (it depends how much government subsidy you want to include in the figure, for instance)
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2008, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238/3 "2008-02-19T13:48:58Z")
Gee! I guessed right! (That is to say E85, “Gasohol” is worth 65% of the real deal?
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### Author:  [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238/4 "2008-02-19T14:00:16Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi]
E85, “Gasohol” is worth 65% of the real deal?
[/QUOTE]
Since it’s 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline, the energy content would be just over 70% that of pure gasoline.
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-ethanol-v-gasoline/438238/5 "2008-02-19T14:05:42Z")
Thank you.