The Costs of Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Biodiesel & E85 vs. Gasoline

Introduction

Gas prices have been on the rise, and they don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. If you’re looking to save money on gas and reduce your carbon footprint, alternative fuels like biodiesel, ethanol or E85 can help you do both. However, these alternative fuels aren’t cheap. And if you’re not careful about how much fuel you use for other purposes (like driving around town), it could end up costing more than just using standard gasoline would have.

The Costs of Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Biodiesel & E85 vs. Gasoline

In this section, we’ll discuss the costs of alternative fuel vehicles and their relative advantages and disadvantages.

• Biodiesel (B20): This is a renewable diesel substitute made from vegetable oils or animal fats that can be used in any diesel engine. It typically costs about $0.20/gallon more than regular gasoline, but has lower emissions and better efficiency.
• E85: This blend is 85{a5ecc776959f091c949c169bc862f9277bcf9d85da7cccd96cab34960af80885} ethanol and 15{a5ecc776959f091c949c169bc862f9277bcf9d85da7cccd96cab34960af80885} gasoline; it has been recognized as an EPA approved “low carbon fuel” because its production reduces greenhouse gases by 21{a5ecc776959f091c949c169bc862f9277bcf9d85da7cccd96cab34960af80885} compared to standard fossil fuels used for transportation purposes like cars and trucks. However, there are some drawbacks–it’s more expensive than regular gasoline at around $0.50/gallon extra cost per fillup!

How to Save Money on Gasoline

The most obvious way to save money on gasoline is to fill up at night. The price of gas fluctuates throughout the day, and it tends to be cheaper late at night than early in the morning. If you’re able to plan your errands around this trend, you’ll save some serious cash over time. Another option is driving less: fewer miles means less fuel burned, which translates into fewer dollars spent on gas.

Another way to save money is by avoiding peak hours–those times when everyone seems most likely (and willing) go out for dinner or run errands after work or school lets out for the evening. If possible, avoid driving on highways as well; these routes are often more expensive than other types of roads because they require extra maintenance due to higher traffic volumes and speeds (which also means higher fuel consumption). Finally–and perhaps most importantly–look for ways that might help keep costs down: buying from cheaper stations or signing up for loyalty programs could both make a difference!

How Much Does it Cost to Fill Up a Car?

You might be surprised to learn that it costs less to fill up a car with biodiesel than it does to fill up with gasoline. In fact, the average cost for one gallon of gasoline is about $3.61 (in 2017). This means that if you drive 20 miles per gallon and fill up your tank once, then you’ll spend $7.22 on fuel alone–and this doesn’t include taxes or other fees associated with purchasing and using your vehicle!

If we compare this figure against E85 prices at their highest point since 2009 ($2.33 per gallon), we see that they’re nearly half as much as regular unleaded gasoline prices today. However, keep in mind that these numbers vary based on location; some states offer tax incentives or discounts for alternative fuels while others do not–so make sure you check out our list below before making any decisions about which type of fuel will work best for your budget!

Driving more miles could help you save money when it comes to gasoline and alternative fuels.

Driving more miles could help you save money when it comes to gasoline and alternative fuels.

For example, if your car gets 30 mpg and the average cost of regular unleaded is $3 per gallon, an average fill-up will cost $0.10 per mile. If instead of driving 10,000 miles a year (the national average), your family drives 20,000 miles a year–that’s an extra two tanks’ worth of fuel–you’ll spend about $200 more than before on gas alone. That’s not bad considering how much cheaper biodiesel or E85 is compared with regular unleaded.

Conclusion

The cost of alternative fuels and gasoline can be difficult to predict, but there are ways that you can save money on gas. If you’re looking for ways to cut costs while still being environmentally-friendly, consider driving more miles each year or switching over to an electric vehicle.