What is E85? Complete Guide to Flex Fuel & Ethanol Gasoline
E85 is an ethanol-heavy fuel blend (51-83% ethanol) for flex fuel vehicles. Learn what E85 is, how it differs from regular gas, benefits, drawbacks, and if it's right for your car.
Find E85 flex fuel stations throughout Arizona. Use the interactive map below to locate stations near you.
E85 is available in major areas. Check station locations before heading out.
Arizona offers 21 E85 stations concentrated almost exclusively in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. While the state has one local ethanol producer, overall infrastructure remains limited.
Arizona's E85 market benefits from Pinal Energy LLC, the state's sole ethanol producer located in Maricopa, producing 50 million gallons annually. Despite this local production, distance from the corn belt and Arizona's water scarcity limit further expansion.
Pinal Energy LLC produces 50 million gallons annually from 18 million bushels of corn shipped by rail from the Midwest. The facility's by-products feed approximately 60% of Arizona's cattle.
State policies require 75% of local government fleet vehicles in Maricopa, Pinal, and Yavapai counties to operate on alternative fuels including E85. However, no direct consumer incentives exist for E85 purchases.
Approximately 12-15 stations serve the Phoenix metro, including locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale. Tucson provides 5-6 stations for southern Arizona drivers. Major retailers include Valero and Chevron at select locations.
Flagstaff and northern Arizona have essentially no E85 access. I-17 north of Phoenix and I-40 across northern Arizona lack any E85 stations—drivers heading to the Grand Canyon must plan to use regular gasoline.
Many stations sell "Flex Fuel" blends containing only 54-70% ethanol rather than true 85% E85. Consider carrying an ethanol content tester if tracking fuel economy precisely.
Fill up in the Phoenix or Tucson metros before any rural or northern Arizona travel. The Dateland station on I-8 is essential for California-bound trips. Arizona's E85 network works for urban driving but requires gasoline backup for exploration beyond the Valley.
E85 is an ethanol-heavy fuel blend (51-83% ethanol) for flex fuel vehicles. Learn what E85 is, how it differs from regular gas, benefits, drawbacks, and if it's right for your car.
Compare the real-world costs of E85 versus regular gasoline for your vehicle. Learn how to calculate cost per mile and determine if E85 saves you money.
Find out if you can safely mix E85 and regular gasoline in your flex fuel vehicle, what happens if you accidentally use E85, and how FFVs handle mixed fuels.
Find E85 stations along your travel route. Perfect for road trips and long-distance travel.
Open Route Planner →View E85 station availability across all 50 states and Washington D.C.
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