Any supposed power benefits of using E85 really hasn't crossed my mind or been of any concern. It is purely economics. The cost spreads are such that no other fuel, including using a diesel engine, offers me as low of a cost per mile that E85 does.
My 2017 Equinox 2.4L averages for all miles (city, rural, highway, gravel roads, etc) about 21 mpg using E85. Cost for E85 near me right now is $1.72. That equates to about 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost.
Regular is going for $2.52. If I used it, I would have to get 29-30 mpg average for all miles to get down to the same 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost. Not even a possibility.
And diesel near me is going for $3.14. So even one of the new diesel Equinox vehicles would have to average for all miles (city, highway, rural, gravel roads, etc) roughly 38 mpg to break even on 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost. Again, not going to happen.
And the numbers work the same for my 2015 Silverado 2500HD gasser, only the average mpg is lower across the board. It has been on E85 exclusively for 2 years.
Of course, prices vary regionally. Each person has to determine what offers the best value. But out of the last 15 years, E85 has been the hands down economic winner in my area for all but a couple years. It was especially economic when we hit the $4 gas several years ago. I could get E85 for $1.50 or more less than regular. This is why flex fuel capability is in the top 5 of features that I look for in any vehicle purchase.
My 2017 Equinox 2.4L averages for all miles (city, rural, highway, gravel roads, etc) about 21 mpg using E85. Cost for E85 near me right now is $1.72. That equates to about 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost.
Regular is going for $2.52. If I used it, I would have to get 29-30 mpg average for all miles to get down to the same 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost. Not even a possibility.
And diesel near me is going for $3.14. So even one of the new diesel Equinox vehicles would have to average for all miles (city, highway, rural, gravel roads, etc) roughly 38 mpg to break even on 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost. Again, not going to happen.
And the numbers work the same for my 2015 Silverado 2500HD gasser, only the average mpg is lower across the board. It has been on E85 exclusively for 2 years.
Of course, prices vary regionally. Each person has to determine what offers the best value. But out of the last 15 years, E85 has been the hands down economic winner in my area for all but a couple years. It was especially economic when we hit the $4 gas several years ago. I could get E85 for $1.50 or more less than regular. This is why flex fuel capability is in the top 5 of features that I look for in any vehicle purchase.