At the end of 2022, with changes in the Brazilian landscape, we are faced with fluctuations in fuel prices. See the best option for refueling today: gasoline or ethanol!

By the end of this article, you will see and understand the most economical and worthwhile option, and learn a little more about each type of fuel.

Also known as ethyl alcohol, it is primarily derived from sugarcane, but can also be extracted from other sources such as corn and even beets.

Furthermore, it has less impact on the environment due to the low production of carbon dioxide through combustion. Its principle is to be a sustainable and accessible source of fuel in Brazil.

However, as has been seen in the last semester, it hasn't actually been that economical. One of the reasons for this is the production matrix. In other words, any unforeseen weather event can affect the planting of sugarcane, for example.

Drought and water scarcity can reduce the physical space available for production, directly competing with sugar production and thus prioritizing its export in some cases.

Gasoline is a product derived from petroleum, which is naturally a pasty liquid. It contains a mixture of other oils, such as diesel, kerosene, and others. 

Therefore, it is the refinery's role to separate these oils through boiling points, that is, heat. And because it is not a biofuel, it tends to have a higher pollution level than ethanol.

Some of the main reasons for using gasoline as fuel are its ability to generate heat and mix with air. In other words, it warms up the engine faster!

In short, each fuel has its own properties, so let's look at the main advantages and disadvantages when choosing between ethanol and gasoline.

The main advantages of ethanol are:

Now, the disadvantages:

However, ethanol has a very volatile price on the market, only becoming more affordable when it's 30% or more the price of gasoline. Now check out the highs and lows of gasoline!

Check out the highlights of gasoline prices:

But gasoline also has its downsides, such as:

Now you've seen and understood all the advantages and disadvantages of choosing between ethanol or gasoline, and how each fuel works.

So, which is more worthwhile, gasoline or ethanol?

First, we must consider that to run on ethanol, you need a flex-fuel car that is compatible with that fuel.

We generally find a greater variety of cars that run on gasoline, as it is the most commonly known and popular option. But now, which is the better option, gasoline or ethanol?

Well, if the goal is to reduce environmental pollution, the best option is ethanol, or premium gasoline (which manages to be not as bad as regular gasoline). 

If you're looking to drive a lot without problems and at a reasonable cost, first you should remember to calculate the 30%! 

In short, what you have learned so far is: what fuels are, their origin and what they generate, how they contribute to or detract from the environment, and most importantly, how these fuels work.

So today's tip is: if you have a flex-fuel vehicle, do the math and see which is cheaper, but also take into account how easily gasoline heats up!

And if you're looking for a good place to buy your new vehicle, check out Mercado Libre, which also features many flex-fuel cars!