Ethanol blends are rising across Canada. Here’s what E10 and E15 mean for your vehicle, fuel economy, and wallet.
By Linda Thompson, Fuel Partners Consulting Inc. | June 2026

The next time you fill up, look at the pump. Somewhere on that dispenser it will say “may contain up to 15% ethanol.” Most Canadians see that every week and never give it a second thought.

While E15 is often discussed as a future fuel, some suppliers and retailers have already moved beyond traditional E10 blends as they prepare for upcoming renewable fuel requirements. The transition is already underway in parts of the market.

Almost certainly. Ethanol has been blended into Canadian gasoline for years. The debate today is not whether ethanol is in your fuel — it is how much. Most Canadian drivers have been using ethanol-blended gasoline without realizing it.

E15 is gasoline that contains 15% ethanol and 85% petroleum gasoline. It is the next step beyond E10, the fuel blend most Canadians have been using for years. Ethanol became widely used because it provides octane, helps meet environmental requirements, and is often less expensive than some alternatives. As provinces increase renewable fuel requirements and suppliers work to reduce the carbon intensity of gasoline, higher ethanol blends are becoming more common across Canada.

• 2010: Canada adopted a national renewable fuel requirement
• 2020: Ontario moved to E10 — the first province to mandate 10% ethanol in regular gasoline
• 2025: Quebec permitted gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol as it works toward higher renewable fuel targets
• 2030: Ontario and Quebec target higher renewable fuel content approaching E15

1. Most modern vehicles can use it safely
2. You may already be buying fuel blended above E10
3. Fuel economy is slightly lower — typically 1 to 2% more than E10
4. Price determines whether you save money — a 3 cent gap works in your favour, a 1 cent gap may not
5. Small engines, boats, motorcycles, and older vehicles need extra attention

Yes — ethanol is alcohol. The same molecule found in beer, wine, and spirits. Fuel ethanol is produced through fermentation and distillation, then made undrinkable before being blended into gasoline.

DID YOU KNOW: Several Canadian craft distilleries switched to making hand sanitizer during COVID-19 using exactly the same equipment used to produce fuel ethanol.

In Canada, ethanol is made mainly from corn and wheat grown in Ontario and the Prairies.

1. It helps your engine run cleanly Think of ethanol as a naturally high-octane ingredient that helps gasoline burn properly in modern engines. It helps prevent engine knock — the rattling or pinging sound that happens when fuel combusts unevenly. For most everyday vehicles it means the engine runs as designed.
2. It is better for the air Ethanol burns cleaner than pure gasoline. Fewer harmful emissions coming out of your tailpipe — better for everyone on the road and in the communities around us.
3. It costs less to produce Ethanol is cheaper to make than petroleum gasoline. As blend levels go up, that saving can show up at the pump. That is exactly what has happened in the United States where E15 is already widely sold.

🍁 SHOP LOCAL About 43% of the ethanol used in Canadian gasoline is produced domestically, primarily from Ontario and Prairie grain production. The balance is imported, mostly from the United States. That means a meaningful share of the fuel you buy is connected to Canadian farms, processing facilities, and transportation jobs. As renewable fuel requirements rise toward E15, Canada will require additional ethanol supply unless domestic production capacity expands.

Source: Canada Energy Regulator, Renewable Energy in Canada — An Overview of Bioenergy (2024)

Most vehicles built in 2001 or later are compatible with E15 — a finding confirmed by the U.S. EPA after testing covering more than 6 million miles of real-world driving. As always, check your owner’s manual. Some manufacturers have historically published differing advice, though most have since aligned with the 2001 and later standard.

When comparing E10 vs E15 fuel economy, the difference is relatively small. Most drivers will notice little or no change in day-to-day driving, although E15 typically delivers slightly fewer kilometres per litre than E10.

For most drivers, the differences between E10 and E15 are modest. Vehicle compatibility, fuel economy, and pump price matter more than the ethanol percentage itself.

For most vehicles built in 2001 or later, E15 does not damage engines when used as intended. The exceptions are small engines, some motorcycles, marine engines, older vehicles, and certain vintage vehicles. If you are unsure, check your owner’s manual before using higher ethanol blends.

Most drivers are fine. But there are real exceptions — and ignoring them causes damage.

Small engines Lawnmowers, snowblowers, chainsaws, generators, and outboard motors are not built for higher ethanol blends. Ethanol attracts moisture, corrodes small engine components, and causes damage in engines that sit unused for weeks. Use pure gas or the lowest blend available.

Motorcycles and ATVs Many are not rated for E15. Check your owner’s manual. This catches a lot of people off guard.

Vehicles built before 2001 Older rubber seals, gaskets, and fuel lines may not hold up. Use E10 and talk to your mechanic if you are unsure.

Collector and vintage vehicles Older carbureted engines are particularly vulnerable. Stick with the lowest ethanol content you can find.

Boats Ethanol can break down fibreglass fuel tanks found in older boats. If water gets into a boat’s fuel tank, the ethanol and gasoline can separate into different layers. That can cause serious engine problems. If your boat sits between uses, fuel choice really matters.

Myth vs. Fact

Myth: Ethanol is new. Fact: Canadians have been using ethanol-blended gasoline for decades. Ontario first mandated it in 2007 and the federal government set a national standard in 2010.

Myth: Ethanol is only in premium fuel. Fact: Ethanol is primarily blended into regular gasoline — the fuel most Canadians buy every time they fill up.

Maybe — and here is the honest answer.

E15 typically costs a little less per litre than regular fuel. But it also contains slightly less energy, so your engine burns through it a touch faster.

Here is a simple example. If regular gasoline is $1.50 per litre and E15 is $1.47 per litre, that 3 cent gap is usually enough to offset the small reduction in fuel economy — and most drivers come out ahead. If E15 is only 1 cent cheaper, the savings may disappear.

Ethanol has replaced chemicals that were more expensive, more toxic, and worse for the environment. The blend will continue to go up — and Canadian farmers are growing the grain that makes it happen. Canadian ethanol is made from crops grown here at home, meaning a larger share of the fuel you buy supports Canadian businesses, workers, and communities. That is not a bad deal for Canadians.

The reality is that most Canadians have been using ethanol for years without thinking about it. The shift from E10 to E15 is not a revolution at the pump — it is the next step in a transition already underway.

For most drivers, the questions are simple: Is it safe? Does it save money? Will I notice a difference?

For vehicles built after 2001, the answer is generally yes, maybe, and probably not.

While Canada works toward higher ethanol blends, countries such as Brazil and India are already operating at significantly higher levels. The direction of travel is clear.

Sources

• Canada Energy Regulator (CER) — Renewable Energy in Canada: An Overview of Bioenergy (2024)
• Environment and Climate Change Canada — Clean Fuel Regulations
• Government of Ontario — Cleaner Transportation Fuels Regulation
• Gouvernement du Québec — Regulation Respecting the Minimum Volume of Renewable Fuel in Gasoline and Diesel Fuel
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — E15 Fuel Testing and Approval