U.S. Delays Action on More Ethanol in Gasoline

U.S. Delays Action on More Ethanol in Gasoline

From Automotive News Staff and Reuters Wire reports

The EPA today delayed a decision to increase the ethanol content of gasoline to 15 percent from 10 percent while the agency continues testing engines and fuel systems.  The EPA said it will make a final determination in about six months.  Increasing the ethanol content in gasoline by 5 percentage points likely would not harm newer engines, the EPA said. But it could make it a bit tougher for automakers to meet stricter fuel economy standards.

Because ethanol carries less energy than gasoline, the higher content could slightly lower the fuel economy ratings of new cars. This comes as automakers work to make their fleets meet the 35.5 mpg federal corporate average fuel economy standards required by 2016.

Industry support

General Motors Co. supports the delay, said spokeswoman Sharon Basel.  “We do agree that further testing and study is needed before we could recommend a safe and reliable increase in cars and trucks,” she said.  Basel said it isn’t known how 15 percent ethanol would affect older engines. Most vehicles built after 2001 can safely run on 10 percent ethanol.  But high concentrations of ethanol can degrade rubber components in the fuel pump and fuel injection system as well as some metal fuel lines.

Chrysler LLC spokesman Nick Cappa said many Chrysler vehicles on sale today are not engineered to run on gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol. Only the company’s flex fuel vehicles that can run on E85 can use gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol without sustaining damage.  “The use of fuels with ethanol content higher than E10 in vehicles not engineered as such could result in engine damage, failure of emission standards and a substantial decrease in fuel economy,” he said.

A statement issued today by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 11 automakers, also supports the EPA delay.  “Automakers want government testing to prove that increasing the allowable ethanol blend limit will not harm vehicle emissions, performance and durability,” the alliance said in a statement.

“We are pleased that EPA recognizes the importance of making decisions based on sound science,” alliance CEO Dave McCurdy said in the statement. “Any decisions on blends higher than E-10 for the existing fleet should be postponed until adequate testing results are available.” Still, the EPA appears to be leaning toward approving the higher blend. The agency already is working on fuel pump labels for E-15. The EPA said today that testing is proceeding as quickly as possible.

Creating U.S. jobs

Boosting the percentage of ethanol, which is produced in the United States, could help reduce the nation’s appetite for imported oil. Growth Energy, a coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, says boosting the ethanol content of gasoline to 15 percent would create 136,000 new U.S. jobs.  Growth Energy said it welcomed the EPA’s announcement, claiming it indicates the agency was preparing to approve E15 upon the completion of ongoing tests next year.  “We are confident the ongoing tests will further confirm the data we submitted in the Growth Energy Green Jobs Waiver and silence those critics, allowing more American-produced energy to enter the market,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.