Automakers suing EPA over higher ethanol mix gas
12-20-2010, 03:14 PM
#1
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Automakers suing EPA over higher ethanol mix gas
Automakers suing EPA over higher ethanol mix gas
WASHINGTON — Automakers and engine manufacturers are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over a plan to allow the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol.
The Obama administration ruled in October that gas stations could start selling the corn-based ethanol blend for vehicles built since the 2007 model year. It's an increase from the current blend of 10% ethanol.
Automakers say they are worried the EPA decision would eventually lead to motorists unknowingly filling up their older cars and trucks with E15 and hurting their engines. The problem could be exacerbated if E15 fuels are cheaper than more conventional blends, prompting owners of older vehicles to use the fuel despite the potential engine problems.
The lawsuit was filed by the automakers, boat manufacturers and outdoor power equipment manufacturers. In the suit, the trade groups say the decision could cause engines to fail and question whether the EPA's approval for E15 fuels for only certain vehicles violates the federal Clean Air Act.
"Our organizations collectively represent some 400 million engine products used by tens of millions of people every day in the United States," said Kris Kiser of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, speaking on behalf of all of the groups. "The safe and reliable use of those products is paramount to us and our customers, and the legal action we take today is to protect those customers."
The Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry group, said the EPA could have avoided market confusion if they had approved ethanol for more vehicles. The agency has said it will consider the higher ethanol concentration for vehicles made between 2001 and 2006 after the first of the year. It's unclear whether they will ever approve the blend for cars made before 2001.
The EPA has said a congressional mandate for increased ethanol use can't be achieved without allowing higher blends. Congress has required refiners to blend 36 billion gallons of biofuels, mostly ethanol, into auto fuel by 2022.
The ethanol industry has maintained that there is sufficient evidence to show that a 15% ethanol blend in motor fuel will not harm engine performance. They say increased consumption of the renewable fuel creates new jobs and replaces imported oil.
The petition was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...nol-suit_N.htm
WASHINGTON — Automakers and engine manufacturers are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over a plan to allow the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol.
The Obama administration ruled in October that gas stations could start selling the corn-based ethanol blend for vehicles built since the 2007 model year. It's an increase from the current blend of 10% ethanol.
Automakers say they are worried the EPA decision would eventually lead to motorists unknowingly filling up their older cars and trucks with E15 and hurting their engines. The problem could be exacerbated if E15 fuels are cheaper than more conventional blends, prompting owners of older vehicles to use the fuel despite the potential engine problems.
The lawsuit was filed by the automakers, boat manufacturers and outdoor power equipment manufacturers. In the suit, the trade groups say the decision could cause engines to fail and question whether the EPA's approval for E15 fuels for only certain vehicles violates the federal Clean Air Act.
"Our organizations collectively represent some 400 million engine products used by tens of millions of people every day in the United States," said Kris Kiser of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, speaking on behalf of all of the groups. "The safe and reliable use of those products is paramount to us and our customers, and the legal action we take today is to protect those customers."
The Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry group, said the EPA could have avoided market confusion if they had approved ethanol for more vehicles. The agency has said it will consider the higher ethanol concentration for vehicles made between 2001 and 2006 after the first of the year. It's unclear whether they will ever approve the blend for cars made before 2001.
The EPA has said a congressional mandate for increased ethanol use can't be achieved without allowing higher blends. Congress has required refiners to blend 36 billion gallons of biofuels, mostly ethanol, into auto fuel by 2022.
The ethanol industry has maintained that there is sufficient evidence to show that a 15% ethanol blend in motor fuel will not harm engine performance. They say increased consumption of the renewable fuel creates new jobs and replaces imported oil.
The petition was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...nol-suit_N.htm
12-20-2010, 06:03 PM
#5
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Location: Stockwell, Indiana (Lafayette Area)
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I have warned my father-in-law about this change in ethanol additives. He has a 1928 Model A Ford and an old Packard. He is in the habit of adding lead substitute to the gas, but lord help him if he puts the 15% ethanol blend in one of them. Greybeard999 it right, this is just another way of the government trying to get older cars off the roads and screwing the public and the auto makers. They mandate higher mpg vehicles and them they do something that lowers the mpg of the fuel the vehicles are to use. When went on vacation to South Dakota this year. They still have "straight" gas there and the 10% ethanol blend. The ethanol blend is about 10 cents cheaper a gallon and they are pushing it for "clean air". We took our Equinox out and I kept track of the mpg the entire trip. We got better fuel mileage on "straight" gas in South Dakota than any other time during the trip. On average we got 5 to 6 more mpg than on the ethanol blended fuel. Personally, I say screw the ethanol blended fuel - go back to straight fuel - stop using corn to make fuel - and maybe food prices will go down as a result.
12-20-2010, 11:44 PM
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12-21-2010, 01:14 AM
#8
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I'm not concerned with E-10 gas damaging the HHR's but I do make an effort to run ethanol free fuel in the Corvairs and Suburban. There is a website(pure-gas.org)that has listings of 2212 gas stations in the US and Canada where ethanol free gasoline is available. I have experimented with straight gas in the 2007 and have noticed a slight improvement in mileage. But we're talking less than 2% overall and a fueling location in the opposite direction from my office. Sadly the government has forgotten the concept of "backwards compatibility" in their rush to meet the "green" agenda.
12-21-2010, 06:21 PM
#9
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Just an FYI, we test the amount of ethanol when vehicles come in with running problems. It is not unusual to see 12%-17%. So, some oil companies have been over polluting their gas mix already. Greed and/or mistakes can hurt your wallet and your engine.