May 07, 2010
(Brighter Energy) Ethanol lobby denounces auto industry study on E-15
Growth Energy, the pro-ethanol group co-chaired by retired General Wesley Clark, said the study funded by the auto and oil industry was “inconclusive”, stating a believe that it had “failed to complete sufficient vehicle testing”.
The report in question was published by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) last week, as fuel suppliers and the automotive industry await a decision from the US Environmental Protection Agency as to whether it will approve use of 15% ethanol blend in gasoline, known as E-15.
The EPA is expected to make its decision in the next few weeks.
A decision to approve E-15 in cars made after 2001 would provide more market demand for ethanol, as fuel suppliers seek to meet their obligations to supply biofuels under the EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard.
CRC Report
The CRC report issued a brief summary of preliminary findings from its ongoing research into the affect of higher-blend ethanol-gasoline fuel on non-Flex Fuel Vehicles, ordinary cars not set up to use a range of fuel types.
Among its claims, the preliminary CRC study suggested 35-45% of the US fleet would suffer problems with catalytic converter degradation on blends higher than the currently permitted 10% ethanol blend, E-10.
The report also states that automakers have seen “sensitivity” to ethanol blend levels in their car engines, but states that it is “unclear” at what level higher-blend ethanol-gasoline fuels start to cause damage above the existing 10% level.
In response, Growth Energy said the auto study had “ignored a pile of data” from academic, government and third-party research supporting the use of E-15 fuel in non-Flex Fuel Vehicles.
The group said the (Coordinating Research Council) was due to test 16 engines from cars made between 2001 and 2009, but only half of these had undergone testing, while only four engines had had testing completed.
“Inconclusive and incomplete”
Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said yesterday: “The CRC’s results are inconclusive and incomplete: only half of the vehicles completed durability testing. It would be foolish to accept these results as fact.”
Mr. Buis said that the EPA’s own testing had suggested vehicles made after 2001 could be eligible to use E-15. Citing a December statement from the Agency, he said the EPA had revealed that its uncompleted testing had so far indicated “that the robust fuel, engine and emissions control systems on newer vehicles (likely 2001 and newer model years) will likely be ...
