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" A new study out from the Renewable Fuels Association suggests that gasoline containing 15 percent of ethanol (E15)\u2014rather than the current 10 percent standard mix\u2014will not adversely impact fuel systems in older vehicles. The study is not the final word on the issue. That verdict rests in the hands of the Environmental Protection Agency.  By the end of this month, the EPA will rule whether to approve the new fuel blend on vehicles made since 2007. Later this year it is also expected to decide whether to issue a waiver for cars made after 2001. An extensive program run by the Department of Energy to test E15 on these newer-model cars has cost tens of millions of dollars, but it does not include testing on vehicles made more than ten years ago. E15 Confusion Ethanol producers are worried that because of this, the EPA may allow E15 for newer-model cars but forbid it for cars made before 2001. &amp;quot;We have very deep concerns for the confusion it might create in the marketplace for consumers,&amp;quot; said Bob Dineen, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. Dineen believes that this new study, conducted by the engineering firm Ricardo, Inc\u2014which traces its roots to octane-rating inventor Harry Ricardo\u2014should help convince the EPA to allow E15 for cars made since 1994. That includes about 88 percent of the entire U.S. fleet. Effects of Ethanol The Ricardo, Inc. engineering analysis reviewed fuel-system hardware changes from 1994 to 2000 resulting from stricter emission controls and looked at E15&amp;#039;s impacts. The engineers at the private firm also disassembled some old fuel systems to examine them for the effects of prolonged E10 exposure. They didn&amp;#039;t see any. The report concluded that the increase in ethanol content from 10 percent to 15 percent would have &amp;quot;no significant effect&amp;quot; on vehicle drivability, catalytic-converter durability, or on-board diagnostic systems of car models from 1994-2000. The study did not include testing of the fuel blend on older cars. Pure ethanol can damage cars that aren&amp;#039;t designed to handle it. On its own, the grain alcohol can cause galvanic corrosion, swelling of rubber components and rust or corrosion on certain metals, because of its ability to hold water. Flexible-fuel vehicles incorporate materials that can handle the 85 percent ethanol\u2014E85\u2014mixture sold at some gas stations. The E10 mixture is now standard at over 90 percent of gas stations in the U.S., and some states even mandate its use by law. Ethanol at lower concentrations can still affect the air-fuel ratio of your car. Most modern engine-management systems (EMS) can compensate for small changes in the fuel mixture, but the EMS on older cars can get confused and trigger the Check Engine light. While it&amp;#039;s straightforward to compare how high concentrations of ethanol in gasoline affect cars versus low concentrations, the move from 10 percent to 15 percent is much more subtle. To be sure that the transition is safe for cars not specifically designed for E15\u2014but work okay today with E10\u2014the EPA is testing them.  Testing with E15 The DOE&amp;#039;s intense test program includes 24-hour-a-day testing on vehicles for six to nine months at a time. Considering how much money the government has invested in the testing of E15 on newer vehicles, it&amp;#039;s not clear if an engineering analysis is good enough for the EPA to decide what to do with cars made before 2001. According to a July statement, the agency said it did not have enough data on older vehicles to make a decision on a waiver allowing E15 for them, but welcomed anyone with data to submit it. Dineen thinks that the analysis his organization provided gives &amp;quot;conclusive evidence&amp;quot; for the EPA to allow E15 for older cars as well as new ones.  Where the Automakers Stand Automakers have repeatedly expressed concern about the effects of E15 on engines and fuel-system components, particularly for smaller vehicles such as lawn equipment, boats and motorcycles. In May, the industry organization Auto Alliance issued a statement urging the EPA to delay a decision on the E15 waiver until all testing is complete. The auto industry has spent $6 million of its own money to test E15, and won&amp;#039;t be done with testing until 2011. On Sept. 21, the Auto Alliance wrote a letter to the EPA reaffirming its concerns about E15, stating &amp;quot;a ruling without completed testing is not supported by our members.&amp;quot; The Government Mandate for Renewable Fuel A Renewable Fuel Standard set in 2007 by the Energy Independence and Security Act requires that 36 billion gallons of alternative fuel such as ethanol be incorporated into markets by 2022. According to the DOE, about 11 billion gallons of ethanol were used in the U.S. in 2009. Most of that comes from the existing supply of E10 dispensed at most gas stations today. That market is hitting a wall, so without a transition to E15, it will be difficult to stay on track with the Renewable Fuel Standard requirement. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a6124/renewable-fuels-association-urges-epa-to-approve-e15-for-older-vehicles/>