You’ve probably heard reports that ethanol can damage engines and fuel systems – well now the Auto Alliance, the American Petroleum Institute and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute are all urging the US Environmental Protection Agency to delay allowing higher levels of ethanol in petrol until further investigation.
It is feared that higher levels of ethanol have not yet been proven to be safe and effective based on preliminary testing introduced at the Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Research Coordination Group.
The auto and oil industries have already spent more than $6million over the last two years testing engine performance and the durability of higher ethanol fuels. This has included testing the storage and dispensing of fuels with blends of 15 per cent – currently the EPA only allows fuels to contain 10 per cent blends.
According to Coleman Jones, the biofuel implementation manager for General Motors, testing is scheduled to be completed in 2011 and there is no need for action until the results are released.
