The US Environmental Protection Agency has given the go-ahead to a waiver for fuel that contains up to 15 per cent ethanol.
The waiver applies to new cars and light trucks built from the model year 2007 onwards – with a decision on the use of E15 in model year 2001-2006 vehicles to be made after the results of additional Department of Energy testing expected to be issued in November. No waiver is to be granted for the use of E15 in model year 2000 and older cars and light trucks because there is no testing to support such a waiver.
At the moment there is an overall 10 per cent volume ethanol blend limit in petroleum. However, the EPA’s decision means that newer vehicles will be able to run on the higher blend of 15 per cent. However, two conditions do apply – those for mitigating the potential for misfueling of E15 in all vehicles for which it is not approved; and those that address fuel and ethanol quality.
The misfueling mitigation conditions include that labels must be placed on all E15 retail dispensers and indicate that it is only to be used for model year 2007 onwards; product transfer documents must accompany all transfers of fuels for E15 use; and parties involved in its manufacturing must participate in a survey of compliance. Conditions relating to fuel quality include that ethanol used for E15 must meet ASTM International D4806-10 standards; and that the Reid Vapor Pressure for E15 is limited to 9.0psi during the summertime.
This partial waiver is the first step towards the commercialisation of E15 blends – there will also need to be changes to some states’ laws and submission of a complete E15 fuels registration application.
