Both the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) have warned their members to limit sales of E15 fuel to flex fuel vehicles until regulations are finalised.
Last month the US Environmental Protection Agency granted a waiver for fuel that contains up to 15 per cent ethanol (E15) for model year 2007 and later cars and trucks. This was the first step in a series of actions needed to commercialise E15 blends.
However, the joint memorandum from the PMAA and the RFA makes it clear that there a number of regulations, standards and labelling issues that still need to be addressed to allow retailers to legally offer E15.
According to press reports, some retailers have installed an E15 button on their blender pumps even though it is still officially unlawful to sell the fuel to anything other than a flexible fuel vehicle. Until health effects tests are completed, fuel producers must confine their sales to flexible fuel vehicles only.
The organisations are now encouraging trade groups to remain vigilant so they don’t unintentionally offer E15 to customers driving non-flexible fuel vehicles.
