Biofuel Makers Push to Boost the Amount of Ethanol Allowed in Gasoline to 20 Percent
Updated 10/29/08
Because research is still ongoing, a definitive federal ruling is at least a year off. But some drivers aren't waiting. In South Dakota this summer, gas stations were caught dispensing illegal E-30, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a terse warning letter to distributors. No doubt customers were attracted by ethanol's price tag—it was about 30 cents cheaper per gallon at several stations.
But there's a big trade-off. E-20, the October report found, gets about 7.7 percent lower fuel economy than straight gasoline.
Reader Comments
Ethanol
Every gallon of ethanol is roughly 1 gallon of oil we do not have to import from the mideast or venezuala. I would rather pay more for domestic sources of fuel than make another country richer. Especiall our enemies. Corn production has increased more in the last 4 years than the entire ethanol industry uses and hopfully it will made from non food sources, grown on land not suitable for food crops at a lower cost in the near future.
I had read reports that the Univ.of MI. has recently tested dozens of car, both old and new using much higher percentages of ethanol without any adverse effect on vehicles as old as 10 years.
If they can make it for under $1.00 per gallon as they say they can, it is the obvious choice until we get electric vehicles powered by clean, renewable fuels. Since any significant volumn of electric cars are 10 years away. Over 50% of the domestic manufacturers they build are E85 capable cars. all we need are more pumps across the country. I think it is time for the FEDS to help make that happen
Pure Boat Gas
Most gas docks for boats are "pure" gas, no ethanol which is why boat gas costs about 85 cents more than pump gas for cars. A lot of boats have gas lines, fuel tanks, etc that cannot handle ethanol without causing problems for the boat. There are a ton of cars and trucks that are E85 capable, but almost no gas stations carry E85.
E-10, E-20
To put a product on the market (E 10)that has not been fully tested is unconscionable! If parts on regular gas powered vehicles and engines start malfunctioning, where does the responsibility lie?
All we have to do is look to the drug industry to products that were put on the market too early.
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