ETHANOLERS REJECT CARMAKERS’ TAKE ON ETHANOL

Ethanol lobby denounces auto industry study on E-15
James Cartledge, May 6, 2010 (BrighterPlanet)

"Ethanol lobbyists…denounced research from the automotive industry claiming that higher ethanol blends in gasoline will damage car engines.

"Growth Energy, the pro-ethanol group co-chaired by retired General Wesley Clark, said the [Coordinating Research Council (CRC)] study funded by the auto and oil industry was ‘inconclusive’ and ‘failed to complete sufficient vehicle testing’…"

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"…[F]uel suppliers and the automotive industry await a decision from the US Environmental Protection Agency [expected in the next few weeks] as to whether it will approve use of 15% ethanol blend in gasoline, known as E-15…

"A decision to approve E-15 in cars made after 2001 would provide more market demand for ethanol, as fuel suppliers seek to meet their obligations to supply biofuels under the EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard…The CRC report issued a brief summary of preliminary findings from its ongoing research into the affect of higher-blend ethanol-gasoline fuel on non-Flex Fuel Vehicles, ordinary cars not set up to use a range of fuel types."

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"Among its claims, the preliminary CRC study suggested 35-45% of the US fleet would suffer problems with catalytic converter degradation on blends higher than the currently permitted 10% ethanol blend, E-10…[It] is ‘unclear’ at what level higher-blend ethanol-gasoline fuels start to cause damage above the existing 10% level.

"In response, Growth Energy said the auto study had ‘ignored a pile of data’…supporting the use of E-15 fuel in non-Flex Fuel Vehicles…[failed to complete testing]…[and that] the EPA’s own testing had suggested vehicles made after 2001 could be eligible to use E-15 [without harm]…[and] other research supports the use of E-15 fuels…"