It seems that the EPA is about to OK the use of E15 (15% ethanol content) gasoline. EPA to OK higher ethanol-gas blends - Robin Bravender - POLITICO.com However, my 2010 Prius manual states that only E10 gasoline should be used. Wouldn't I be voiding the warranty of the Prius if I am made to use E15 gasoline by the US Government?
Oregon is a 10% ethanol blend gas all year long. Believe me you do not want 15% ethanol blend in your gasoline. You will get less mpg. I guarantee it. It makes no sense when it takes 2 gal's of diesel to make one gal of ethanol. Lets see...., 2 gal's of diesel, 230,000 btu's, one gallon of ethanol, 65,000 btu's Only the government see the sense in this. alfon
This ruling is "permissive", not "prescriptive". No one will force you to use E15 (unless maybe you live in Minnesota, where Corn is King). Thank the agribusiness lobby for it. I suspect that outside of MN it will be hard to find E15.
There's very specific criteria where I would actually support increased use of ethanol, especially in automotive use. Unfortunately, as Richard stated, we can thank agribusiness lobbying for this one. Luckily, this isn't a requirement. I'm more concerned with lack of labeling at the stations for this. I can just imagine people putting E15 in the car, seeing MPG drop and complaining about the car being the problem. Even the E10 stickers aren't on every pump here (I know, they probably fell off a few of them) but even the ones there aren't in a prominent location or large enough to really been seen and stand out.
Yes, I'm now seeing this info coming out in more comprehensive stories about the decision. Since this is not a mandate I suspect you might be correct about E15 being hard to find outside of corn country. I know that I will always choose to use less ethanol than more in the gas that I buy because of Toyota's warranty and the well known FE hit. Here's hoping most states simply will ignore the entire E15 headache/boondoggle. I think your spot on about this being a priority of the agribusiness lobby and would add that having the first Presidential Primary located in Iowa may be a factor as well. No matter what the basis, this EPA decision is generating a firestorm of criticism from a wide variety of groups: Farm and food groups oppose EPA decision on corn based ethanol - CleanMPG Forums
The renewable fuels standard (RFS2), part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates a certain number of gallons of renewable fuel (ethanol) be used. Not a percentage, an actual number of gallons, each year. Every year the number gets bigger. With the downturn, fewer total gallons of gasoline are being sold compared to the projections in 2005. So more gallons of ethanol have to be fit into fewer gallons of gasoline, and right now, the numbers work out to 10%. This is called the blend wall in the industry. No more can fit, but they still are mandating that they be used. Something's gotta give, and we (and the automakers) knew the 10% limit would be raised. Archer Daniels Midland got the RFS2 passed so they'd have a federally mandated market for their product, no matter what. Oil companies and gas station attendants will have to deal with the customer anger when pumps start getting labeled 15% ethanol, then a few years later, 20%, 25%.
3000+ children starve to death every day yet we grow corn to burn in our cars. Yes I know it not a direct relationship but it still gives me a rather uneasy feeling.
They've recently switched to E10 fuel in my area but the label is tiny. I only spotted it when I got bored and started reading the stuff on the fuel pump as I refuelled. The sad thing is that the fuel price didn't drop to reflect the 90/10 fuel blend.
Seems the lobby got their E15, but it can't be used due to age of cars that frequent gas stations. Win Win in some sort of twisted farm-ECO-logical reason. Let's just keep the focus moving towards good cars - not crazy 'corny' ideas... EDIT: I do have to say I like the smell of the ski transport buses at Mammoth Mountain - the smell kinda makes you hungry (bio-fuel) - the downside is you never know which bus gets what, and sometimes the smell is nice, sometimes ok, and sometimes not as pleasant...
Humans eat sweet corn, ethanol is from flint or dent corn. Once planted, nothing can be done to make it edible for humans.
True fact: In a 5.7L Sequoia, you can burn either E10 or E85. There is now a sticker on the window telling you the gas mileage difference. A full tank of E85, getting the highest MPG possible under their testing, gets exactly 1 mile further than the lowest possible MPG using E10. The higher the ethonal content, the lower your MPGs, performance, reliability (if not designed for higher E content), and your available credit on your shell card from all the extra fill ups. Agribusiness 1, General Public 0.
Yes I know. Doesn't change the fact that sweet corn could be grown on that acreage using the same equipment.
The worst part about Ethanol is that it is horrible for your engine in higher concentrations. Its bad on seals and gaskets cause it is in effect a solvent. It also retains water much more readily than gas. It really pisses me of that at least in my state, E10 is year round now. My old 3 wheelers and honda dirtbikes dont like the stuff at all, and if you leave it in a tank all winter it will turn bad much more quickly than pure gas. I get that its fuel we can grow in America, and its better than paying farm subsidies for nothing in return, but at any more than 10% its going to cause some major mechanical issues. I will avoid E15 like the plague.
Ridiculous! It's like watered down booze! I am forced to use 10% year round and suffer a 10% hit in mpg's! Now they're trying to rob us of another 5%? At least I read that virtually no one is thrilled with this, from auto manufacturers on down!
It's actually boozed up gasoline. Ethanol is actually the same stuff we drink. Ethanol IS alcohol. The reason why your car gets less mpg is because it's actually, literally, DUI for your car Brandy, Whisky, Vodka, Maotai - these are ~ 40% alcohol Listerine - 20% alcohol Red, white wines - ~ 10% Beers - ~ 5% Next time you're feeling a bit lonely with a bottle in your hand, remember that you can share that bottle with your car Or if you're out of booze, your can make your car share it's (up to) E40 with you, but don't try E85
When we eat corn as corn, it's sweet corn. We get all the other corn products from varieties such as dent corn: corn syrup (including HFCS) corn meal (corn tortillas are a staple in Mexico) corn starch (can sometimes substitute for wheat flour) corn oil corn sugar (dextrose, maltodextrin) porridge polenta corn flakes hominy farm animal feed pet food Using dent corn for ethanol takes away from any/all of the above. A couple years ago, the corn price runup (from new ethanol mandates), caused the tortilla price in Mexico to triple...and it was a very big deal.
