AAA Wants Sales of E15 to Stop Immediately

In the last few months, the US Environmental Protection Agency has allowed has allowed E15 (15% ethanol and 85% gasoline) to be sold for vehicles newer than 2001 but maybe not for long. The American Automobile Association, the nation's largest auto club equivalent to the British RAC or German ADAC, is requesting that sales of E15 be stopped immediately because of the potential harm to unknowing drivers. 

The EPA recommends that E15 be used only in vehicles newer than 2001 because the high ethanol content could harm engines. However, less than 5% of the cars on the road have actually been tested with E15, and their makers approve its use. It is very possible for a car newer than 2001 to be harmed by using E15. 

Because of its recent approval, E15 is only available at 10 gas stations nationwide and the EPA mandate that any stations selling it display large, orange and black stickers next to the pump warning consumers. 

AAA says that this is not enough and want the Obama administration to stop its sale at least until E15 can be tested in more vehicles. 

The Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol lobbying group, say that E15 has been extensively tested to prove its safety in older vehicles, and AAA is working to help oil companies. 

GMGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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and FordFordUnited States of America, 1903 > present92 models
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approve of the use in E15 in their newest models. ChrsylerChryslerUnited States of America, 1925 > present70 models
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1 video
, BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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, ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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, NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
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and VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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have not approved it for any of their cars. PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
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29 videos
is the only automaker who approves all of its vehicles since 2001 to use E15.

In a study by AAA, 95% of those surveyed said that they had not heard about E15 at all and did not know about its dangers. 

There is certainly a measure of politics in trying to halt E15. Several national livestock lobby groups have attempted the sale to be halted because the ethanol is made from corn, which drives up the cost of animal feed.

A measure to halt the sale of E15 passed the US Congress in December 2011, but it was never debated in the Senate.

E85 Ethanol, a mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is ubiquitous in the middle of the United States because of the massive corn crops there. It can only be used in specific vehicles because of the high ethanol content, but the price tends to be about $0.50 per gallon (€0.10 per liter) lower than a gallon of gasoline.

The rising use of ethanol fuel has not been without controversy. Critics claim that it raises fuel prices because much of that corn would have been used to feed livestock or converted into sugar.

Source: Detroit News