Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Green Daily
When the EPA approved the use of gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol (E15) for model year 2007 and newer vehicles back in mid-October, a wave of concerns surfaced. Some critics argued that it would be too difficult for drivers to determine which fuel from the many available choices at a typical gas station was actually acceptable for their vehicle. To rectify that situation, the EPA released a warning label (pictured above) that could be applied to E15 pumps.
Additionally, refiners like Valero and Marathon Oil Co., voiced concerns that selling gasoline with higher ethanol content could make them liable if long-term engine damage occurs. It's now becoming painfully obvious that switching from E10 to E15 is no easy task. While the EPA has approved the use of E15 for 2007 and newer vehicles, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) vehemently opposes the EPA's decision and, at least for now, urges retailers to limit sales of E15 to flex fuel vehicles only. The RFA and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America issued this joint memo to their members:
... it is still unlawful to sell E-15 to anything other than a flexible fuel vehicle, even though EPA has approved E-15 for 2007 and newer vehicles. Until health effects testing is completed, fuel producers have a 211(b) certification from EPA, certain state fuel regulations amended, and EPA's misfueling and labeling proposed regulation finalized, E-15 sales must be confined to and labeled specifically for flexible fuel vehicles only.
Read the full memo after the jump.We encourage all of you to remain vigilant so that you and others do not unintentionally offer E-15 to customers driving non-flexible fuel vehicles. E-15 will provide consumers and marketers another option to maximize their domestic renewable fuel use. But failing to adhere to the legal steps required to do so may give our fuel products and our industries an unnecessary and avoidable black eye.
[Source: Renewable Fuels Association]
Continue reading Retailers urged to limit E15 sales to flex fuel vehicles only
Retailers urged to limit E15 sales to flex fuel vehicles only originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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