AAA Poll on E15
AAA has already made up its mind about increasing amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline to 15 percent, but they want to know what you think.
The headline for an article posted by the automotive organization last week reads “Bailout Blend: Bad for Your Engine?” and proceeds to bash ethanol as being bad for consumers.
“How would you feel about a fuel additive that could cost you more money and screw up your engine? If the ethanol industry has its way, that’s just what you might get,” they begin, calling an increase to E15 “a bailout for the ethanol industry that may come at the expense of drivers.”
At the end of the one-sided article, AAA asks for your opinion. “Do you think adding E15 to the nation’s fuel supply is a good idea? Log onto AAA.com/Poll and take our poll.” Not surprisingly, the poll is running two to one against E15. Maybe it’s because the article doesn’t say anything about the EPA findings that ethanol is better than conventional gasoline when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, reducing them by at least 20 percent. AAA says, “Producing ethanol is an energy-intensive process that still results in greenhouse-gas emissions. It won’t save the planet as it still produces pollutants.” It may not save the planet, but it can help cut greenhouse gas emissions by cutting at least some of our gasoline use.
As far as engine issues and mileage concerns, Brazil runs up to 25% ethanol in its cars with no problems, and they consider energy independence to be more important than a few less miles to the gallon.
*post update*
If the link to the poll in the post doesn’t work, try the link in the AAA article. Apparently after you vote, you can’t go back to that link at all, so I can’t get the poll link to add to this post.
10 Comments »
MJ
Can’t get anything more pure and clean for your car engine than 200 proof alcohol, in fact it’s so clean it’s used for wiping mirrors on our communication and weather satellites. Try wiping a GOES weather satellite mirror with 87 octane, NASA would have a cow.
Fred
Here’s the antidote:
By simply adding the EPA registered Shellbourne Fuels’ Catalyst , 60-70% of emissions are cut. This exceeds all government mandates. (1 OZ treats 20 Gallons.)
This catalyst causes increased BTU’s in the combustion chamber to make this happen.
A second result is ~10-15% reduction in temperature at the tail-pipe.
Bonus is the power gain that has been lost through the addition of biofuels that typically reduce BTU’s and reduction of sulphur.
With diesel, there is a 6-8% increase and gasoline, 12 -15% increase, in MPG, every time.
Even the packaging outstrips any competition in value, saving, superior construction, innovation and authenticity.
Oh: it does not harm the engine. It simply makes the fuel combust more efficiently.
Martin
Your link for the poll doesn’t work for me. I’ve been using E30 to E50 for up to 9 years depending on the vehicle. Oldest and longest is a 1992 Toyota 4×4 on E50. No problems so far so I think E15 is a no brainer.
Eric Mork
All E-0 22.3
All E-10 22.1
All E-20 23.1
All E-30 21.6
Why not compromise by giving the consumer a choice of E-10, E-20 or E-30? You can see on the pictures (might need to zoom in) that not only will the consumer have the option of regular gasoline, but lowering the cost per gallon driven without having to go all the way to E-85. I am told that more and more new engines will like the octane (remember ethanol is 113 octane) but the lower mid level blends can be priced under regular due to the tax credit the gasoline blender gets and as my old Volvo mpg shows, all the blends seem to be very competitive on an mpg basis compared to the drop off you get with E-85. Let’s let our US refineries run US and foreign oil today, and focus, as a significant start, on backing out the imported gasoline we drive on and keep the these dollars in the US.
It would be a great start for both the economy and the environment.
P.S. My Volvo is non FFV with 195,000 miles. I have been running various blends for 4 years. The car door seals have come lose, but the engine runs fine.
Eric Mork
Bob
It is a known fact that alcohol is corrosive. What about the harmful effects to the environment? Run off from nitrogen fertilizers have chocked the life out a large area in the Gulf of Mexico two hundred miles long where the Mississippi empties into it. No marine life exist. The demand for corn is going to skyrocket causing much greater costs for corn. The demand from corn is increase at a much higher rate than the farmers can produce.
What about the reports of ethanol from corn produces nitric oxide which is 4 times more damaging than CO2. There is another study that shows that formaldehyde gas is also released into the atmosphere which is damaging to the lungs.
I am more worried about the environment and people and spending money on things that don’t work. It is a big farce to make some people rich. We will spend trillions of dollars and just trade one set of problems for another.
We need to be more innovative int our methods of transportation.
jgraziani
Cindy, thanks for bringing up this important topic. I work for the AAA national office and just want to provide a little more input about AAA’s position. AAA supports efforts to develop alternative fuels that are cleaner, more efficient and that provide a realistic alternative to petroleum-based fuels. In comments filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year, AAA recommended that additional testing be done on the impact of E15 to ensure it does not damage vehicles, increase NOx emissions, or negatively impact fuel efficiency. (See complete text of comments here: http://bit.ly/aBZjWM). E15 should be studied thoroughly and completely to ensure all such concerns are fully resolved before ethanol concentrations are increased. Our primary concern is always for the well-being of the American motorist.You can read more about AAA’s position here: http://bit.ly/NYYIe.
Bill Kelly
E10 has screwed up rubber items on my plane ,lawn equipment etc not to mention other problems. Instead of E15,E20 etc Lets achieve better MPG,utilize natural gas,build electric vehicles and invest in other solutions ie shipping freight by rail road which could considerably reduce emissions and our use of foreign oil.Bailing out the ethanol industry is not an appropriate solution to our imported oil problem.
Vilsack Anticipates Approval of E15 - Domestic Fuel
[...] prior to addressing the status of the E15 Waiver, Vilsack began by noting that biofuels are a good way to bring prosperity and economic vitality to [...]
Automotive » Vilsack Anticipates Approval of E15
[...] prior to addressing the status of the E15 Waiver, Vilsack began by noting that biofuels are a good way to bring prosperity and economic vitality to [...]
Vilsack Anticipates Approval of E15
[...] prior to addressing the status of the E15 Waiver, Vilsack began by noting that biofuels are a good way to bring prosperity and economic vitality to [...]
Comments RSS feed — TrackBack URI
Leave a Comment