ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Citing a new study, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty—rumored to be a contender for vice presidential running mate with John McCain (R-Ariz.)—will make a push for increasing the amount of ethanol regularly used in gasoline. "Using homegrown renewable fuel is an important part of Americanizing our energy future and unhooking our country from foreign sources of oil," Pawlenty said. "This study shows that we can safely increase the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline for use in today's vehicles."
He presented the study—which says that increasing the [image-nocss] amount of renewable ethanol blended into gasoline from 10% to 20% does not present problems for current vehicles or fuel dispensing equipment and provides similar power and performance—at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) in Washington on Wednesday.
Using 40 pairs of vehicles commonly found on American roads, a year-long research effort by the state of Minnesota found that increasing ethanol blends from 10% (E10) to 20% (E20) in a gallon of gasoline provided an effective fuel across a range of tests focusing on drivability and materials compatibility.
The state conducted the study as part of the process to meet a state law that requires ethanol comprise 20% of all gasoline sold in the state beginning in 2013. Pawlenty signed legislation that included this requirement in 2005. Minnesota and its partners will soon apply to the EPA for a waiver to federal rules that will allow E20 to be used in all of the state's gasoline.
The study used nationally recognized standards and protocols to ensure research quality. It was conducted at Minnesota State University Mankato and the University of Minnesota, with cooperation from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Renewable Fuels Association. The study included input from fuel refiners, automakers and small-engine manufacturers and funding support from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the Council of Great Lakes Governors.
Minnesota agriculture commissioner Gene Hugoson said the research provides additional evidence of the value of ethanol blended fuels. "Until now, there has been limited information available on the performance of fuels with higher ethanol content," he said. "This research gives us solid information on how these fuels can be expected to perform in today's vehicles."
The study included standard passenger vehicles, gas-electric hybrids and delivery vehicles. The vehicles were driven by University of Minnesota employees, who submitted log books compiled during the course of the study. In addition, certified professionals drove the vehicles quarterly and submitted their findings. The study was conducted over 12 months to ensure the fuel and the vehicles operated in weather conditions common to all four seasons. Drivers who participated in the testing indicated that E20 provided both the power and performance they expected.
In addition to the road tests, researchers conducted laboratory tests to evaluate the effect of 20% ethanol blends on materials commonly found in conventional vehicle fuel systems. These included components made of various metals, rubber and plastics. Test results indicated E20 was compatible with the vehicle fuel systems.
The final component of the scoping study, emissions testing, is ongoing.
Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes gasoline blended with 10% ethanol as an acceptable fuel for use in today's gasoline vehicle fleet. Likewise, virtually all automakers warranty—and often recommend—the use of E10; however, automakers have asserted that their legacy fleet—those vehicles on the road today—are not capable of accommodating higher levels of ethanol. The Minnesota study addressed these concerns and found no evidence that E20 would more adversely impact technologies commonly found in vehicles on American roads today.
Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen said the recently passed federal energy bill will help usher in the use of ethanol beyond the traditional 10% blends. "It is becoming increasingly obvious that this nation can and should begin to move in the direction of ethanol blends in excess of 10%," he said. "Together with the increases in fuel economy passed by the 2007 energy bill, the expanded use of ethanol can dramatically reduce demand for gasoline and increasingly displace our need for oil and gasoline imports."
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