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New Study Concludes No Need for EPA’s Proposed Bifurcation of E15

September 16, 2010

           

Its a mystery. For what reason does the EPA suggest it needs to bifurcate the introduction of E15 for cars 2001 and newer? Since an answer hasnt been provided to date despite a significant amount of testing having already occurred to assess the safety higher level ethanol blends, RFA and Ricardo, Inc. decided to prove once and for all that E15 is safe for use in older cars. Ricardo, Inc., an internationally recognized engineering firm, has produced a new comprehensive engineering analysis that states moving from E10 to E15 will mean little, if any, change in the performance of older cars and light trucks manufactured between 1994 and 2000. After analyzing vehicles manufactured by six companies which represent 62.8 million light duty vehicles on the road today, Ricardo concluded that the adoption and use of #15 in the motor vehicle fleet from the studied model years should not adversely affect these vehicles or cause them to perform in a sub-optimal manner when compared with their performance using the E10 blend that is currently available. Mystery answered. There is not a good reason, perhaps only political reasons, why the EPA should make a decision that brings confusion into the market causing headaches for gasoline marketers and consumers alike while further delaying Americas desire to move toward a clean, green, energy independent future. There is no good reason why virtually all vehicles on the road today should not be using E15. Click here to read a statement and summary of the Ricardo findings.