In 2005, the United States Congress passed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which established minimum criteria for the use of renewable fuels in motor fuels, including ethanol. The RFS targets were set to climb significantly from 2007 through 2022, reaching 36 billion gallons. In 2020, the United States consumed approximately 12.7 billion gallons of gasoline ethanol. Retail motor gasoline in most parts of the country contains roughly 10% ethanol by volume.
When did ethanol become a legal requirement?
The Renewable Gasoline Standard (RFS), commonly known as ethanol mandates, is a policy that compels the use of more biofuels in the United States’ fuel supply. The EPA, which is in charge of enforcing the program, determines how much biofuel must be blended each year by setting an annual target.
Why was the RFS enacted?
Congress passed the ethanol requirements (RFS) in 2005 and then rapidly expanded them in 2007 with the goal of expanding the nation’s renewable fuels sector, helping the environment, and reducing dependency on imported oil by turning corn into fuel instead of ordinary gasoline.
Why should I care?
Ethanol requirements are detrimental to drivers. Currently, almost all gasoline supplied in the United States contains 10% ethanol (E10), which has a third less energy than gasoline. As a result, each gallon of gasoline provides less mileage, forcing drivers to pay more per mile for fuel.
If that isn’t enough to put a dent in your wallet, higher ethanol blends, such as E15 fuel, can damage engines by causing corrosion, rubber swelling, and other issues. The danger is so great that 13 major automakers, including GM, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, and Hondathe top five best-selling automakers in America, have said that their warranties will not cover damages caused by E15 use, potentially leaving buyers out of pocket for pricey repairs.
Why was ethanol added to gasoline?
The majority of gasoline sold in the Portland metro region and across the country contains roughly 10% ethanol. Ethanol is a term you’ve probably heard before, even if you don’t know what it means. Ethanol is a plant-based alcohol-based fuel that is distilled from sugar and corn. It’s biodegradable, water-soluble, and non-toxic.
Ethanol is used as a gasoline addition to assist oxygenate the fuel and allow it to burn entirely. As a result, ethanol-infused gases emit cleaner emissions, resulting in improved air quality. The Department of Energy has even requested that gasoline providers manufacture products with 15% ethanol rather than simply 10% ethanol to help battle hazardous pollutants emitted by vehicles. These mixes are sometimes referred to as E10 and E15.
Ethanol-free gas, often known as pure oil, is a form of fuel that can replace ethanol-mixed gas. Most automobiles will operate properly with a 10% ethanol blend in their gasoline. For a number of reasons, some car drivers are moving to ethanol-free gas, while others are avoiding it. You should be informed of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing non-ethanol gas. Continue reading to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of non-ethanol gas and to decide for yourself if switching to non-ethanol gas is worthwhile.
When did E10 gasoline become available in the United States?
Following modifications to the Clean Air Act in 1990 that required the sale of low-carbon fuels in places with harmful levels of carbon monoxide, E10 was first commercialized. E10 is now widely available in the United States.
When does ethanol become added to gasoline?
From June 1 to September 1, the EPA acted on a proposed adjustment to increase the amount of ethanol that can be put into pump gasoline.
The EPA made no mention of how the decision may influence summer air quality or pollution issues in an official notice. According to the EPA, it “delivers on President Trump’s pledge,” citing agriculture and ethanol interests, as well as gasoline plants in Iowa and Nebraska.
Is it really worth it to go without ethanol gas?
DENVER
You may have noticed a few stations selling “ethanol-free” gas while driving around the Denver metro region.
It’s pure gasoline, not the corn-based ethanol found in most gas stations around the country.
Pure gas, while less popular than ethanol mixes, may be preferable for older car engines, boats, lawn mowers, and other tools.
“In general, the more ethanol in gasoline, the poorer the fuel economy,” DeHaan explained. “If you go up to E85, for example, there’s around 20% less energy in E85 than there is in 100% gasoline, therefore you’ll get a 20% worse fuel efficiency,” says the author.
Most drivers, however, utilize E10 or E15 blends, which contain 10-15% ethanol. Only about 5% of gas mileage is lost due to the ethanol content. When you consider that ethanol-free gas can cost anywhere from 30 cents to more than a dollar more per gallon, the ethanol blend will cost you less per mile.
DeHaan also mentioned that gas stations receive government rebates for selling ethanol, which lowers the price even more. Ethanol emits fewer hazardous gases and is often seen as being better for the environment.
So, what can you do if you can’t lower your gas prices by switching fuels? Driving slowly, rolling down windows instead of using the air conditioner, checking tire pressure, and keeping your vehicle as light as possible are all suggestions made by experts.
Is it possible for ethanol to harm your engine?
Ethanol is added to gasoline as required by the EPA in order to reduce carbon emissions and make the operation of such engines more environmentally friendly. Untreated ethanol-blended gasoline can start “phasing.” Phase separation occurs when ethanol in the fuel absorbs too much water and separates from gasoline, which causes the ethanol and water mixture to settle to the bottom of the tank because it is heavier than gasoline. Water-ethanol solutions can harm fuel systems and engines, necessitating a system flush to avoid further damage. No additive will be able to reverse phase separation once it has occurred, and the fuel tank will need to be drained. The fuel in the tank will be useless and must be drained if the fuel and ethanol have entirely phase split. Mechanics can empty and flush the gasoline system as part of a ‘pump-out’ service.
Be cautious of what you hear, as there is no miraculous element that can reverse phase separation once it has occurred. The best way to avoid phase separation is to keep the tank almost full at all times, allowing for some expansion of the gasoline in warmer conditions. Moisture enters the tank through the empty space, so reducing the quantity of air in the tank will reduce the amount of water that can enter through the air. This is particularly crucial when dealing with equipment that has a “Open fuel system,” such as many tiny non-road engines and boats.
Ethanol has the potential to cause fast corrosion of fuel tanks and other fuel system components. Every time you fill the tank, make sure to add a corrosion-prevention additive; this is especially important for tiny engines, since many still employ aluminum parts, which corrode more quickly and produce oxides that look like white rust.
A third problem is that ethanol can loosen dirt that ordinarily forms in the fuel tank’s corners, resulting in clogged fuel systems. Again, using a cleaner-containing gasoline treatment will allow these dirt particles to travel through your system.
The last thing to keep in mind is that gasoline “oxidizes” when exposed to air. That is, with time, it loses its volatility and may convert to varnish. Using a fuel additive that addresses all of these difficulties will allow you to worry-free enjoy your gasoline-powered small engines and/or boat for years to come.
The good news is that E-10 has been utilized in many parts of the country for over 25 years, so there are tried-and-true methods for protecting your engines against the dangers we’ve discussed.
The following is a short list of things you can do to protect your equipment:
- Always keep a non-alcohol fuel stabilizer and treatment in your system. Especially for engines that have been sitting for a long time.
- The more a vehicle or piece of equipment is utilized, the less likely it is to break down.
- Keep your tank 95 percent full if you aren’t going to use it for a time to avoid condensation while still allowing for growth. Water infiltration into your fuel system must be avoided at all costs.
- To ensure that you are obtaining new gasoline, only purchase fuel from a reputed gas station with a high turnover of goods.
- Rubber fuel lines that are older than the mid-to-late 1980s should be evaluated and replaced if they are incompatible with ethanol fuel.
What are the drawbacks of using ethanol as a source of energy?
Ethanol Fuel’s Disadvantages
- It is necessary to have a large piece of land. Ethanol is made from maize, sugarcane, and grains, as we’ve learnt.
- The Distillation Method is Harmful to the Environment.
- Food Costs Have Increased.
- Water has a special place in my heart.
- Vaporization is difficult.
Is ethanol a worse alternative than gasoline?
According to a new analysis published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the process of harvesting and producing corn-based ethanol emits more hazardous pollutants than regular gasoline.
- According to Reuters, the five-year study, which was partially funded by the National Wildlife Federation and the US Department of Energy, concluded that ethanol is at least 24% more carbon-intensive than gasoline.
What’s at stake: The findings contradict the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a government program established in 2005 to cut U.S. emissions and reduce dependency on foreign sources of energy.
- It necessitates the addition of billions of gallons of ethanol to the nation’s gasoline supply by oil refiners.
- Furthermore, Iowa’s agricultural sector is strongly reliant on ethanol sales. The state produces half of the country’s grain, with half of that harvest going to fuel.
According to Reuters, ethanol produces more carbon emissions than gasoline due to the quantity of cropland required to cultivate maize crops and the tillage that goes along with it.
- Corn cultivation rose by over 7 million acres in the United States as a result of the RFS between 2008 and 2016, representing a 168.7% increase.
- According to Reuters, tilling the land releases carbon into the soil, and fertilizers also cause emissions.
The other side: According to Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuel Association, the writers of the article assembled “a series of worst-case assumptions” and “cherry-picked facts” for their analysis.
- Past studies have shown that even with tillage, maize ethanol produces fewer emissions than gasoline, according to the association.
The big picture: As the Iowa Legislature explores implementing E-15 at gas stations, the state continues to invest big on biofuels.
- However, its future in the United States is in doubt, as President Joe Biden expresses an interest in electric vehicles instead.
Is ethanol present in premium gas?
Premium gas has the same amount of ethanol as other grades and doesn’t provide any more power or have any better additives than regular gas. It simply outperforms lower-octane gas in terms of detonation (knock). There’s nothing more to it, and there’s nothing less to it.
Although some brands use somewhat more detergent ingredient in their premium grades than in their other grades, all grades fulfill the EPA’s basic standards. What’s the bottom line? Use the octane-rated fuel recommended by the manufacturer in your owner’s manual. If your engine requires or’recommends’ 89- or 93-octane fuel, use it to get the best performance and fuel economy. There is, however, an exception to the norm.
If your automobile is designed for 87-octane gas and it knocks when you press the accelerator, try filling it with 89-octane gas to see if the knock goes away. If this is the case, continue to use 89-octane to regain power and save your engine.
What exactly is Bob’s gasoline?
A BOB is an unfinished (intermediate) gasoline blend that just has to be finished by adding the preset amount of ethanol.
Because transferring blends that already contain ethanol is difficult, BOBs (rather than finished blends) are routinely sold.
The following are some examples of BOBs:
- CBOB – A BOB that, when combined with 10% ethanol, produces ordinary, regular-grade gasoline.
- RBOB – A BOB that, when combined with 10% ethanol, produces reformulated regular grade gasoline.
- CARBOB – A BOB that, when combined with 10% ethanol, produces CARB grade, normal grade gasoline.