You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/IssueArticle/3016673/Archive/HPIn-Brief.htmlThe American Petroleum Institute (API) and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) trade groups are critical of the US EPA’s recent decision to approve higher levels of ethanol in gasoline (E15) before testing is complete, alleging that it could put consumers at risk. The groups said the EPA decision comes before the completion of thorough testing by the automobile and oil industries to ensure the safety and performance of the new fuel for vehicles. According to the API, testing results so far have revealed problems with E15 and that engine damage from its use may not be covered under vehicle manufacturer warranties. In March, the EPA approved the first applications to make E15, a 50% increase from the E10 blend allowed at present.
It's free to acces, so I'm assuimg they'll be Ok with quoting that paragaph.
On the one hand the API could be accused of prtecting its own interests in mainintining a high dependancy on fossil fuel derived hydrocarbons, but on the other hand it's involvement is in refining, E15 still requires refining.
On the other hand E15's been blamed for everything from melting plastic tanks and rusting steel ones, to overheating engines.
What's the hive mind's thoughts on this?
Not knowing the background to the story, if testing isn't complete then I imagine they are within their rights to complain, especially as it'll be them rather than the EPA that get blamed if the fuel does turn out to be dodgy.
Oil companies aren't always evil you know.
You have to wonder why they want E15...
Oil companies aren't always evil you know.
I didn't say that, well actualy I did, but it was tongue in cheek. I work for one and have never seen the boss put his finger in his mouth and demand one million dollars.
Strange, I thought evidence of big business supressing green technology would have the guardian reading elements of STW frothing at the mouth!
Is E15 really green or is there another reason it is being pushed (corn growers lobbying, for instance).
The price of corn seems to have gone up massively in the past few years:
http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=corn&months=240
My understanding of ethanol as fuel is that it can be, and is in many cases, an environmental disaster too, eg clearing of forest for sugar cane planting, burning of unharvested parts of the crop leading to atmospheric pollution, etc etc
I wouldn't label it as green without fully understanding how it was produced.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel_in_Brazil#Issues
as always, the good is balanced by bad...
Ethanol in Brazil does reduce carbon emissions. Current thinking seems to indicate that in the USA it does not, since it's made from corn which is less productive.
The corn grower's lobby is one of the biggest in US politics, and the use of corn for ethanol for motor fuel has driven the price through the roof. Now I'm not one for paranoia but I think these things are related.
Higher levels of Bio contnent are found on many markets, though there is a proviso that the pumps MUST be labelled accordingly. It is still up to the user to determin they are putting the correct fuel in the vehicle (i.e. what it is warrantied for). THis happens in the UK, Gremany, France, Sweden, Australia and the US, all for some years now. The push for high bio contnent is driven by policy, not an engineering standpoint, which is still resolutley (sp) against high grades.