Ethanol-blended gasoline made the news again before the holidays when highly respected driving and motorist organization AAA released a statement urging the EPA to postpone the sale of E15 gasoline until more consumers can be educated, and cautioning consumers against using E15 in older vehicles. The group pointed to a recent AAA survey showing 95% of drivers had never even heard of E15, much less whether it was safe for their vehicle or small engine products.
And after surveying auto manufacturers for their positions on E15, AAA warned that according to the manufacturers themselves, only 12 million out of 240 million vehicles on the road today are approved to use E15 in their fuel systems. The group includes 13 major auto manufacturers who state either that their warranties won’t cover claims related to E15 usage or that E15 doesn’t meet fuel specifications for their vehicles and could void warranty claims.
“The sale and use of E15 should be suspended until additional gas pump labeling and consumer education efforts are implemented,” said AAA President Robert Darbelnet. “It’s clear that millions of Americans are unfamiliar with E15.”
Meanwhile, Maine’s state Dept. of Environmental Protection is promoting a bill to ban the sale of gasoline in the state that has more than 10% ethanol in it—but only if two other New England states do the same. New Hampshire passed a similar bill last year with the same condition.
The ethanol ban is a longshot, especially since it relies on other states’ legislative activities. The proposed ban is supported by the Maine Energy Marketers Assn. (MEMA). “We don’t want to sell something that people can’t use and that people wouldn’t want to use,” said MEMA President Jamie Py.