Exclusive: BMW Says “NO†To E15 Gas Blend

The use of ethanol in gasoline has been a hot topic of debate in “Green” circles for years and it once again will be at the forefront of the mainstream media. The enthusiast’s arch nemesis, the agency that is reportedly in charge of protecting the environment and the notorious effects of global warming, the EPA, last week approved E15 for use in 2007 and newer passenger vehicles.

While we are all for being Green (we love Clean Diesel and Efficient Dynamics), and saving natural resources we believe there is something inherently wrong with using a food-stock to produce fuel. The main bio source for creating ethanol in the US is currently corn- the same corn that feeds the livestock and we eat at our tables. We are not going to explain how the supply used to make ethanol will impact the prices of food or how the net energy to produce the fuel is less than what it yields (you can research that elsewhere and form your own opinions).

What concerns us is how this will impact our cars, our warranties and of course for all those with direct injection; the high pressure fuel pump.

It really is quite simple, an unnamed source at BMWNA has told us that the maximum allowed for use in a BMW is 10% (E10 the current blend), and that is that. After internal testing, BMW is not condoning the use of E15 at this time on any new or old BMW.

This is not surprising to us as many auto manufacturers and even gas station owners were against the move to E15. There is more than saving the planet behind this decision, as there usually is in Washington. While this move is said to have the new fuel at a station near you by late spring we doubt it will be less than a year from now. The current UL listed fuel pumps at over 95% of fueling stations are only approved to safely handle up to 15% ethanol leaving no room for error in the mixing process, which could be hazardous. There are currently two pumps on the market that have been approved for a 25% blend and cost in excess of $20,000 each, so station owners are not going to be in a rush to upgrade and when they are there may not be enough supply to meet the demand.

The EPA is said to rule on older cars by December at which time we will have more info on the availability of the fuel, how it will be dispensed and what happens if you accidentally put the wrong blend in your BMW.

From BimmerFile.com.

 

E-15 gasoline won't be sold for at least a year, watchdog says

Gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol probably won't be sold at the pump for at least another year because of health, safety, cost and environmental concerns, a government watchdog said.

Nozzles and other equipment that dispense the fuel may leak, posing safety and performance problems, said the Government Accountability Office, Congress's investigative arm.

Underground storage tanks used by fuel stations also may leak when holding the so-called E-15, GAO report said. The findings are based on federally sponsored research into potential E-15 use at fuel stations.

The report makes clear that the EPA's recent decisions to allow the sale of E-15 rather than just E-10, or gasoline with up to 10 percent ethanol, does not mean that the higher ethanol blend will be offered right away.

The EPA determined the higher ethanol blend is safe for use in vehicles dating to the 2001 model year.

Some fuel stations may have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade equipment that stores and dispenses E-15, the report said.

"We identified several challenges to selling intermediate ethanol blends at the retail level," it said.

Fuel-testing requirements to meet health and safety regulations may take a year or more to complete, the July 8 report said.

The EPA, in granting a request last fall from ethanol producers to increase ethanol concentrations, did not say when it expected fuel manufacturers to apply for E-15 use.

No manufacturer or importer has completed a registration application for E-15, an EPA spokeswoman said today.

Starting last fall, the EPA allowed higher ethanol blends in an attempt to help reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"There will always be uncertainty concerning the compatibility of legacy equipment with these fuel blends," EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus said in a May letter to GAO.

She added: "EPA will continue to work with other federal agencies, industry and other stakeholders to assist tank owners to safely transition to new fuels. We anticipate that additional, targeted research may be necessary to facilitate that transition."

Automakers unsuccessfully urged EPA to wait until more research was completed on how the higher ethanol blend might affect engines and fuel systems.

"It is not in the longer-term interest of the government, vehicle manufacturers, fuel distributors or the ethanol industry itself to find out after the fact that there are equipment or performance problems," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, whose members include Toyota and the Detroit 3.

In December, U.S. carmakers asked a federal appeals court to require the EPA to reconsider its decision allowing E-15 in cars made since 2007.

Source - Automotive News

 

QuikTrip, Tulsa, Oklahoma’s largest gas retailer, recently announced that E15 won't be sold at its pumps anytime soon because it hasn’t been proven safe for all cars.

According to Consumer Reports, nine automakers thus far have made it clear that they won't honor warranties of older vehicles found to be running E15 through their systems. Toyota, General Motors and Chrysler are all among those manufacturers.