EPA Mandates Four-Gallon Gas Purchase From E15 Blend Pumps

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require all consumers
to buy at least four gallons of gasoline from certain gas pumps
after the new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend is introduced into the
market, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The EPA revealed the requirement to the AMA in a letter dated Aug.
1, responding to AMA concerns that E15 -- a gasoline formulation
that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume -- could be put in
motorcycle and ATV gas tanks inadvertently when consumers use
blender pumps. A blender pump dispenses different fuel blends
through the same hose, and the vast majority of motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles in use today aren't designed to operate on E15
fuel.
"With E15 gasoline, our members who make a concerted effort to fuel
their motorcycles or ATVs with E10-or-less gasoline may be
unknowingly refueling with residual fuel left in the hose," Wayne
Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, wrote in a
June 20 letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
"Unlike an automobile or SUV that has a large fuel tank, the
residual fuel left in a fueling hose could be detrimental to the
performance of motorcycle or ATV engines due to the small size of
their fuel tanks and the higher concentration of ethanol that
would, therefore, be present in the fuel," Allard wrote.
"In addition, the use of E15 will lower fuel efficiency and
possibly cause premature engine failure," he wrote. "Use of E15
fuel voids many manufacturer warranties. In off-road engines, the
effects can even be dangerous for users."
Byron Bunker of the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions
Laboratory
responded to the AMA on behalf of Jackson.
"EPA requires that retail stations that own or operate blender
pumps either dispense E15 from a dedicated hose and nozzle if able
or, in the case of E15 and E10 being dispensed from the same hose,
require that at least four gallons of fuel be purchased to prevent
vehicles and engines with smaller fuel tanks from being exposed to
gasoline-ethanol blended fuels containing greater than 10 volume
percent ethanol," Bunker wrote.
"Additionally, EPA is requiring that retail stations that offer E10
and E15 from the same hose and nozzle use additional labeling to
inform consumers about the minimum purchase requirement," Bunker
wrote.
"Since motorcyclists and ATV users, as you suggest, have relatively
small fuel tanks, they should pay careful attention to the labeling
of blender pumps to ensure that an appropriate fuel is chosen, in
this case E10 or E0," he wrote.
Another problem with the new EPA policy, Allard said, is that not
all motorcycle and ATV gas tanks hold four or more gallons.
"Not only do we find it unacceptable for the EPA to mandate that
everyone -- including our members -- buy minimum amounts of gas,
but the EPA answer simply won't work because of the sizes of many
motorcycle and ATV gas tanks and the fact that off-highway riders
take containers of gas with them on their trips, and most times
those containers are much smaller than four gallons," Allard
said.
"The EPA needs to come up with a better solution," he said. "The
EPA also needs to back an independent study to determine whether
E15 is safe for motorcycle and ATV engines."
The AMA has repeatedly expressed concerns to government officials
and federal lawmakers about possible damage to motorcycle and ATV
engines caused by the inadvertent use of E15 when the new fuel
becomes widely available, and has asked that motorcycles and ATVs
be part of any scientific study into the effects of E15.
Ethanol is essentially grain alcohol produced from crops such as
corn that is mixed with gasoline to produce an ethanol-gasoline
blend motor fuel. In October 2010, the EPA approved the use of E15
in model year 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles (cars, light-duty
trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles). Then, in January 2011,
the EPA added model year 2001-06 light-duty vehicles to the
approved list.
No motorcycles or ATVs are currently on the list.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Source: American Motorcyclist Association