Two studies released by the Department of Energy the day after this week’s National Ethanol Conference find that ethanol-based high octane fuels can deliver substantial fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions when paired with optimized internal combustion engines
Among the findings, according to the Renewable Fuels Association are that alcohol fuels, including ethanol, offer many desirable properties that will help achieve the goals of greater fuel economy and lower emissions. “Alcohols generally impart high Research Octane Number (RON), octane sensitivity, and heat of vaporization when blended into representative gasoline blendstocks,” the study found.
“We strongly encourage the Environmental Protection Agency to take note of this research as it completes the Final Determination of the Midterm Review for the 2022-2025 fuel economy and GHG standards,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Pairing advanced internal combustion engine technologies with high-octane, low-carbon fuels like E25 or E30 would be the lowest cost means of complying with increasingly stringent GHG and fuel economy requirements through 2025 and beyond.”
Tom Kloza, Global Head of Energy Analysis for the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), spoke at NEC18 about the future outlook for high-octane liquid transportation fuels, especially ethanol, despite growing consumer interest in electric vehicles. Listen to his remarks here: Remarks from Tom Kloza, OPIS