The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) will be hosting a webinar focused on ASTM D5798 fuel specification. Kristy Moore, RFA’s VP of Technical Services along with Coleman Jones, Biofuels Implementation Manager of General Motors will lead the event on May 22 at 1:00 pm Central Standard Time.

The webinar is in response to recent changes made by the ASTM D02 committee creating changes to the ASTM D5798 Standard Specification for Ethanol Fuel Blends for Flexible-Fuel Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines. In other words, the “E85” Specification. While several changes were made the most significant improvement is the allowance of a wider range of ethanol content, specifically 51 to 83% by volume. Some additional modifications were made that will improve the flexibility for fuel blenders while still ensuring optimal performance for drivers of flex-fuel vehicles. These, along with other changes were needed to allow both E85 sales to continue as well as to broaden the use of mid-level ethanol blends.

It is important to understand that neither the definition of E85 nor the capability to blend it have been altered by this update to D5798.

The aforementioned issues will be addressed as well as what these changes mean for E85, alternative fuels, government fleets, and mid-level ethanol blends. The webinar will also address many concerns and questions that have risen in light of how marketers across the country are adopting new practices based on this new specification. For those who would like to participate, you will need to register here: http://bit.ly/JUIG3D.