More new vehicles than ever are specifically approved by manufacturers to run on 15 percent ethanol blended fuel (E15). The Renewable Fuels Association just released its annual review of vehicle owner’s manuals and warranty statements and found that E15 is explicitly approved by the manufacturer for use in approximately 95 percent of model year 2024 cars and light trucks. “RFA …
RFA 2023 Vehicle Survey Finds Wide Approval of E15
Virtually every car maker approves the use of E15 in model year 2023 cars and light trucks, according to the results of the Renewable Fuels Association annual survey, but few are offering flex fuel vehicles capable of using up to 85 percent ethanol. The annual review of vehicle owner’s manuals and warranty statements found that E15 is explicitly approved by …
Dodge Reportedly Working on E85 Challenger
Rumor has it that Dodge is developing a new Challenger that runs on 85% ethanol and could be a contender for the most powerful muscle car of the internal combustion era. Dodge started a campaign last November called “Never Lift” that is unveiling new versions of the Challenger through next year, leading up to the launch of its first all-electric …
Volkswagen Researching Ethanol-Based Fuel Cells
Volkswagen has a vision for how ethanol can help achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, which includes research on reforming ethanol to create hydrogen for fuel cells. “It’s not about technology, it’s about what you put as fuel into the car,” said Pablo Di Si, Executive Chairman, Volkswagen Latin America, during an address at the National Ethanol Conference …
RFA Reviews 2022 Vehicles for Ethanol Use Approval
The Renewable Fuels Association analysis of 2022 automobile models finds more approved to use up to 15% ethanol fuel (E15), but less flex fuel models that can use up to 85% (E85). Based on current market share data, nearly 95 percent of new MY 2022 vehicles sold will carry the manufacturer’s unequivocal approval to use E15. For the 11th year …
Less Flex Fuel Vehicle Offerings for 2021
The annual Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) analysis of vehicle owner’s manuals and warranty statements finds almost all new 2021 automobiles are approved for E15 gasoline, but very limited offerings for flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) capable of operating on fuel blends containing up to 85% ethanol. Only Ford and General Motors are offering FFVs in model year 2021 with 11 models …
SD Farmers Union Challenges GM on Higher Octane
The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union took issue with remarks made by a General Motors executive at the recent National Ethanol Conference that 98 RON (Research Octane Number) or higher gasoline was not feasible. In a letter to General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra, Doug Sombke challenged GM vice president Don Nicholson’s claim that “98 RON fuel …
Ethanol Meets the Need for High Octane
Dan Nicholson has been with General Motors since 1982 and was appointed vice president, Global Electrification, Controls, Software and Electronic Hardware in January 2019. He is responsible for all electrified propulsion products including batteries and electric drive units. He is also responsible for all electronic control systems and strategies, software and associated electronic hardware for all General Motors products globally. …
RFA Finds Over 93% of 2019 Vehicles Approved for E15
More than 93 percent of 2019 model year (MY) vehicles are “explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use 15 percent ethanol blends (E15),” according to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). That’s four percent more than the approximately 89 percent of MY 2018 vehicles that were E15 approved. Automakers began specifically approving E15 in owner’s manuals and …
Ethanol Groups Praise Emissions Rules Review
President Trump announced Wednesday that the administration is reinstating the Midterm Evaluation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) standards for the automotive industry, which is good news for the ethanol industry. “Today’s actions allow the opportunity for EPA to slow down, remove politics from the process, and take a more comprehensive approach to fuel …