AAA, North America’s largest motorist group, today called on regulators to suspend the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol, warning of vehicle damages and voided car warranties. AAA’s call for action was based on the results of a survey finding that the overwhelming majority of motorist have not heard of E15. The auto association also found that about 5 percent of the cars out on the road today have been approved to use the fuel and said allowing E15 in the marketplace would lead to consumer confusion.
“It is clear that millions of Americans are unfamiliar with E15, which means there is a strong possibility that many motorists may improperly fill up using this gasoline and damage their vehicle, ” AAA president and CEO Robert Darbelnet said in a statement today. “Bringing E15 to the market without adequate safeguards does not responsibly meet the needs of consumers.”
Earlier this year, EPA completed the final approval necessary for the use of E15 in cars with model years 2011 and newer in response to a petition from the biofuels industry. Previous regulations had allowed only up to 10-percent ethanol in gasoline, but the biofuels industry argued that the barrier meant they were forced to ship ethanol overseas.
E15 is currently sold in some gas stations in the Midwest. General Motors, Ford Motor and Porsche have said they would cover E15 use in certain, mostly new cars, but several other automakers have publicly said that their warranties would not cover the use of the fuel. AAA warned of possible damage from using E15 in vehicles, including engine wear, fuel-system damage and false “check engine” lights.
“The sale and use of E15 should be suspended until additional gas pump labeling and consumer education efforts are implemented to mitigate problems for motorists and their vehicles,” Darbelnet said. “Consumers should carefully read pump labels and know their auto manufacturer’s recommendations to help prevent any problems from E15.”
