Minnesota Will Test E-85 Conversion Kits

[racy]

Article here: http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=5244489&nav=2Ifu

Using the ethanol-based fuel E-85 in your car could become a little easier.

E-85 fuel is made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and can only be used in vehicles that are built for its use.

But Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty says his state will start testing conversion kits that allow the fuel to be used in vehicles that run only on gasoline.

He says he hopes the tests pave the way for the kits to be used nationwide.


More indepth article here: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/medi...ROD007738.html

Following his letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator last week, Governor Pawlenty today announced that the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) at Minnesota State University, Mankato has agreed to conduct research on E-85 conversion kits.

Such kits are currently not certified for use and Governor Pawlenty has encouraged the EPA to allow the kits to be tested and eventually allowed for use in existing vehicles. Discussions with the EPA are ongoing. Governor Pawlenty announced today that research will begin at Minnesota State University, Mankato in an effort to bring further data to the discussion and continue Minnesota’s leadership in the use of renewable fuels.

Governor Pawlenty asked CAR to conduct research that will test the effectiveness and feasibility of kits that allow regularly designed gasoline powered vehicles to run on a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, known as E-85. Currently, only specifically built Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) can use E-85. Dr. Bruce Jones, director of CAR, appeared at a news conference with the Governor to jointly announce the testing program.

“More vehicles using more ethanol will reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Governor Pawlenty said. “E-85 conversion kits may be another way to expand our use of renewable fuels in Minnesota. The research conducted by Minnesota State University, Mankato will be important in determining the viability of this flex-fuel technology for Minnesota drivers looking for a homegrown alternative at the pump.”

“Governor Pawlenty is a committed leader on alternative fuels and I applaud his efforts in responding to the President’s call to reduce America’s dependency on foreign oil,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Through the work of partners like Minnesota State University - Mankato, President Bush and EPA are moving alternative energy breakthroughs like E-85 from the labs to the streets.”

In his letter to the EPA administrator, Governor Pawlenty asked the agency to consider Minnesota as testing site for E-85 fuel conversion kits. E-85 conversion kits are commonly used in Brazil, where most vehicles use ethanol blends. Prompted by the increase in oil prices in the 1970s, Brazil introduced a program to produce ethanol for use in cars. About 15% of Brazilian vehicles use a blend of gasoline that contains nearly 100% ethanol. The remaining vehicles use blends of 24% ethanol with 76% gasoline.

“Minnesota became a test market in 1998 for the development of a retail E-85 refueling network. Today, we lead the nation with 260 retail E-85 stations,” Governor Pawlenty said in his letter. “However, the comparatively small number of new flex-fuel-capable car models and the current level of market penetration of those vehicles are hindering further infrastructure development and E-85 fuel usage.”

Governor Pawlenty also discussed his support for legislation that would make it easier for gas stations to sell E-85 by eliminating exclusive contracts with oil companies. Under the Governor’s proposal, gas stations would be able to sell E-85 even if the contract with the oil company says it must only sell products produced by that company. The proposed legislation for the 2007 session would exempt renewable fuels from provisions in contracts that mandate that only products made by that oil company be offered for sale.

Minnesota is the nation's leader in the use of renewable fuels with highest renewable fuel use per capita in the nation. The state was the first to implement an ethanol standard. Since 1997, Minnesota law has required all gasoline sold within the state to include 10% ethanol (E-10). Last year, Governor Pawlenty proposed and signed into law legislation that will move the state to a 20% ethanol standard by 2013.

Minnesota has North America's largest network of E-85 gas stations with approximately 260 stations now operating. Roughly 140,000 Minnesotans now drive Flexible Fuel Vehicles designed to burn either gasoline or E-85.

Minnesota is home to 16 ethanol plants that produce more than 400 million gallons of ethanol each year.

In September 2004, Governor Pawlenty signed an executive order to have state government reduce its on-road fleet’s use of gasoline 25% by 2010, and 50% by 2015; and petroleum-based diesel fuel 10% by 2010 and 25% by 2015. The action will reduce overall gas consumption by 950,000 gallons.

[MrMax]

If its already in place in Brazil, I don't see why it couldn't work here. The way things are going now, the sooner they can get some momentum behind this, the better.

[GMCSonoma]

Originally Posted by MrMax

If its already in place in Brazil, I don't see why it couldn't work here. The way things are going now, the sooner they can get some momentum behind this, the better.

I agree!

[Sporer65]

I wonder how much the conversion kit would cost.

[GReekBoy]

Originally Posted by Sporer65

I wonder how much the conversion kit would cost.

if i understand it right any car can run e-85..its just stuff like the fuel lines that would get corroded and eventually break...so i dont see cost being much for the do it yourselfer..but people who bring it in to a dealership or something might get bent over

[asim]

Originally Posted by Sporer65

I wonder how much the conversion kit would cost.

I bet it's probably more than the average consumer wants to spend.

[Ming]

Considering it costs nothing to order the E-85 option on a GM car/truck:

1. I can't understand why anyone who gets a 3.5L Impala or Monte would NOT opt for the option (you can run on gas 100% of time if you like with no difference, and your fuel lines / parts are less prone to corrosion, how can that be bad?)

2. Why spend potentially thousands on a conversion...just get a new GM car/truck with the option!

3. If it costs a couple of hundred to convert your old jalopy then that's fine, but if it costs over 1000 dollars it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, unless you live next to an Ethanol plant and they're selling it for $1.50 a gallon, AND you plan to keep your heap/hooptie for many more years to come.

4. You just must have a particular car, and you want to run it on E-85, but there was never that option from the manufacturer.

[SUPERBADD75]

for the right price i'd convert my cars to E-85. i don't know why the EPA isn't on board considering the fact that alcohol burns cleaner than gasoline. we need to do something to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and clean up the air a bit. ethanol seems like a good solution (at least for now). then again the government seems to be run by big oil so getting anything done that will impact oil company profits will be tough.

[SUPERBADD75]

Originally Posted by Ming

Considering it costs nothing to order the E-85 option on a GM car/truck:

1. I can't understand why anyone who gets a 3.5L Impala or Monte would NOT opt for the option (you can run on gas 100% of time if you like with no difference, and your fuel lines / parts are less prone to corrosion, how can that be bad?)

2. Why spend potentially thousands on a conversion...just get a new GM car/truck with the option!

unless you already have a car that didn't have the option available or plan to buy a new car (GM or not) that doesn't have that option available (Cobalt, Malibu, Aveo, Uplander, etc.).

[Ming]

Originally Posted by SUPERBADD75

unless you already have a car that didn't have the option available or plan to buy a new car (GM or not) that doesn't have that option available (Cobalt, Malibu, Aveo, Uplander, etc.).

Beat me to my edit.

[K-1]

Originally Posted by MrMax

If its already in place in Brazil, I don't see why it couldn't work here. The way things are going now, the sooner they can get some momentum behind this, the better.

Getting the EPA to certify a conversion kit costs upwards of $23,000, which is why none exist stateside. It is nice to see MN taking the lead on this.

[poncho1982]

I have been waiting for this, as soon as this kit becomes comercially available, and Ohio gets off it's butt and gets some stations, I will convert the Z28 to E85. That is the best way to get at the Arabs, stop buying their oil, and when China uses up what the Arabs have, what do they have left? Sand. And thats pretty much it.

[Raysz71]

Just as an FYI. Methanol contains an acid that makes it corrosive. Ethanol only becomes corrosive if there is also water present.

I have run upto 50 % ethanol in my non flex '99 silverado. Runs great. However the mileage suffers when I run above 30% ethanol.

[bouda]

Whoo hoo Little Falls!

[racy]

Originally Posted by Sporer65

I wonder how much the conversion kit would cost.

There are already several independent kits available for various makes and models. They are typically less than a couple hundred dollars. Some even include new injectors.

What is significant about this kit is that its the first being put forth by a government. Although the article didn't go into detail, Minnesota has indeed been working with the big 2.5 auto manufacturers regarding retrofit kits. Furthermore, Minnesota is also in the midst of testing a 20% blend (E20) on all cars. Currently, E10 has been approved by all auto manufacturers as a safe level for existing vehicles on the road. If E20 gets the blessings by the manufacturers as a safe blend for all vehicles, then we will be able to put a serious dent in our petroleum consumption.

Right off the bat, a mandated E20 blend would reduce our gasoline consumption by 20%. That's more impact than any other interim solution, including better efficiency standards.

The only hitch in that scenario is supply. Currently, we don't produce enough for a mandated 10% blend, let alone a 20%. The good news is however, that the ethanol industry is gearing up and looks to be able to meet the challenge within a few years.