AAA: No More Alcohol For Cars!
The AAA asked the U.S. government to prohibit the sale of E15. Only about 5 percent of the 240 million light duty vehicles on U.S. roads today are approved by manufacturers to run on the gasoline that contains 15 percent alcohol, and the other 95 percent could be ruined by the wicked fuel, says the AAA. The industry agrees.
The EPA approved E15 in 2011 for cars and light trucks made since model year 2000, triggering protests from auto-makers, service station owners and oil refiners who fear it may damage older engines. Their biggest fear: Legal action from motorists.
“AAA is urging regulators and the industry to stop the sale of E15 until motorists are better protected,” AAA said in a statement. “Unsuspecting consumers using E15 could end up with engine problems that might not be covered by their vehicles’ warranties.”
According to the AAA, BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen have said that their warranties will not cover fuel-related claims caused by the use of E15.
The federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), requires the use of 13.2 billion gallons of ethanol in fuel this year, rising to 15 billion gallons annually from 2015.
Governors of four poultry-raising states this year asked EPA for relief from the mandate, saying the corn crop is too small to use 40 percent of it making biofuels.
In Germany, a widespread buyer strike stopped E10, containing only 10 percent ethanol, in its tracks. The movement has its own Facebook page and broad support from the media.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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BS! Down here we've been running cars on E25 since the late 1970's, including imports. 15% of ethanol won't do anything to the engine. And is it really that impossible to READ A LABEL on the fuel pump???
Next time you're driving across the country, take I-35, I-40 or I-44 through Oklahoma and fill the tank. All over the place you'll see stations with big signs, banners, billboards, etc., shouting "Pure Gas", "100% Gas", "No Ethanol" and the like. Obviously, station owners have figured out what people want. And if you do blunder into a station that has adulterated gas, you'll be warned by a sign required by law that alerts consumers that the pump dispenses alcohol. It's nice to know there are still some places that the environuts and statists don't fully control. Of course, now that the fanatics in the EPA have another four year lease, our freedom remains endangered.
Let me make sure I understand correctly: The U.S. Government has fuel economy mandates AND ethanol mandates... How does this make sense?
I have the answer to some of this and it came from my mother who has been gone for 5 years. She always told me that there were two things you never wanted to see. Sausage being made or your government at work. I am convinced that she was right. It matters little what your political persuasion. Reagan was right: "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help" are very scary words.