Earth Day 2021 Series Day 13: What Fuel Can My Car or Truck Use? What about My Motorcycle?

April 13, 2021

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by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With so many options showing up at some gas stations, what should I choose?

E85 and Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)

We’ve retrofitted my 2002 Ford Focus to be able to use E85, 85% renewable ethanol. (Watch the video!) You can also buy flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) or vehicles in Brazil that are designed to use high ethanol blends.

If you are in Brazil, you have two choices at the pump: either Gasoline C (E27) or hydrous ethanol (E100). All cars in Brazil can run on E27. FFVs, which compose 72 percent of the Brazilian fleet today (more than 30 million cars and motorcycles), can use E100 or E27 or any mix of these two fuels.

In the US, it takes a bit of extra effort to figure out who is selling E85; there’s an app for that. We would much prefer to have this cleaner, greener high performance fuel at every station without it being a big deal.

Regular Fuel and Octane

You are very lucky if you are noticing choices at the pump. Many people in the US are still stuck with just the standard options of 90% petroleum gasoline with usually three octane levels. Depending on where you are, due to pollution controls (as in California) and elevation (as in the Rocky Mountains), those choices might differ slightly.

Other countries are introducing more ethanol blends. For example, Thailand uses E10 and plans to use E20 as their base, regular fuel in the future. The UK plans to move from E5 to E10 by September 2021.

Coming to more gas stations around the US is E15 (15% ethanol), often branded as Unleaded 88 due to its higher octane than regular gasoline which is usually 85 to 87.

After extensive testing, the US Environmental Protection Agency approved use of E15 in vehicles built in 2001 and newer.

However, in the US, E15 is not approved for use in motorcycles or for small engines like lawn mowers, boats or chain saws.

Diesel, Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel and Fleets

If you use diesel fuel, retail renewable options appear more rare. Retail diesel might include up to 5% biodiesel, which is considered an additive so special labeling is not required. You might see an option for up to 20% biodiesel (B20) at a retail pump.

Some countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, are looking at making available at all diesel pumps 20-30% biodiesel or a 40% blend of renewable diesel and biodiesel.

Fleets have more options and may purchase B20, B100 or renewable diesel in bulk. Renewable diesel is a cleaner, greener complete substitute for petroleum diesel.

B100 can be used with special modifications to a diesel engine’s fueling system such as that from Optimus Technologies which is used in public works fleets in Ames, Iowa and Washington, DC.

Are you asking yourself, “What’s the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel?” Check out this paper that answers not only that question, but also explores future fuels, those still being developed for use in diesel/compression ignition engines.

To help fleet managers meet sustainability goals, Advanced Biofuels USA published “How to De-Fossilize Your Fleet: Suggestions for Fleet Managers Working on Sustainability Programs.” This booklet is full of practical tips to help fleets defossilize. It also includes suggestions for ways to defossilize transportation policies.

What Can I Do?

-When deciding which fuel is right for your vehicle (personal or part of a fleet), first check the owner’s manual for octane requirements and biodiesel approval; then find the cleanest, greenest option available to you.

-Look for a yellow gas cap or an E85 decal that also lets you know you have a flex fuel vehicle.

-If your spark-ignition vehicle is out of warranty, consider retrofitting to use E85 or, if you have heavy duty vehicles, buses or equipment, to use B100. Watch this video about a case study about school buses.

-Watch this video from the American Lung Association for more tips.

-If your neighborhood gas station doesn’t sell renewable fuels, let them know that you would like to have those options. In the meantime, support those fuel retailers who are doing their part to clean up our air and reduce our transportation carbon footprint. And, let them know you appreciate the choices they offer.

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*Joanne Ivancic serves as the executive director of Advanced Biofuels USA.