Highlights From a PR From AMA. The American Motorcyclist Association reported this week that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements. The new standard mandates widespread availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends, such as E15, which increase the risk of misfueling for motorcycles and all-terrain-vehicles. As you might be aware, higher-ethanol fuels have a laundry list of performance and mechanical issues associated with it. In 2014, the EPA set the RFS at 16.28 billion gallons. In 2015, that number climbed to 16.93 billion gallons. However, in 2016 the total will now be raised to 18.11 billion gallons.
Wayne Allard, AMA VP of Government Relations says: “We are extremely disappointed that the EPA bowed to pressure from the ethanol industry and agreed to foist more ethanol onto the backs of American consumers. Any increase in the amount of ethanol required in our fuel supply, coupled with America’s decreasing demand for gasoline, is going to result in higher-ethanol blends, such as E15, at more pumps and stations. And the widespread availability of E15 and higher-ethanol fuels increases the risk that motorcyclists will inadvertently misfuel their bikes.”
E15 fuel is a blend of 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol. That is a 50% increase in the volume of ethanol over the common E10 blend which is widely used by Americans at the pump. The US has an estimated 22 million motorcycles and All-terrain-vehicles in use, none of which have been approved by the EPA to operate on ethanol blends higher than the current 10% blend. By using high-ethanol blended fuel, those vehicles could potentially be deemed illegal under this new requirement. Aside from potential engine and fuel system damage that these higher-ethanol blends may cause, the consumer may be forced to void the manufacturer’s warranty.
The AMA raised concerns of a decrease in availability regarding the current E10 fuel which most American vehicles rely on. Under these new standards, ethanol free fuel may become unavailable. E0’s production is expected to go from 9.2 billion gallons to 130 million in 2016. Owners of vintage motorcycles already have trouble finding E0. In the face of all of this, the AMA collected 29,379 signatures in protest of the higher-ethanol fuel mandates, during the EPA’s comment period which ended July 27 of this year. The AMA encouraged the EPA to lower, rather than increase the standard. Those signatures, along with all of their comments were forwarded to the EPA.
Sorry you don’t care about us millions of motorcycle riders.
So my 20 thousand dollar motorcycle is now worthless.
Your not nice U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Nice move EPA. It is wonderful when a regulatory agency bows to lobbying by the nation’s grain farmers. Now how can I fuel my motorcycle, chain saw, lawn mower or 2 of my 3 cars? I do have one E-85 compatible vehicle but it does not get much use because it is a fuel hog compared to my other 2 cars. It runs on E-10 today because the cost of E-85 does not justify its use as a fuel for me.
Bog election cycle next year.politicians get nervous when they getlots of correspondence on one subject. Let em know how you feel.
http://www.epaabuse.com
when the mopes at the EPA drink 15% ethanol, we’ll all be better off.
Why do we even still have the EPA. The EPA was formed in 1974 (fairly sure) and to this day, they still have not accomplished the task that they were put in place to accomplish!!!
Good Grief, not again !!!
I thought they took care of this awhile ago ???
E-15 SUCKS, E-10 SUCKS
It will destroy you motorcycle among many other kinds of power equipment
There’s an old American saying that still holds true today “follow the green”. Follow the money trail.
If the EPA is going to ram this down our throats, and we ride older bikes, what exactly are the options / solutions to dealing with E-15?
Does premium unleaded have a lower percentage of ethanol? A gas additive?
“There is no question that this is government overreach that threatens Iowa’s biofuels industry,” District 1 Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, said. “The EPA makes this look like a compromise, but they really took the authority away from Congress, which set the RFS originally. It is a serious setback. ”
Read that again if you didn’t understand. The EPA is setting the RFS lower than what Congress has mandated and the corn farmers in Iowa aren’t happy.
The RFS was set by Congress (remind me again who runs that esteemed body). The numbers quoted in the article above are what the federal law has mandated, and is no where near what was produced. In 2015 there will be 14 billion gallons blended. 14.5 billion likely next year.
The federal law permits the EPA to modify the RFS DOWNWARD given extenuating circumstances which is exactly what they are doing. There is no mandate to produce E15. However, refineries that are under financial pressure to blend more ethanol are likely to push more E-15 because of the federal penalties for not selling enough ethanol.
You want change. Talk to (or pay) your congressman. The EPA has exerted all the control they are permitted. Mike is correct. Follow the money trail…
Our Judicial and Political system is the best that money can buy.