U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyVehicle Technologies ProgramResearch Spotlight - DOE Tests Ethanol BlendsResearch Spotlight - DOE Tests Ethanol Blends
A preliminary report released by DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, provides results available to date from testing E15 and E20 on 13 vehicles and 28 small non-road engines, including lawn equipment and generators. Through a wide range of experimental activities, DOE is evaluating the effects of these intermediate ethanol blends on the emissions (both tailpipe and evaporative), catalyst and engine durability, vehicle drivability or engine operability, and materials compatibility associated with these vehicles and engines. While the data collected to date is encouraging, particularly with regard to regulated emissions, additional studies are needed on a wider range of vehicles and engines.
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U.S. consumers already use E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol, in conventional vehicles and other engines. In order to meet the goals set forth in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, however, the U.S. may need to use higher blends of ethanol in conventional gasoline vehicles. To assess the potential impacts of higher blends of ethanol such as E15 and E20, gasoline blended with 15 and 20 percent ethanol, respectively, on conventional vehicles and other gasoline engines, DOE initiated a testing program in August 2007.