Tag: e85

e85 Ethanol Equipment Processes

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Unlike gasoline, ethanol conducts electricity; and while this property does not result in additional safety issues, it requires that all luminum be removed from the gasoline dispensing system. To reduce the possibility of equipment and systems failure or contamination, you must select proper materials and control the fuel composition. In this section, you will learn about E85 fueling equipment, processes, and standards.

The recommendations in this site are based on a decade of experience with E85 fueling systems in the Minnesota E85 pilot market as well as other markets across the United States. These procedures and equipment have performed well with E85. The fueling components are often readily available from local petroleum equipment suppliers, and any qualified equipment installer can perform the methods discussed.

Although ethanol-based fuels have been in use for decades, misconceptions persist concerning the impact ethanol will have on seals, elastomers and other components contained within the fuel dispensing system. DuPont, a major elastomer manufacturer, published information in 1993 indicating that high-blend ethanol (e.g E100) may actually be less troublesome than other, more common, gasoline additives. Download a copy of Leak Prevention of Reformulated Fuels and Oxygenates: Sealing Solutions to Protect the Environment and Meet Regulatoly Requirements to learn more about this issue.

OPW, a well-known fuel equipment manufacturer, has issued the following memorandum pertaining to common components and their compatibility with E85. As indicated in the Checklist for Installing or Converting Equipment to dispense E85, we recommend replacing the hanging hardware (connectors, swivels, hose, nozzle) with the appropriate items.

Some retailers and fleet fueling site operators overlook using a 1-micron alcohol dispenser filter with E85. This is the single most important safeguard against fuel contamination and customer vehicle issues. Although the 1-micron filter may cost more than a standard 10-micron gasoline or 30-micron diesel filter, the small investment is well worth it if a single problem is avoided. Cim-Tek is a well-known dispenser filter manufacturer. View all Cim-Tek ethanol compatible products.

Although this document was published in 1995, information provided in Fuel Ethanol (E85) Compatibility Standards and Dispensing Equipment List for E85 Fuel Vehicles is still valid today.

If a fueling site project and the selection of its contractor and equipment vendors are subject to a bid process, make certain that bid specifications include all necessary equipment requirements, local codes and standards, and all permit arrangements and costs. A variety of project types, equipment, and associated sample costs are provided for your information. These may help you and your potential vendors in defining project-specific bid details. An experienced contractor or a trusted equipment vendor will be able to assist in gathering bid specifications for your locale. View the fact sheet on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Web site that discusses Selecting a Certified Contractor.

If the fueling system will be located in an area where E85 and ethanol-blended fuels have not been in widespread use, you may run into a lack of awareness with equipment vendors and installers. If this occurs, or if you receive negative responses to E85-related inquiries, please contact the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) or the organizations provided in the contacts section of this toolkit. The NEVC will be able to assist in answering your questions or those of your local vendor.

e85 ethanol conversion for flex fuel kits

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Here we are, information directly from the government.

A converted vehicle is one that was originally designed to operate on gasoline but has been altered to run on an alternative fuel such as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane), the two most common types of alternative fuel vehicle conversions.

Converted vehicles may be "dedicated," which means that they operate only on an alternative fuel, "dual-fuel," or "flex fuel," which means that they can operate on either an alternative fuel or gasoline, with separate tanks and fuel systems for each fuel. "Bi-fuel" vehicles are designed to run on combinations of an alternative fuel with a conventional fuel such as gasoline. Unlike dual-fuel systems, which allow the use of only one fuel at a time, bi-fuel systems supply both fuels into the combustion chamber at the same time (please note that according to industry, these definitions of "bi-fuel" and "dual-fuel" may be reversed).

All vehicle conversions must be certified according to Mobile Source Enforcement Memorandum 1A (Memo 1A), the Addendum to Memo 1A, and the Revision to the Addendum to Memo 1A, which were issued by EPA. There are three options specified under the Addendum to Memo 1A through which a converted vehicle may be certified. Since Option 3 of the Addendum to Memo 1A expired on August 29, 2002, only companies who obtain either a EPA Certificate of Conformity according to Option 1 or a retrofit system certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) according to Option 2 of the Addendum to Memo 1A may perform alternative fuel vehicle conversions.

For information about whether a Certificate of Conformity has been issued for your vehicle and whether your vehicle can be converted, please see the information on the Conversion Company Industry Contacts Web page. If a Certificate of Conformity has not already been issued for your vehicle, it is possible that a certificate holder would consider applying for a Certificate of Conformity for that vehicle so that it could be converted. The certificate holder can also advise you regarding the cost of having your vehicle converted. Additionally, federal and state incentives can help offset the cost of a conversion.

The following is a description of the EPA certification procedure.

EPA now certifies converted vehicles, rather than conversion systems or "kits." Typically, EPA refers to a fuels converter (the certificate holder), as a "small volume manufacturer." An individual or entity that wishes to have a vehicle converted to operate on an alternative fuel must do so through a company or organization associated with a certificate holder. Examples of types of companies or organizations that hold Certificates of Conformity issued by EPA include the designer of the conversion equipment, the producer or manufacturer of the equipment, and the person or entity that plans to perform installations. It is the responsibility of the certificate holder to ensure that the equipment is properly installed and that the system is safe, durable, and results in the vehicle meeting the emission standards of the original model year of the vehicle.

Certificates of Conformity for "aftermarket" conversions (conversions on vehicles that are owned by an individual, company, or organization rather than the OEM) are signed by EPA and certify that the appropriate sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Parts 85 through 88) have been met. Certificates indicate the following:

  • The original test group of vehicles as determined and
    provided by the OEM. Engine families (since the 2001 model year, light-duty vehicle engine families are known as "test groups") are a subset of vehicles that the OEM certifies and have certain common operating characteristics in terms of emissions control systems. There are many different test groups; for example, the Ford F-150 could have 10 or more test groups, depending on the engine size, gross vehicle weight, and drive train of the vehicle.
  • The evaporative emissions family.
  • The state(s) in which the test group is certified (e.g. California vs. 50 state sales areas).
  • The "car line." For example, "F-150, 2 wheel drive, extended cab, 5.4 Liter engine."
  • The model year of the vehicles included in the test group.
  • The emissions standards that are met.

An aftermarket conversion may only be performed on a vehicle if a Certificate of Conformity or a CARB certification has been issued for that vehicle’s particular model year and exhaust and evaporative emissions test groups.

For aftermarket AFV conversions, potential certificate holders must complete an application and submit emissions test data to EPA. Each year, certificate holders must file a new application to renew their certificates for a test group of a specific model year, but they do not need to submit new test data in order to renew. For example, for the conversion of a model year 2003 vehicle, EPA can issue a 2004 model year certificate (enabling the certificate holder to convert that model year 2003 vehicle test group through the end of 2004 calendar year) or a 2005 model year certificate (enabling the certificate holder to convert that model year 2003 vehicle through the end of 2005 calendar year). The certificate holder could later apply for a 2006 model year certificate, once EPA begins issuing those certificates (enabling the certificate holder to convert that model year 2003 vehicle test group through end of 2006 calendar year). The certificates are valid through December 31 of each certification year.

For information about the CARB procedures, please visit the
Aftermarket, Performance, and Add-On Parts Regulations Web page.

For additional information on small volume manufacturer conversion procedures, please see the EPA’s Certification Guidance for Alternative Fuel Converters.

The expanding Flex Fuel Vehicles and Ethanol

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Many vehicles on the road today can run on blends of ethanol and gasoline, most on lower-level blends such as E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), and many on higher level blends such as E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). Because of the abundance of ethanol-compatible vehicles, the future is bright for ethanol as a fuel.

Most of today’s commercially available vehicles can run on blends of E10, which is mandated in some areas of the country to act as a fuel oxygenate to improve air quality.

In addition, many newer vehicles can use E85, which qualifies as an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Vehicles that can run on E85, gasoline, or any mixture of the two are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). FFVs are widely available and include sedans, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks. More than 5 million FFVs have already been sold in the United States, although many of the buyers remain unaware that they have the option to fuel with E85.

General Motors recently announced a new E85/FFV campaign, "Live Green, Go Yellow." Learn more about this marketing campaign by visiting the GM Web site.

Because of limited crude oil supplies and refining capacity, and rising concern over environmental degradation, there is a good market outlook for ethanol. Ethanol can be produced not only from corn, barley, and wheat, but also from cellulose feedstocks such as corn stalks, rice straw, sugar cane bagasse, pulpwood, switchgrass, and municipal solid waste. Because of the variety of feedstocks that can be used, ethanol offers tremendous opportunities for new jobs and economic growth outside the traditional "grain belt."

Currently, most E85 fueling stations are located in the Midwest, but infrastructure is growing nation wide. Flex Fuel vehicles can fuel at these stations today.

Looking into the future, the ethanol industry envisions a time when ethanol may be used as a fuel to produce hydrogen for fuel cell vehicle applications.