SETTING NATIONAL FUEL
QUALITY STANDARDS
Proposed Fuel Quality Standard - Ethanol (E85) Automotive Fuel
POSITION PAPER
June 2011
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Executive Summary
The Australian Government is proposing to set a fuel quality standard for Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel, a blend of petrol and between 70 and 85 per cent ethanol by volume.
In preparing the proposed E85 automotive fuel quality standard the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the department) has consulted directly with fuel grade ethanol producers, ‘flexible fuel’ vehicle manufacturers and the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee (FSCC).
The proposed standard also takes into account the overarching objectives of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, as well as already established international standards for this type of fuel blend.
Call for submissions
Comments are requested on the position paper by no later than Friday, 29 July 2011 and should be submitted electronically to:
or sent to:
Fuel and Used Oil Policy Section
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Street address: JohnGortonBuilding, PARKES ACT 2600
Unless marked as confidential, all submissions will be treated as public documents and posted on the department’s website. The department will not post any personal details (such as email addresses) on the website. Please ensure that your submission is attached as a separate document when replying by email.
Purpose
The objective of this position paper is to seek formal comment from stakeholders on a proposed Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel quality standard under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. Stakeholders are invited to review the proposed fuel quality parameters and provide comments. Any additional information to support your position is welcome. This position paper also details the proposed test methods that will be used by the department to determine compliance. A detailed technical background to parameters and test methods is provided at Appendix A.
Background
Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel
Internationally, ethanol has a long history of use as a petrol extender, octane improver and alternative fuel. Ethanol can be made from both renewable (biomass) and non-renewable (petrochemical) sources. In Australia, renewable fuel grade ethanol is predominantly made from wheat starch and wheat grain. Other feedstocks include the by-products of sugarcane (molasses) and sorghum processing.
Ethanol can be produced in two forms: hydrous and anhydrous. Hydrous ethanol is usually produced by distillation from biomass fermentation, and it contains some water residue. It is suitable for use as neat spark ignition fuel in warm climates such as that in Brazil. A further process of dehydration is required to produce anhydrous ethanol (100 per cent ethanol) for blending with petrol. Anhydrous ethanol can be used as an automotive fuel by itself or can be mixed with petrol in various proportions to form a petrol/ethanol blend.Anhydrous ethanol is typically blended up to 10 per cent by volume in petrol, known as E10, for use in unmodified engines. Historically, the US has supported the use of E10 blends and more recently Europe has adopted E10 blends. Certain materials in vehicles commonly used with petrol fuel are incompatible with alcohols and varying degrees of modification are required depending on the percentage blend of ethanol with petrol. For this reason in the European Union (EU) all member states are required to ensure that fuel grade E5 is available in the market as a protection grade for older vehicles that are not compatible to run on E10.
Several automobile manufacturers have developed flexible fuel vehicles that can run on neat petrol or fuel that contains 85 per cent ethanol by volume, or any blend of ethanol and petrol from 0 per cent to 85 per cent ethanol. The main differences between ethanol flexible fuel vehicles and petrol vehicles are the materials used in the fuel management system and modifications to the engine calibration system.9
The corrosive effect of a fuel rises with increasing ethanol content. Materials that normally would not be affected by low percentage ethanol blends have been found to dissolve in the presence of higher ethanol concentrations, including aluminium, brass, zinc and lead. The interaction of the fuel with fuel system materials could also result in the formation of insoluble compounds, causing plugged vehicle fuel filters. Terne (lead-tin-alloy) plated steel, commonly used for petrol fuel tanks, and lead-based solder are also incompatible with high concentrations of fuel ethanol. Non-metallic materials that degrade when in contact with high concentrations of fuel ethanol include natural rubber, polyurethane, cork gasket material, leather, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamides, methyl-methacrylate plastics, and certain thermo and thermoset plastics. The swelling and embrittlement of rubber fuel lines and o-rings can, in time, lead to component failure.9
These problems are eliminated in dedicated ethanol vehicles and flexible fuel vehicles by using unplated steel, stainless steel, black iron and bronze, which have all shown acceptable resistance to ethanol corrosion. Non-metallic materials successfully used with E75 and E85 include thermoset reinforced fiberglass, thermo plastic piping, neoprene rubber, polypropylene, nitrile, Viton and Teflon materials.9
Petrol ethanol blends in Australia
In Australia, fuel grade ethanol is currently allowed to be blended with petrol up to 10 per cent by volume under the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 – the petrol standard. This fuel is commonly referred to as E10. The petrol standard covers quality requirements for unleaded petrol and premium unleaded petrol, and can be found at:
The petrol standard sets out the quality requirements for fuel grade ethanol used as a blendstock with petrol. These quality requirements for blending for E10 do not constitute an ethanol standard i.e. there is no standard for E100 under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.
Not all petrol vehicles in the Australian fleet are compatible with ethanol blended petrol. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries provides information on which vehicles can operate on ethanol blended petrol:
Until recently, E85 has been supplied by independent fuel suppliers in a small number of locations, and only a small number of flex-fuel vehicles have been marketed in Australia. On 2 August 2010 Caltex Australia launched Bio E-Flex, an E85 fuel – a blend of between 70 - 85 per cent ethanol and 15 - 30 per cent petrol. This fuel is designed for use specifically in flex-fuel vehicles. It is not suitable for any other vehicle. Caltex state they will have Bio E-Flex available in 100 metropolitan and regional locations in 2011. On 3 August 2010 GM Holden Ltd announced that Bio-E Flex fuel would be suitable for vehicles within the new Holden Commodore VE Series II range, launched in September 2010.
To ensure consumer confidence in biofuels, it is important to ensure only ethanol/petrol blends, including E85 automotive fuel, of the highest quality are available and that blends are fit-for-purpose.
Stakeholder feedback
The department has consulted relevant stakeholders on the proposal to set an Australian fuel quality standard for E85 automotive fuel. The department has consulted with the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee whose members include representatives from each state and territory, the Commonwealth, fuel and biofuel producers, vehicle manufacturers, consumers and a group with an interest in environment protection. Most stakeholders agree that an E85 automotive fuel standard is needed. GM Holden Ltd and Caltex Australia are continuing to carry out assessment and field testing of E85.
Labelling and safety concerns
In Europe labelling regulations are the responsibility of individual nations. However, in order to harmonize these regulations, the European E85 automotive fuel technical specification, CEN/TS 15293:2011 Automotive fuels – Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel – Requirements and test methods, 2011, recommends pump marking requirements:
Information to be marked on dispensing pumps used for delivering Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel, and the dimensions of the mark shall be in accordance with the requirements of national standards or regulations for the marking of pumps for Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel. Such requirements shall be set out in detail or shall be referred to by reference in a national annex to this European Standard. NOTE – The recommended designation for Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel and its seasonal derivatives is E85.[1]
There is no reference to labelling requirements in the United States (US) ASTM D5798 – 10a - Standard Specification for Fuel Ethanol (Ed70-Ed85) for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines. The US National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Handbook 130, Method of Sale Regulation, Section 2.30 sets out the labelling requirements for dispensing E85. It states,
A label shall be posted which states ‘For Use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) Only.’ This information shall be clearly and conspicuously posted on the upper 50% of the dispenser front panel… A label shall be posted which states, ‘Consult Vehicle Manufacturer Fuel Recommendations.’”
The regulation sets out specific font/type height and stroke/width for these labels.[2]
Currently in Australia, fuel suppliers who supply petrol containing ethanol must comply with the ethanol fuel quality information standard (labelling standard). The labelling standard informs consumers that the fuel they are purchasing contains ethanol. The labelling standard is available at:
This labelling standard refers to ethanol blended fuel, meaning petrol has been tested in accordance with the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001.
There are concerns that misfuelling may occur in the marketplace due to the lack of consumer awareness and primarily because the price of Bio E-Flex and other E85 automotive fuel products will be significantly below (by approximately 20 cents per litre) that of regular unleaded petrol.
Caltex are clearly labelling the supply of their E85 product Bio E-Flex. Caltex are training service station staff and implementing pump authorisation, vehicle identification and nozzle latch mechanisms to minimise the risk of misfuelling.
If other fuel retailers choose not to differentiate E85 bowsers in some significant way or take other steps to prevent misfuelling, there is a risk that consumers may inadvertently use E85 instead of petrol in vehicles not designed for the purpose. Misfuelling with E85 will cause serious damage to the engines of incompatible cars. E85 automotive fuel is not suitable for motorcycles, lawnmowers, boats or light aircraft.
Proposed Information Standard (Labelling Requirement)
The Government is proposing to require labelling of E85 automotive fuel under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. The label will be required to state the following information:
“Contains 70-85% ethanol”
“For use in Flex Fuel Vehicles Only”
“Not Petrol or Diesel”
Additional housekeeping and monitoring of E85 automotive fuel is required at storage and dispensing sites. Ethanol blended fuels are highly water sensitive. Caltex have provided advice to their retail sites on housekeeping requirements for Bio E-Flex, including firefighting and emergency response procedures.
International E85 standards
United States
The USASTM D5798 – 10a - Standard Specification for Fuel Ethanol (Ed70-Ed85) for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines was approved in December 2010 and published in January 2011. Changes from the 2009 version include lowering the minimum ethanol content to 68 per cent by volume for all volatility classes (see Table 1). Vapour pressure is the only parameter for which limits vary for the volatility classes, based on climatic conditions.3 Further, the ASTM specification for E85 requires that the ethanol component of the fuel conform to specification ASTM D4806 and the gasoline component of the fuel conform to ASTM D4814.
European Union
The European Automotive Fuels – Ethanol (E85) - Automotive fuel – Requirements and test methods has progressed from a ‘workshop agreement’ (CWA 15293:2005) to a published Technical Specification CEN/TS 15293:2011. This TS was approved by CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation; European Committee for Standardization) Sept. 28, 2010 for provisional application. The period of validity of this standard is initially limited to three years. After two years, the members will be requested to provide comments on whether this standard can be converted into a European Standard. There are significant technical changes between this and the CEN Workshop Agreement. They include the inclusion of a density parameter, the allowance of the use of denatured and undenatured ethanol as a blending component (depending on national legislation), indicative limits for RON/MON, a tightening in the inorganic chloride limit and changes to the climate-related requirements (see Table 1).
Some of the determination test methods referenced are still being investigated to ensure correct application and precision. Due to this, and the fact that production processes need to be assessed for their capacity to achieve the required future limits, CEN have taken an intermediate step and designated this a Technical Specification.1 A Technical Specification does not have the status of an EN but may be adopted as national standard (
Harmonisation
Australian Government policy is to harmonise fuel standards with international standards where appropriate. Table 1 compares the proposed E85 automotive fuel standard and standards already in place internationally.
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Table 1 – Comparison of E85 fuel standards
Parameter / Proposed Australian E85 fuel standard / EUCEN/TS 15293:2011 / US
ATSM (D 5798-10a)
Ethanol content and vapour pressure / Ethanol content – 70-85% v/v to meet vapour pressure classes.
Industry to determine which class to supply based on local climate, using the Table 3 below as a guide. / Classes:
a: 70-85%, 35.0-60.0 kPa
b: 70-85%, 50.0-80.0 kPa
c: 60-85%, 55.0-80.0 kPa
d: 50-85%, min 60.0 kPa
Individual countries decide which classes apply in given regions at given times of year. / Classes:
1: 68-83%, 38-59kPa @ 37.8C
(min ambient temp > 5oC)
2: 68-83%, 48-65kPa
(min ambient temp -5o to 5oC)
3: 68-83%, 66-83kPa
(min ambient temp ≤-5o C)
Acidity (as acetic acid) / 0.005 mass % (mg/L) max / 0.005% m/m max / 0.005 mass % (mg/L) max
Appearance / Visibly free of suspended or precipitated contaminants (clear and bright) at the ambient temperature or 21°C, whichever is higher. / Product shall be free of suspended or precipitated contaminants (clear and bright). This shall be determined at ambient temperature or 21°C, whichever is higher.
Copper / 0.10 mg/kg max / 0.10 mg/kg max / 0.07 mg/L max
Copper strip corrosion (3 h 50o C) / rating class 1
Density / 760.0 - 800.0 kg/m3 @ 15C
Electrical conductivity
Ethers (5 or more C atoms) / 1.0% v/v max / 11.0% v/v max
Higher alcohols (C3-C8) / 2% v/v max / 6.0% v/v max (C3-C5) / 2 v/v % max
Inorganic chloride / 1 mg/kg max / 1.2 mg/kg max[1] / 1 mg/kg max
Methanol / 0.5% v/v max / 1.0% (v/v) / 0.5 vol % max
Oxidation stability / 360 minutes min / 360 minutes min / 240 minutes min (applicable only for the hydrocarbon blend component)
pHe / 6.5 - 9.0 / 6.5 - 9.0
Phosphorus / 0.0013 g/L max / 0.15 mg/L max / 0.0013 g/L max and no intentional addition (refers to ASTM
D 4814)
RON, min / targeting 104 min[2]
MON, min / targeting 88.0 minb
Solvent washed gum / 5 mg/100 mL max / 5 mg/100 mL max / 5 mg/100 mL max
Sulfate / 4.0 mg/kg max / 4.0 mg/kg max[3]
Sulfur / 70 mg/kg max / 10.0 mg/kg max / 80 mg/kg max[4]
Water / 1.0% m/m max / 0.400% m/m max / 1.0% m/m max
Note: in CEN/TS 15293:2011 ethanol volumetric content includes ethanol and higher saturated alcohols. The terms “% (m/m)” and “% (v/v)” are used to represent the mass fraction and volume fraction respectively.
Table 2 - Summary of proposed E85 automotive fuel parameters and test methods
It is proposed that Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel be defined as a fuel blend, nominally of fuel grade ethanol and petrol (that meets the requirements of the fuel quality standard for petrol set out in the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001), that conforms to the limits specified below.Parameter / Proposed specifications for
Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel standard / Test methods
Ethanol / 70-85% v/v to meet vapour pressure classes* / ASTM D5501 (modified)
Acidity (acetic acid) / 0.005% mg/L max / ASTM D1613
Appearance / Visibly free of suspended or precipitated contaminants (clear and bright) at the ambient temperature or 21°C, whichever is higher. / ASTM D4806
Copper / 0.10 mg/kg max / EN 15837
Ethers (5 or more C atoms) / 1.0% v/v max / ASTM D5501 (modified)
Higher alcohols (C3-C8) / 2% v/v max / ASTM D5501 (modified)
Inorganic chloride / 1 mg/kg max / ASTM D7319
ASTM D7328
Methanol / 0.5% v/v max / ASTM D5501 (modified)
Oxidation stability / 360 minutes min / TBA
pHe / 6.5-9.0 / ASTM D6423
Phosphorus / 0.0013 g/L / ASTM D3231
Solvent washed gum / 5 mg/100 mL max / ASTM D381
Sulfate / 4.0 mg/kg / ASTM D7319
Sulfur / 70 mg/kg / ASTM D5453
Water / 1.0% m/m max / ASTM E1064
*Vapour Pressure ASTM D5190
Industry (retailers and/or distributors) shall determine which class to supply in any given month, taking into account local climate and using Table 3 below as a guide.
Class 1, Summer blend: (10th percentile min > 5oC) 38-59 kPa @ 37.8C
Class 2, Winter blend: (10th percentile min -5o to 5oC) 48-65 kPa @ 37.8C
The maximum vapour pressure shall be whichever is the lower of the limit stated above or that set by the State or Territory government.
Table 3 – Recommended classes of fuel for supply based on climate
Month / Jan / Feb / Mar / Apr / May / Jun / Jul / Aug / Sep / Oct / Nov / DecNSW/ACT / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Vic / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Tas / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2
SA / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
WA north / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
WA south / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1
NT north / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
NT south / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
Qld north / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
Qld south / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
The boundary between north and south Queensland and the Northern Territory is set at 18S latitude, which runs just below the Gulf of Carpentaria. The boundary between north and south Western Australia is set at 20S latitude, which crosses north of Port Hedland. These regions are based on climatic data, and the latitudes chosen for simplicity.
The values are necessarily conservative to allow engine starts on arrival in cooler areas after refuelling in warmer areas and allowing a margin at the beginning and end of each season. Values are established for each state or part thereof in Australia by viewing the Bureau of Meteorology’s Minimum Temperature 10th Percentile maps for each month of the year, which have been averaged over the years 1950 to 2005, and incorporating a 500 km buffer which represents the maximum distance that a typical vehicle could travel on a single tank of petrol.
APPENDIX A –
Technical background to parameters and test methods