The situation in Australia is a complex mess of greed and miss-information.
The 10% limit is well proven and accepted by the engine manufacturers. The problem started when certain vested interests in the ethanol business allowed some cowboy outfits to start blending higher than 10%. This was driven by a desire to sell more ethanol. All of the reputable parties have accepted the 10% limit, but this gets stretched by the fact that 20+% is used in Brazil. The problem is that the Brazilian vehicles are specially built to handle this level - Australian vehicles are not. There is good scientific data, some of which paid fro by the Aussie government that demonstrates a safe 10% limit. This is yet another case where a small number of cowboys jeopardise and entire fuel's reputation. The solution is to move quickly to impose a 10% limit, but unfortunately the government bodies are moving slowly (consensus building). Fred Enga (caught up in this mess) -----Original Message----- From: murdoch [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: October 11, 2002 5:16 PM To: biofuels-biz@yahoogroups.com Cc: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Subject: [biofuel] More on Australia and Ethanol and Engine Damage Claims I don't know who "NRMA" is, but it looks like they are partly behind this attempt to limit ethanol mixing in Australia. I don't know enough about ethanol in cars to look at their arguments. http://au.news.yahoo.com/021011/2/gc4r.html Friday October 11, 06:19 PM Hughes urges calm on ethanol debate A service station industry proponent today called for calm over claims ethanol would destroy engines and void warranties on cars. Former Service Station Association chief executive Kevin Hughes, who is now managing director HEH Australian Petroleum Consultancy, said the claims were unproven and were hurting small business operators and the environment. But the Labor Party maintained its concerns about the fuel additive, again urging the government to cap ethanol content in petrol at 10 per cent while requiring warning stickers at bowsers. Labor this week released a Caltex survey of independent service stations in Sydney and Wollongong which found 14 of 21 sites sold petrol that included more than 10 per cent ethanol. Car manufacturers have warned it will void warranties on vehicles which use petrol containing more than 10 per cent ethanol, arguing it damages fuel lines and overall engines. The government has failed to act on recommendations from the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission to at least require warnings on high ethanol content fuels. Excise has been introduced on ethanol, but domestically produced product receives a full 38 cents a litre rebate. Mr Hughes said there was no evidence to support the car manufacturers claims of damage caused by high-ethanol fuels. "There seems to be great damage being done unfairly to a product that is environmentally-friendly and of great use to Australia," he said. "Ethanol (in fuel) has been around at up to 20 per cent for years. "Some car manufacturers are pushing that ethanol is not good, but with no factual basis for doing so." But NRMA boss Rob Carter said motorists deserved to know what they were putting into their vehicles. "It is disturbing to find some petrol stations selling 20 to 22 per cent," he told Channel Seven. "The fuel system - that's where ethanol can impact. It can damage fuel filters, it can cause coughing and slow starting in the morning, even vaporising in summer." Opposition Leader Simon Crean said there was obvious tension within the government over the issue, with Trade Minister Mark Vaile backing a 10 per cent limit on ethanol. He said Prime Minister John Howard had to back a cap on ethanol for the sake of motorists and boat owners. "People have got to know it's in there," he told Sky News. "We've produced evidence in parliament that shows that motor manufacturers say that engines can't be kept under warranty if more than 10 per cent is used. "That's putting motorists' cars at risk for anything over 10 per cent." Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Plan to Sell a Home? http://us.click.yahoo.com/J2SnNA/y.lEAA/MVfIAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
