Ethanol rise could prove frustrating for motorists

 by: Adam Alvarez

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has recently approved a measure that would increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent, or E15. Although receiving support from the White House and rural farm areas, the measure has faced staunch opposition from the auto industry and a good handful of car owners.

 For a number of motorists, there is a grave worry over how their vehicles will handle the increase in ethanol. In fact, the EPA has admitted the higher blend would not be suitable for cars and light duty trucks manufactured before 2007 due to its corrosive effect on materials used in older engines.

Jason Matthews, who drives a 2005 Ford Focus in Tampa, has already witnessed firsthand the potential complications associated with ethanol.

“I got gas one night at a pump that acknowledged having 10-percent ethanol. An hour later my car stalled and I was told the ethanol was the cause,” said Matthews.

Now car problems are not necessarily the only problem that will arise from this new measure. The turn toward more ethanol, a corn-based fuel, is also expected to lead to higher prices at grocery stores.

“Even if this works as far as lowering our dependence on foreign fuel, we’re still going to be stuck with higher costs elsewhere. And that’s being positive and actually believing this is going to work and not destroy my car,” said Denise Miller, whose 2004 Nissan Altima would be unable to handle E15.

In an attempt to help limit the damage done to cars not equipped to handle the increase in ethanol, the EPA has said that it will propose new pump labeling requirements to help consumers figure out which gas to use in their vehicles.

However, as witnessed by Matthews, even 10-percent ethanol can prove a dangerous mix.

“I’ve already had my one and only experience with ethanol and I would be sure to tell anyone else that asks to avoid this stuff at all cost,” said Matthews.

Avoiding ethanol will be a challenging task. United States automakers have pledged to make approximately half of their vehicle production capable of running on E85 by 2012. Meanwhile, Congress has mandated that 36 billion gallons of ethanol be mixed with gasoline by the year 2022.

“This is just another example of the government not understanding how to successfully handle a pressing issue such as rising gas prices,” said Miller.