The New York Times reports that the automotive industry is resisting government plans to increase the amount of ethanol with which oil companies can pollute their gasoline. The government wants to raise the maximum ethanol-gasoline blend from 10 percent to 15 percent.
Ethanol, an otherwise-unprofitable fuel manufactured solely because of government subsidies, has no environmental benefits and causes several environmental problems such as increased smog and water pollution.
And as it turns out, it will also cause major engine problems at higher concentrations, according to new tests.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue a rule in the next few weeks that would permit oil companies to increase the percentage of ethanol in automotive fuel to 15 percent, up from the current level of 10 percent, so they can meet E.P.A. quotas for renewable fuels.
Automakers have opposed the change since the E.P.A. first signaled it last year. But now the industry says it has conducted tests that confirm the higher-ethanol blend will cause problems in many cars.
Half of the engines tested so far have had some problems, said C. Coleman Jones, the biofuel implementation manager at General Motors, who spoke on behalf of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
More ethanol will confuse exhaust control systems and make engines run too hot, destroying catalytic converters, automakers say. It can also damage engine cylinders, they say.
For some car owners, “you will be walking, eventually,” Mr. Jones said.
Unfortunately, President Obama is and always has been a major proponent of ethanol subsidies. Maybe that’s his plan for reducing carbon emissions — just destroy everyone’s car with ethanol.
