Feds: EPA rules forcing more expensive fuel on drivers

The Energy Department’s independent analysis arm, the Energy Information Administration, revealed the trend in data showing that the use of higher-priced premium gasoline reached its highest share in a decade last year. It turns out that the EPA is to blame.

“Although lower gasoline prices may be supporting demand for premium gasoline, the upward trend in sales is more likely driven by changes in fuel requirements for light-duty vehicles in response to increasing fuel economy standards, which will have widespread implications for future gasoline markets,” the Energy Information Administration said.

The EPA vehicle rules require that new cars have improved fuel efficiency to spew out fewer greenhouse gases that many scientists blame for causing climate change by heating the Earth’s atmosphere. For automakers to meet the regulations, they have to rely on smaller engines and more turbocharging to hit the mileage standards and reduce emissions. That requires new cars to use premium gasoline, which costs more.

“As automakers produce more vehicles with turbocharged engines, it is likely they will recommend or require more [cars] to use higher-octane gasoline,” the agency said. “Engine models that require premium gasoline are designed to operate only on that fuel, and the use of regular gasoline risks damaging the engine.”

According to its data, the rise in the use of premium gasoline has followed the increase in the number of vehicles required or recommended to use more turbocharging, because of the EPA rules. In model-year 2010 vehicles, 12.5 percent of the total car market recommended or required higher-octane gasoline. By 2013, the share rose to 14.2 percent.

Likewise, use of premium gasoline has steadily increased along with the requirements for new cars.

In August and September, the use of higher-priced, high-octane gasoline shot up to 11.3 percent of the total gasoline fuel market, which the agency says was its highest share in more than a decade.