Thursday, August 11, 2011

NAFA Urges EPA To Reconsider E15 Waiver Decision

(AUGUST 11, 2011 - PRINCETON, NJ) – Every industry needs a voice to stand up for it; within fleet management, that voice comes from NAFA.  Comprised of fleet professionals throughout the United States and Canada, NAFA Fleet Management Association routinely fights for the rights of the fleet management industry profession.  The latest fight involves a waiver allowing gasoline blends of up to fifteen percent ethanol (E15) to be used on cars and trucks of model year 2001 and later.  NAFA is concerned that the use of E15 may cause significant damage to fleet vehicles and lead to substantial costs throughout the industry.

Over the past year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued two partial waivers under the Clean Air Act that in sum allow E15 to be sold for use in model year 2001 and newer cars and light trucks.  The EPA based its waiver decisions on testing and analysis showing that these vehicles could continue to meet emission standards if operated on E15.  In a letter sent to Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, NAFA urged the agency to reconsider the waiver.

"The waiver for E15 jeopardizes the billions of dollars that fleets have invested in vehicles and engines used to carry out the mission of private and public sector fleets throughout the country," wrote NAFA's Executive Director Phil Russo.
"We take very seriously the statements of vehicle and engine manufacturers that E15 will damage engines, void warranties, and reduce fuel efficiency," Russo continued.  "We do not understand the 'rush to judgment' based on a single set of Department of Energy tests that did not consider the effect that E15 would actually have on engines and costs."

Fleet managers, who are a major consumer of vehicles and engines, are concerned with the potential impact for both light-duty engines as well as non-covered engines including engine failure, corrosion, materials incompatibility, catalyst degradation, water-in-fuel and phase separation, higher exhaust temperatures, increased pollution emissions, and reduced useful life of the vehicle or engine.

Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has also asked the EPA to reconsider the waiver. In his letter, Mr. Sensenbrenner publicly released the responses from several auto manufacturers regarding the consequences of E15 on vehicle engines, fuel economy, and warranties. 

"Automaker responses overwhelmingly show that E15 will damage engines, void warranties, and reduce fuel efficiency," Sensenbrenner said. " Americans need a fuel that will give them more miles out of a gallon of gas and extend the lives of their cars—not one that will prematurely send their vehicles to the junkyard." 

"The market place was not ready for E10 when it was introduced and it is definitely not ready for the introduction of E15," said Russo.

NAFA retains experienced legislative representatives in Washington, DC and Ottawa, ON, to coordinate vital information on laws, regulations, and other government activity relating to fleets.   As the largest fleet management association in North America, NAFA serves as the collective voice of the industry.  The Association's legislative team keeps the membership up-to-date on pertinent fleet-related legislation and often plays an active role with pending legislation.
 
About NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA is the world's premier non-profit association for professionals who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location or fleet composition. NAFA's Full and Associate Members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance and repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 3.5 million vehicles including in excess of 1.1 million trucks of which 350 thousand are medium- and heavy-duty trucks. For more information visit http://www.nafa.org

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