This section contains more in-depth information about ethanol-blended fuel as it pertains to the general public and petroleum industry. See also: "What You Need to Know."
Hawaii Links and Resources
Hawaii Ethanol Fact Sheet (January 2006; updated April 2007)
E-10 Unleaded; National Energy Policy; State Energy Policy; State Requirement; Fuel Costs; Fuel Prices; Local Ethanol Fuel Production Plans; E-10 Unleaded and Your Car
2006 Workshop, "Ethanol Progress Report" (February 2006)
Hawaii's Energy Issues & Opportunities; E-10 Unleaded Use Elsewhere; E-10 Unleaded and Your Car; Local E-10 Infrastructure; Local Ethanol Industry Development
2006 Workshop For the Automotive Industry (February 2006)
Vehicles and fuels are designed to work together. Gasoline, also known as "automotive spark ignition motor fuel," is a combination of hundreds of chemicals which, together, meet the performance needs of the engine, in the area's climate, without exceeding allowable levels of emissions. The automotive service technician's understanding of fuels and their properties leads to better understanding of how how fuels may affect (or may not affect) vehicle operation, performance, and emissions.
2006 Workshop For the Gasoline Retailer or Fleet Fuel Manager (February 2006)
Proper preparation and handling of fuel is essential to preserve fuel quality.
Newsletter, "Retail Station Management Issues for Gasoline Blended with Ethanol" (June 2005)
This newsletter addresses issues related to gasoline retail stations and fleet refueling facilities: preparatory phase, conversion phase, first delivery, and ongoing maintenance. (Acrobat file, 380 kb)
Flyer, "Coming soon ... Ethanol" (2005)
"Why?" "Is this being done anywhere else?"
"What will be the effect on gasoline prices?"
"Will using gasoline with ethanol require changes to my car?" (Acrobat file, 155 kb)
2004 Workshops
Robert Reynolds, President of Downstream Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), conducted a series of workshops in Hawaii in May 2004 about Hawaii's transition to ethanol-blended fuels. Transcripts and slides from his presentations are available on the following pages:
Brochure, "Ethanol Fuel: Coming Soon to a Car Near You" (2002)
Contains information on ethanol for Hawaii, including:
- Your car can use it - all cars perform well using E10
- Some cars can use E85 (with list)
- Fuel cell vehicles could use ethanol
- Cost comparisons for regular and premium (E10 is projected to cost less)
- Also has sections on economy, energy security, air quality. (pdf file, 613 kb)
Report, Economic Impact Assessment for Ethanol Production and Use in Hawaii (2003)
By BBI International Consulting Division. 63 pages.
PDF file: Summary and Reviewer Comments (42 kb)
PDF file: Draft Report (pdf file, 2,243 kb)
Word file: Draft Report (pdf file, 1,326 kb )
Report, Hawaii Ethanol Alternatives (2003)
By Stillwater Associates. 47 pages.
PDF file: Summary and Reviewer Comments (105 kb)
PDF file: Draft Report (pdf file, 1,018 kb) or
Word file: Draft Report (doc file, 498 kb)
Presentations from Hawaii Fuel Ethanol Workshop (2002)
Web page, with downloadable Proceedings.
Photos, highlights, presentations, and speaker biographies from the November, 2002 workshop sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy; City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; Hawaii Department of Health; Hawaii Natural Energy Institute; JN Automotive Group; and Honolulu Clean Cities.
Report, "The Quality of Gasolines in Hawaii and their Implication in Preparing Ethanol Blends" (1989)
Web page, with downloadable report.
Report prepared by Hiromitsu Kanai, Lester Yazawa, and James Maka of Petroleum Laboratory, Measurement Standards Division, Hawaii State Department of Agriculture and presented to the Administrator, Energy Division, Department of Business and Economic Development, through the Chairperson, Board of Agriculture, by George Mattimoe, Administrator, Measurement Standards Division, Department of Agriculture.
Web site, Hawaii Fuel Ethanol Working Group
Working groups have been formed to discuss issues and opportunities relating to production, distribution, and use of fuel ethanol in Hawaii.
National Links and Resources
Web site, E-10 Unleaded - www.e10unleaded.com
Includes warranty statements from vehicle, boat, genset, yard equipment, and other engine manufacturers.
Booklet, "Changes in Gasoline III and Year 2000 Supplement" (2000)
Contains information on fuel specifications, octane, volatility, additives, oxygenated fuel requirements, auto manufacturers' fuel recommendations, etc. (pdf file, 1 MB).
7-page paper, "Changes in Gasoline & the Classic Auto" (1996)
"Owners of classic vehicles have unique considerations. Their vehicle's fuel system may differ significantly from those of modern vehicles. The car is usually not driven often and is stored for long periods. It probably operates rich at specified air/fuel settings compared to modern vehicles. In the case of muscle cars, the compression ratio may dictate the use of very high octane gasoline and if the valve seats are not hardened, the effect of unleaded gasoline on exhaust valve seats may be an issue. Unfortunately, limited information has been written in a manner that addresses these concerns from the perspective of the classic car owner. That is what this information paper does, address the fuel related questions and concerns of the classic auto owner." (pdf file, 74 kb)
Web site, US Department of Energy's Biomass Program - www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/
Website. Focuses on ethanol, biodiesel, and fuels from biomass.
Web site, BBI - www.bbiethanol.com
Contractor to the US Dept. of Energy's "Ethanol Workshop Series." BBI also performs ethanol impact studies and produces ethanol industry publications.
Web site, US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center - www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/
"... a vast collection of information on alternative fuels and the vehicles that use them ... including biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane. This site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system, current listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, and lots of alternative fuels information and related links. "
Web site, Renewable Fuels Association - www.ethanolrfa.org
RFA works in tandem with state governments, agriculture, environment and public interest groups, and ethanol advocates nationwide.Includes a library of downloadable publications on a variety of technical and policy topics.
Article, "Recreational Engine Users Gear Up for Changes at the Pumps" (1997)
Article published in "Focus 10,000 - Minnesota's Lakeside Magazine." Discusses ethanol and small boats. (pdf file, 1 MB)
Paper, "Use of Modern Fuel in Classic Cars" (1996)
7 page paper on the use of modern fuels in classic cars. Excerpt:
"Owners of classic vehicles have unique considerations. Their vehicle's fuel system may differ significantly from those of modern vehicles. The car is usually not driven often and is stored for long periods..."
"The gasolines made today, whether conventional, oxygenated, or reformulated, differ somewhat from those available when vintage/classic cars were first produced. However the principles of combustion remain the same in all vehicles and today's gasolines continue to meet the ASTM performance guidelines. By exercising a reasonable amount of care, especially regarding extended storage, the classic auto owner can run yesterday's car on today's fuel."Transcript of Interviews, "Colorado's Transition to Oxygenated Fuels" (1994)
Interviews (conducted in 1994) with the folks in Colorado who, in 1987, had the first oxygenated fuel requirement. Excerpt:
"We have cars that are 1960. We have a very old vehicle mix. That was another concern. Our cars don't rust nearly as frequently. We don't use salts for the winter. We have, a good example, right now 350,000 vehicles that are pre-81 vehicles that operate in Denver. We have an older than the normal population of vehicles in the country. So there were a lot of concerns if a '62, '63 Chevy pick-up truck wasn't going to run or wasn't going to go as far as it could and things like that. It didn't happen. It just didn't happen."Reference Book, "Properties of Alcohol Transportation Fuels" (1991)
Prepared by Meridian Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy. Sections on flexible fuel vehicle technology are somewhat out of date but otherwise it's a good compilation of technical information on alcohol fuels (methanol, ethanol) and additives. Contains 10 sections. (Web page, with downloadable report)