EPA Approves E15 for Vehicles Made After 2001

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved higher levels of corn-based ethanol to fuel cars and light trucks made from the 2001 model year and later.

The EPA said on Friday that E15 (15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) is safe for cars and light trucks manufactured after 2001, up from the 10 percent standard now in effect in much of the country.

The agency in October allowed the use of E15 for MY 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. At that time, EPA denied a request to allow the use of E15 for MY 2000 and older vehicles and postponed its decision on the use of E15 in MY 2001 to 2006 cars and light trucks until DOE completed additional testing for those model years.

Increasing the number of vehicles on the road that can use the higher ethanol blend will help the U.S. comply with its mandate to consume 13.95 billion gallons of ethanol in 2011.

The decision was applauded by the ethanol industry. About 60 percent of the fleet of vehicles would be eligible to use E15.