Title: Handbook for Handling, Storing, & Dispensing E85

Industry sector: Biofuels

This document serves as a guide for blenders, distributors, sellers, and users of E85 as an alternative motor fuel. It provides basic information on the proper and safe use of E85 and offers supporting technical and policy references.
E85 is an alternative motor fuel authorized by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992, Section 301(2). As defined by EPAct, E85 is composed of 85% fuel grade ethanol and 15% hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range. Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced fuel that can be made from grains, such as corn or wheat, or from biomass or cellulose sources, such as prairie grass and agricultural, forestry, or municipal waste matter. Several research studies show that E85 has the potential to substantially reduce petroleum fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).1
Driven by increasing gasoline prices, the market for E85 is growing. With consumer demand for alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) increasing, auto manufacturers are working to produce more flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are capable of operating on E85 or gasoline or a combination of the two. As of fall 2007, there were more than six million FFVs on U.S. roads, and automakers were planning to produce several million more each year. FFVs are available in most vehicle classes, including sedans, minivans, trucks, and sport utility vehicles. The number of E85 fueling stations is growing rapidly nationwide. As of March 2008, there were 1,365 retail stations (out of 170,000 nationwide) offering E85 across the country.
Several key factors affecting E85 growth were addressed in 2006 and 2007. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a guidance document to states defining a process by which they can determine that Stage II
gasoline vapor recovery equipment is not required for new E85 pumps. In October 2007, Underwriters Laboratories,
Inc. (UL) announced it had established standardized testing procedures for E85 fuel dispensers that address the unique properties of alcohol fuels when blended with gasoline. UL also started accepting dispensing products for evaluation and certification testing using the new test procedures. Prior to the testing completion and a dispenser listing, most jurisdictions will allow alternate equivalent dispenser designs to be submitted for approval. Each jurisdiction has its own process and discretion in granting variances or waivers to approve uncertified
designs. To date, numerous states and organizations have chosen to grant variances or waivers or produced written positions on measures related to uncertified products. More information concerning UL certification of E85 dispensing equipment is available on the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) Web site at www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/resources/technology_bulletin_0307.html.
There are many federal and state tax incentives and credits to encourage the installation of E85 infrastructure and use of the fuel. For a comprehensive list of these programs, visit the State and Federal Incentives and Laws section of the AFDC at www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/incentives_laws.html.