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Feature
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Written by Sabrina Deparine
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Monday, 20 July 2009 11:26 |
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Page views: 1971 |
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It was only quite recently that the Philippines was introduced to ethanol-blended gasoline. Majority of the Filipinos have probably only heard of it last 2007, when the Biofuels Act of 2006 or Republic Act 9367 took effect.
By now, the only ethanol-blended gasoline that has been rolled out in almost all gasoline stations in the Philippines is E10. E10 has become a popular moniker. However E10 is not the only type of ethanol-blended gasoline. There are actually several other ethanol fuel mixtures.
Just like “E10”, ethanol fuel mixtures are classified according to the so-called “E” numbers. The “E” number describes the percentage of ethanol by volume present in the mixture. For example, E10 refers to 10% anhydrous ethanol mixed with 90% regular gasoline. The term “anhydrous” means without any water or ethanol in its pure form. Ethanol in anhydrous form may be mixed with regular gasoline in various ratios.
Gasoline is the common fuel combined with ethanol. There are other fuel additives that can be used for ethanol fuel such as ignition enhancers which is commonly mixed with higher blends like E85. Low ethanol blends such as those within the range of 5% to 25% are also known as gasohol.
Allow us at BiofuelsHub.com to introduce you to the “ethanol fuel family”. The most common low ethanol- blended gasoline is E10. This can be used in majority of the modern vehicles and other light-duty vehicles even without any alterations in the engine or in the fuel system. E10 runs on any type of internal combustion engines. As such, it is approved for use in vehicles and is even mandated in some countries for purposes of reducing emissions and taking care of the environment. E10 is usually rated as 2 or 3 octane higher than regular gasoline. This is beneficial because it improves engine performance.
The E10 blend as well as the other low ethanol fuel blends is currently used in several countries worldwide, whether mandated or voluntary. This move was primarily driven by energy crises which started in during the 1973 oil crisis.
Aside from E10, there is also an E5 and an E7 ethanol fuel. These two blends are generally safe for cars that supposedly run only on pure gasoline.
Countries using E10 based on a mandate include some provinces in China; Colombia; Jamaica; Thailand which also uses E20; and the Philippines. Several states in the U.S. are also mandatorily using E10 such as Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Some countries are using E10 voluntarily like Australia; Canada which also uses E5; New Zealand, Austria and France.
Some countries are using E5 mandatorily like India and Sweden while Denmark and France are using it voluntarily. Costa Rica uses E7 mandatorily.
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