Summary of Auto/Oil E10+ Test Program for Highway "Non-FFV" Vehicles

Item # Title Project # Status 

1 Fuel Storage and Handling CRC AVFL-15 AVFL-15 preliminary work is 

underway; more funding needed

The industries understand system components for E10 and also for E85, but it is unclear at what level of ethanol 

content above 10% that E10-rated parts fail. The objective of AVFL-15 is to determine the durability of wetted fuel 

components/systems. Fuel storage and handling is studied in component/systems durability testing. Resource 

constraints limit the scope of AVFL-15, preventing a definitive program, hence additional testing is required. 

2 Base Engine Durability CRC CM-136-09 The initial phase of this program 

is underway 

The industry knows what is required to upgrade engine components for E22, E85 and E100. Some automakers 

have done internal testing and have found sensitivity to intermediate ethanol blend levels for non-FFV vehicles. 

The testing for base engine durability (base refers to the actual machinery as opposed to the sensors, controls and 

the like) is embodied in CRC RFP No. CM-136-09. The initial round of vehicle testing is nearing completion. 

3 On-Board Diagnostics 

(OBD) Evaluation 

CRC E-90 The pilot phase of E-90 is 

complete; more data needed 

The automakers have a good understanding of the theoretical effects of ethanol on OBD. The issue is how OBD 

systems actually work in a fleet of aged production vehicles. The initial phase of vehicle data collection has been 

completed and the final report is on www.crcao.org. Two additional phases are planned for 2010. 

4 Tailpipe Emissions for 

SULEV Vehicles and at Cold 

Ambient Temperatures 

CRC E-92 Planning for future work is 

ongoing pending available 

funding

Starting with the 2010 model year automakers have to meet Non-Methane Hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions at a 

20F start temperature. Automakers have had to meet stringent SULEV emissions at a 50F start temperature for 

many years. The enleanment due to oxygen in ethanol and the low volatility of the ethanol portion of the fuel blend 

at low temperature gives concerns that existing and planned vehicles designed for federal and California emissions 

test fuels will not meet their required emissions standards when operated on mid-level ethanol blends. This 

program does not envision vehicle aging, however limited funding has delayed the start of this test program. 

5 Catalyst Durability and 

Degradation 

CRC E-87 The course and fate of this 

program is currently unclear 

The issue of accelerated catalyst aging with intermediate ethanol blends was well-documented in the Orbital 

research study conducted in Australia. DOE found that 44% of vehicles they tested had the same control 

architecture as those that had problems with E20 in Australia and their data, when combined with CRC E-87-1, 

data indicate that 35-45% of the US fleet will have this sensitive control architecture. E-87-1 was funded by CRC 

and the report is on www.crcao.org. Durability testing to identify this phenomenon is the scope of follow-on testing 

which is underway generating data through DOE funding with minor support funding from CRC. 

6 Evaporative Emissions 

Durability 

CRC E-91 This program is underway 

As reported in previous intermediate ethanol blend research coordination meetings, CRC has conducted research 

projects under E-65 and E-77 on the effects of ethanol on evaporative emissions. However, these tests have all 

looked at the effects of short exposures. This project is defined in CRC RFP No. E-91. The contract has been 

awarded, test vehicles have been acquired, and initial data collection is underway for the 2010-2011 program. 

7 Emissions Inventory and Air 

Quality Modeling 

A-67 / A-73 A-67 results to be released in 

early 2010 and A-73 is planned 

for a completion late in 2010 

The CRC Atmospheric Impacts Committee is leading this effort in coordination with other stakeholders. A-67 

(Estimating Ozone from Fuel Reformulation) and A-73 (Emissions Modeling and Air Quality Modeling) are the two 

CRC programs that will address this subject. These efforts will rely on obtaining emissions data from the other 

CRC programs above. 

8 Exhaust Emissions on 

Vehicles Aged On Mid-Level 

Ethanol Blends 

CRC New Project Portions of this work will be 

addressed under A-73 

A good collection of aged vehicle data will be acquired as part the overall program effort. These data will be used 

to assess direct emissions impacts from intermediate ethanol blends and for conducting air quality modeling 

evaluations. 

4/29//2010