Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel
The first EPA certified ethanol converter
You have probably seen a few kits to convert your car to run on ethanol. They are not legal. In fact, there probably won't ever be a kit you can just buy to do the conversion yourself. There are kits that will be used by companies that do the conversion. These companies are seeking certification to convert cars to run on ethanol.
As of August 14, 2007, no company was certified by the EPA to convert cars to run on ethanol in the United States. I contacted the EPA and asked how many companies applied. The EPA only says there is "a number" of applications. In a recent bulletin, the Depart of Energy says there are "a few" companies seeking certification. Go below the fold to see a correction to this article.
[Source: DOE]
Update: The first version of this article listed companies that I mistakenly believed to be ones listed by the DOE as passing OBD certification and were seeking to be certified for ethanol conversion. Those companies were actually the 14 current certified flex fuel converters for other types of fuels. I apologize for the confusion. I would like to thank stewie81 for noting this mistake in comments. I am still seeking to get a list or number of companies trying to become certified to convert cars to run on ethanol.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stewie81 8:21AM (8/16/2007)
"Soon one of these companies will be certified to convert your car to run on ethanol."
Actually, those companies are all engaged in propane and/or natural-gas conversion kits, and they've all been doing that for years. To my knowledge, none of them is working on an E-85 kit certification. There's a whole separate group of new companies doing that.
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Lascelles 9:00AM (8/16/2007)
Stewie81, Thank you! The article has been updated. I think I confused the statement see contact information below and the list of flex fuel converters. I am still searching for more detail on which company will be the first converter. I should have more in a few weeks.
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Jimmy 9:13AM (8/16/2007)
You might want to use care with the phrase "not legal", I don' think it is that clear.
For background, EPA was historically concerned with conversions to CNG and LPG conversions for tax credits. E85 and veg-oil (which the EPA groups together) and not well documented. The only mention I've found is in the EPA "Guidance for Alternative Fuel Converters" document which says:
"EPA has received inquires about converting gasoline fueled vehicles to ethanol (E-85) and converting diesel fueled vehicles to vegetable oil. Vehicles converted to operate on E-85 or diesel fuel must pass the appropriate standards for the fuel type used by the OEM when the vehicle was originally certified. " (I think there is a typo and the second sentence should say "operate on E-85 or vegetable oil".)
read more here: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/dearmfr/cisd0602.pdf
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Lascelles 9:25AM (8/16/2007)
Jimmy, I think using the term not legal is okay.
"To be sure that a conversion system is legal for use in the United States, consumers should always ask the supplier for a copy of the EPA Certificate of Conformity or the CARB Executive Order that verifies compliance for use on their specific vehicles."
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Jimmy 9:37AM (8/16/2007)
Yeap, you are right Lascelles. I had misread the DOE link.
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Lascelles 10:20AM (8/16/2007)
Jimmy, I misread it too :D This issue is pretty complicated. Lots of legal and technical stuff. Just starting to dig my way through it. No one really talks about it. If you, Jimmy or anyone has any questions, ask. The cost for example, I just found out after your development costs, is 50-100K! While it was a mistake, only 14 current converters for all fuels must mean the number is pretty low. Anyway, more soon. I think this market has real potential and AutoblogGreen readers want to know.
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TSTIK 12:25PM (8/16/2007)
Why? Ethenol is just lip service anyway?
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D.J. 12:52AM (9/14/2007)
Lip Service?? Hardly! I'm working with biofuel production numbers with APAC as we speak. The ramifications of starting a commercial biofuel industry in the US are phenomenal! I can't wait to see an approved e85 conversion kit creator.
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Anon 7:51PM (10/09/2007)
I would like to let you know that Flex Fuel U.S. is the first and ONLY company to receive EPA certification for their Flex Box Smart Kit, a system that allows fleet owners and operators to fill up on either E85 or pure gasoline. Find out more at: http://flexfuelus.com/
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