CAMPI on Biofuel Legislation

[niky]

CAMPI cautious on use of biofuel for motor vehicles
By Marianne V. Go
The Philippine Star 02/14/2006

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) is cautious on the use of biofuel for motor vehicles.

In a statement, CAMPI said that "biofuel blends should be an alternative to current 100-percent petroleum-based fuel and not be mandatory."

Consumers, CAMPI said, "should be given the choice on the type of fuel they want to use in their vehicles taking into account its quality, cost and availability."

CAMPI made it clear that "the industry is not in a position to endorse any specific fuel type or brand of biofuel blends."

CAMPI added that biofuel specifications "must conform with the Worldwide Fuel Charter (WWFC)."

The WWFC standard was developed by global automobile and engine manufacturers as the fuel standard for motor vehicles including those with blends of ethanol for gasoline and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or vegetable derived esters (VDE) for diesel.

At the very least, the CAMPI said, these bio-fuels must be accredited by the Department of Energy in accordance with the Philippine National Standard (PNS).

Currently the WWFC provides that the allowable maximum blend by volume for ethanol on gasoline is at 10 percent, while that of FAME/VDE for diesel is at five percent.

The standards adopted by the WWFC are based on technical studies conducted by the expert automotive engineers.

The blend levels selected are optimal given the objective of maximizing alternative fuel usage while minimizing vehicle emission and ensuring performance, durability and efficiency of current engine design and fuel systems.

Previously, in June 2004, CAMPI informed then Energy Secretary Vince Perez about the effect of alternative fuel use on motor vehicle warranties.

CAMPI specificially cited that, "consistent with existing policy on warranty of motor vehicles, any problem that may be caused or proven to be attributable to the use of fuel or additives not recommended or approved by the manufacturer, after conducting an appropriate test and investigation, shall cause the warranty of such vehicle to be considered null and void."

Covered within this purview are problems directly affecting the following systems or components of the motor vehicle: fuel tank and fuel lines; engine fuel pump and injector; combustion chambers; exhaust systems; and other related functional components."

At least someone's said it. I'd been worried about word that the government wanted to make 20% mandatory.

[falken]

Other countries have been using biofuels for quite sometime. In Brazil, they even have cars that run on 100% Ethanol. In Sydney, buses run on biodiesel made from used cooking oils. So why the hell won't CAMPI endorse the govt's biofuel program? They're so full of sh*t.

[miLes]

OT lang ha maganda pala yung secretary ng CAMPI hehe hope she's not a member here...

vehicles running on cooking oils pay a certain tax for using it right?

[niky]

Other countries have been using biofuels for quite sometime. In Brazil, they even have cars that run on 100% Ethanol. In Sydney, buses run on biodiesel made from used cooking oils. So why the hell won't CAMPI endorse the govt's biofuel program? They're so full of sh*t.

That's because in Brazil, all the rubber and fittings are built for it.

You still can't run many locally sold brand new cars on more than 5% ethanol without burning rubber so to speak. And almost all 90's and below cars will not run well on an ethanol mix without major retrofitting of gaskets, rubber hoses and fuel pumps.

Ford's set on releasing ethanol compatible vehicles, but no one else has them yet.

The problem is, the Government wants to make 20% mandatory. If you're selling a car that can't take 20% eth, your clients are screwed of their warranties... or you're screwed out of millions in repairs. Either way, somebody loses.

Think about it from another angle, too. You're a low income guy, say a taxi driver. You've got a 93' Lancer. It's your livelihood. All of the sudden, every single gas station is selling a 20% Eth mixture that is sure to cause long-term damage to your engine. And they can't, by law, sell anything else. But you can't afford a new car. What do you do?

It's like the leaded-unleaded thing. While we still have cars that require a certain fuel, the government should make sure that people can still buy the fuel. And that gas stations carry warning tags on 20% Eth mixes stating that only cars built to new eth-compatibility standards can use it.

[falken]

Niky, I think the mandatory blend is 10% on the 4th year, and at 10% blend Ethanol won't harm anything in your car.



why ethanol? » PERFORMANCE
it's what mother nature would put in her sports car.

Can an environmentally friendly fuel deliver real performance for your car? You bet.

Fuel enriched with ethanol performs in much the same way that regular gasoline does. It’s been in use for decades, with trillions of miles logged on vehicles all over the world. Plus ethanol-enriched fuel actually surpasses regular gasoline in key performance categories!

So it might be just what your car needs.

Gasoline enriched with ethanol contains more oxygen — so it burns cleaner, leaving fewer deposits and keeping fuel injectors and intake valves cleaner. And there’s more.
The facts are powerful.

* Ethanol-enriched fuel can reduce pre-ignition problems (knocking/pinging).
[SIZE=4]* Tests have concluded that ethanol does not increase corrosion, nor will it harm any seals or valves.[/SIZE]
* Ethanol-enriched fuel meets all applicable vapor-pressure standards — to alleviate driving or starting problems in hot or cold weather.
* Ethanol-enriched fuel can tolerate water contamination to a far greater degree than gasoline alone — it absorbs moisture and helps prevent gasoline freeze-up in cold weather.
[SIZE=4]* Today’s cars are built to run on fuel enriched with up to 10% ethanol and are warrantied for its use.[/SIZE]

It’s no wonder that all auto manufacturers who sell cars in the United States approve fuels enriched with up to 10 percent ethanol. In fact, many even recommend it for its clean-burning benefits.
Did you know?

The IndyCar® Series uses a 10 percent ethanol-enriched methanol to power all their cars in the series. The IndyCar® Series oversees many races, including the annual Indianapolis 500.

Hey … if race car drivers use it, just think what it can do for those of us just driving the speed limit.

Learn more about ethanol and the IndyCar® Series.
Fuel enriched with ethanol can be used in other engines, too.

Most motorcycle, recreational vehicle and power equipment manufacturers allow the use of ethanol-enriched fuel in their products without restriction. In fact, Harley-Davidson actually recommends the use of renewable, clean-air fuels such as ethanol-enriched fuel. You should check your equipment’s owner’s manual for more information regarding the use of ethanol-enriched gasoline.

Get more details on how ethanol-enriched fuel works with your car's engine.

Visit the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) at www.ethanolrfa.org to get specifications, octane ratings, government regulations and other detailed information about gasoline quality.

“Ethanol-blended gasoline has very similar driving characteristics to straight gasoline, except that pre-ignition and dieseling (run-on) are noticeably reduced and acceleration can be improved.”

— from published report by The American Institute of Chemical Engineers

[niky]

Oops... my mistake on the mandatory, thanks for clearing that up. :lol:

10% ethanol is okay for all vehicles currently built to US specs, but not old vehicles or all local market vehicles. A 10% blend does not have an effect on rubber currently used there, because vehicles there are equipped, by law, to handle new ethanol blends.

I'm pretty sure the new Focus and Civic may accept eth blends, but there are vehicles that may not.

[bajumbo]

hmmm.... di ba sabi ng US noon Olive oil is best? tapos ngaun pure virgin coconut oil is better according to tests... kaya lang naging Olive oil kc maraming producers sa US and apektado kapag Pure Virgin Coconut oil ang pinalabas. baka ganyan na naman yan di kaya? Protect US interest ban/control BioDiesel.

What do you guys think?

[dbuzz]

I was about to open a thread about biofuel at nakita ko 'to. It is really very good topic to explore HOW I REALLY WISH NA TULOY PA SANA ANG THREAD NA ITO... COM'ON GUYS...

Kasi ang gandang lilitaw na tama nga ang hinala ng karamihan ng pinoy na hinaharang lang ng US and/or producer ng FOSSIL FUEL.

Ang daming negative na lumalabs kasi lately eh(matutuwa si niky)..

>>> to produce daw 1.00 liter of biofuel, gagamit ng 0.75L of fossil fuel to proccess it...wheeww
>>> of course kasama na ang tataas ang greenhouse effect.
>>> food shortage dahil, farm land intended for food ay ma-divert sa biofuel production.
>>> Cooking oil price tumaas na raw (report mula Indonisia today 18july07)

But on top of this all ito at sa thread na ito nabanggit na ok naman pala boidiesel.tsssk..tsssk...

[dbuzz]

hmmm.... di ba sabi ng US noon Olive oil is best? tapos ngaun pure virgin coconut oil is better according to tests... kaya lang naging Olive oil kc maraming producers sa US and apektado kapag Pure Virgin Coconut oil ang pinalabas. baka ganyan na naman yan di kaya? Protect US interest ban/control BioDiesel.

What do you guys think?

This is what pinoy's talking about...yun bang "protectionism"...

Pinalalabas dati ng US na bad sa health yung COCONUT cooking OIL pero iyun at ang dami palang good points ito ang infact eh very healthy.

[oldblue]

so safe ba Hyundai CRDi ko?