Standards and fuels

EssEnce5

As fuel for use by all automobiles, essEnce5 (essEnce10) must comply with the Swiss standard SN EN 228. This means:

• Standardised fuel: EssEnce5 meets the fuel standards for conventional cars, since the SN EN 228 standard permits a blend of 5% ethanol by volume. The same should apply for essEnce10 (European Commission proposal). The European Union has instructed the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) to establish a standard for ethanol as a blend-stock. The present draft standard, prEN 15376, provides for various specifications, such as a 0.3% limit on water content.  
• Vapour pressure: The vapour pressure specification in SN EN 228, designed to limit emissions of VOCs into the atmosphere, is currently too low for essEnce5 in summer. However, since the introduction of this standard, cars have been equipped with canisters (a type of filter), which greatly reduce VOC emissions (factor >20). Moreover, various studies show that at normal temperatures in our climate, there is no significant increase in VOCs when vapour pressure rises from 60 to 67 kPa. Consequently, following a European Commission proposal, the maximum value for VPS will probably be reviewed upwards in order to include essence5 in the ambit. The problem is the same for essence10, although not quite as sensitive. In Switzerland, the FOEN has granted an exception in the case of pilot projects conducted by Alcosuisse. Proposals from certain circles to modify basic petrol are unlikely to come to anything, since they are too expensive and probably inefficient. Close talks are underway at the European level to decide whether to increase the vapour pressure limit or whether to require the production of gasoline at a lower vapour pressure for direct blends of 5% ethanol. The debate is still ongoing.

Ethanol85

For ethanol85, the specifications concern fuel intended for vehicles adapted to run on ethanol - the FFVs. The European Commission has still to decide between two possible solutions: either to establish a general standard or to leave it up to each country to legislate on the basis of its own climatic particularities. The situation as it stands is as follows:

• In Sweden, the most advanced country in the field of E85, a specific standard was introduced in 2006 (SS 15 54 80).
•  In the rest of the EU, an initial consensus has resulted in a Workshop Agreement (CWA 15293) which adopts most of the Swedish standard.  
• In Switzerland, the SNV Standards Committee has decided to wait for the European standard.  
• At present, E85 can be transported under UN 1993, corresponding to ethanol. In 2009, E85 will be given a specific number. The tankers must be LGBF category, manufactured in a material suitable for ethanol (manufacturer's guarantee).