Testing Demonstrates Gevo’s Isobutanol-Gasoline Blend is Superior to E15 Fuel for Boaters
November 21 2011 - 12:33PM
Business Wire
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) just
released a report evaluating isobutanol, provided by Gevo, Inc.
(NASDAQ: GEVO), that shows great promise for it as a petroleum
blendstock for the boating industry. Over the summer, NMMA
conducted two tests, an emissions test and a product test, to
evaluate the effects of butanol-blended fuels in a harsh marine
environment. The project aimed to determine if isobutanol could be
a better alternative to ethanol blends for the boating
industry.
NMMA President Thom Dammrich says of the NMMA and American Boat
and Yacht Council (ABYC) isobutanol research, “We are pleased with
the results of the isobutanol evaluation and look forward to more
testing on this, and other, important alternatives to E15. We know
E15 causes significant damage to boat engines and therefore rushing
it to the market is irresponsible and an unnecessary step,
especially in light of the promising test results on
isobutanol.”
The emissions tests compared a 16.1 percent isobutanol blend to
indolene, the standard gasoline used for engine testing. The test
used a sampling unit that was developed for an EPA/NMMA greenhouse
gas study. The evaluation showed there was a reduction of carbon
monoxide from the isobutanol blended fuel, compared to indolene.
The results also show that hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide
emissions were virtually the same between the two fuels.
“It's great to have another third party verify the benefits of
isobutanol," said Chris Ryan, president and COO of Gevo. "The
product attributes of isobutanol, made in retrofitted ethanol
plants, can solve the problems associated with current generation
biofuels. Isobutanol is compatible with all gasoline engines and
infrastructure like pipelines and fuel pumps. These benefits make
it a very promising biofuel additive that can help the nation
achieve greater energy independence and align the interests of
farmers, ethanol plant owners, refiners, engine manufacturers and
consumers.”
The emissions tests were not the only positive results seen.
When comparing isobutanol to ethanol for use in boating, several of
isobutanol’s key benefits emerged. Isobutanol can be blended into
gasoline at higher percentages than ethanol, and unlike
ethanol-blended gasoline, isobutanol blends do not cause phase
separation when water enters a boat’s fuel system. This is a
critical distinction between ethanol and isobutanol blends.
NMMA’s PowerPoint containing the evaluation’s findings can be
found here.
About Gevo
Gevo is converting existing ethanol plants into biorefineries to
make renewable building block products for the chemical and fuel
industries. The Company plans to convert renewable raw materials
into isobutanol and renewable hydrocarbons that can be directly
integrated on a “drop in” basis into existing chemical and fuel
products to deliver environmental and economic benefits. Gevo is
committed to a sustainable biobased economy that meets society’s
needs for plentiful food and clean air and water. For more
information, please visit www.gevo.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to
a variety of matters, including but not limited to the cost, timing
and anticipated completion of the retrofit, the expected
commencement of commercial isobutanol production and other
statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These
forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current
beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Gevo and
are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking
statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to
update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Although the company
believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking
statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially
from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking
statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in
these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the
business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2010,
and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings
made with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.
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