The chief lobbyist for a biofuels trade group defended a higher-blend ethanol fuel Monday as safe for car engines made in the model year 2001 or later.
AAA last week raised concerns automakers would void warranties for consumers who fill up their tanks with E15, a fuel with a 15-percent ethanol concentration compared with the standard 10 percent.
But Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen said in a CNBC interview that E15 is “absolutely safe” to put in cars.
“There is no evidence to suggest there are any problems with E15. E15 has been the most tested fuel in the history of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” Dinneen said in a dueling interview with AAA CEO Robert Darbelnet.
Many auto companies contend that fuels with a higher ethanol content are more corrosive, which they say leads to engine damage.
AAA stirred the debate on E15 last week when it released a survey that showed 95 percent of adults are unaware of the fuel blend.
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