SIST-TP CEN/TR 15993:2018
(Main)Automotive fuels - Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel - Background to the parameters required and their respective limits and determination
Automotive fuels - Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel - Background to the parameters required and their respective limits and determination
This Technical Report explains the requirements and test methods for marketed and delivered ethanol (E85) automotive fuel according to EN 15293. It provides background information on the final text of the draft European standard and gives guidance and explanations to the producers, blenders, marketers and users of ethanol (E85) automotive fuel.
It is applicable to ethanol (E85) for use in spark ignition engine vehicles designed to run on ethanol (E85). Ethanol (E85) is a mixture of nominally 85 % ethanol and 15 % petrol, but it also includes the possibility of having different 'seasonal grades' containing 50 % or more ethanol.
NOTE 1 This document is directly related to prEN 15293:2017 and will be updated if further revisions to the standard take place.
NOTE 2 For the purposes of this document, the terms "% (m/m)" and "% (V/V)" are used to represent the mass fraction, µ, and the volume fraction, φ, respectively.
Kraftstoffe für Kraftfahrzeuge - Ethanol (E85) Fahrzeugkraftstoff - Hintergrund über die geforderten Parameter und ihre entsprechenden Grenzen und Bestimmung
Carburants pour automobiles - Ethanol (E85) carburants pour automobiles - Historique sur la définition des paramètres requis, de leurs limites et de leur détermination respectives
Goriva za motorna vozila - Gorivo etanol (E85) za motorna vozila - Ozadje zahtevanih parametrov, njihovih omejitev in določevanj
To tehnično poročilo razlaga zahteve in preskusne metode za trženo in dostavljeno gorivo etanol (E85) za motorna vozila v skladu s standardom EN 15293. Podaja dodatne informacije za oceno besedila standarda ter navodila in pojasnila za proizvajalce, pripravljavce mešanic, trgovce in uporabnike goriva etanol (E85) za motorna vozila.
Vključuje tudi povzetek izvedenih raziskav in medlaboratorijskih študij ter razprav odbora CEN, ki so privedle do učinkovitih specifikacij goriva.
OPOMBA 1: Ta dokument je neposredno povezan s še nedokončano revizijo standarda CEN/TS 15293.
OPOMBA 2: V tem dokumentu sta uporabljeni oznaki »% (m/m)« in »% (V/V)«, ki predstavljata masni delež (µ) oziroma prostornino (φ).
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2018
1DGRPHãþD
SIST-TP CEN/TR 15993:2013
*RULYD]DPRWRUQDYR]LOD*RULYRHWDQRO ( ]DPRWRUQDYR]LOD2]DGMH
]DKWHYDQLKSDUDPHWURYQMLKRYLKRPHMLWHYLQGRORþHYDQM
Automotive fuels - Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel - Background to the parameters
required and their respective limits and determination
Kraftstoffe für Kraftfahrzeuge - Ethanol (E85) Fahrzeugkraftstoff - Hintergrund über die
geforderten Parameter und ihre entsprechenden Grenzen und Bestimmung
Carburants pour automobiles - Ethanol (E85) carburants pour automobiles - Historique
sur la définition des paramètres requis, de leurs limites et de leur détermination
respectives
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 15993:2018
ICS:
71.080.60 Alkoholi. Etri Alcohols. Ethers
75.160.20 7HNRþDJRULYD Liquid fuels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
CEN/TR 15993
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
March 2018
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 75.160.20; 71.080.60 Supersedes CEN/TR 15993:2013
English Version
Automotive fuels - Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel -
Background to the parameters required and their
respective limits and determination
Carburants pour automobiles - Ethanol (E85) Kraftstoffe für Kraftfahrzeuge - Ethanol (E85)
carburants pour automobiles - Historique sur la Fahrzeugkraftstoff - Hintergrund über die geforderten
définition des paramètres requis, de leurs limites et de Parameter und ihre entsprechenden Grenzen und
leur détermination respectives Bestimmung
This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 8 February 2018. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 19.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 15993:2018 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Summary . 6
4 Historical context . 6
5 Task Forces . 7
5.1 The Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel Task Force . 7
5.2 The Ethanol Fuel Task Force . 9
6 The ethanol (E85) automotive fuel specification . 12
6.1 Parameters included . 12
6.2 Considerations on the parameters . 15
6.2.1 Denaturants . 15
6.2.2 RON/MON . 15
6.2.3 Ethanol content and higher alcohols . 16
6.2.4 Vapour pressure . 18
6.2.5 Density . 19
6.2.6 Sulfur content . 19
6.2.7 Oxidation stability . 20
6.2.8 Oxygenates content . 21
6.2.9 Phosphorus. 23
6.2.10 Water content . 24
6.2.11 Inorganic Chloride content . 25
6.2.12 Copper strip corrosion . 26
6.2.13 Total acidity . 26
6.2.14 Sulfate content . 26
6.2.15 Conductivity . 28
6.2.16 Additives . 29
6.2.17 Appearance . 29
6.2.18 Biologically sourced ethanol . 29
6.2.19 Guidelines . 30
6.3 Parameters considered and not included (anymore) in the draft specification . 30
6.3.1 Existent gum content (solvent washed) . 30
6.3.2 Copper content . 30
6.3.3 pHe. 31
6.3.4 High boiling components . 31
6.3.5 Chlorine as chlorides . 32
6.3.6 Lead . 32
7 Acknowledgements . 32
Bibliography . 33
European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 15993:2018) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 19 “Gaseous
and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin”, the
secretariat of which is held by NEN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes CEN/TR 15993:2013.
The original Technical Report presented all decisions that led to CEN/TS 15293:2011 [1], when it was
developed from its predecessor [2]. This document now includes all decisions that have been made
within the Ethanol Fuel Task Force since 2011, following comments and further investigations leading
to the draft ethanol (E85) automotive fuel specification as a proposed European Standard
prEN 15293:2017.
1 Scope
This Technical Report explains the requirements and test methods for marketed and delivered ethanol
(E85) automotive fuel according to EN 15293. It provides background information on the final text of
the draft European standard and gives guidance and explanations to the producers, blenders, marketers
and users of ethanol (E85) automotive fuel.
It is applicable to ethanol (E85) for use in spark ignition engine vehicles designed to run on ethanol
(E85). Ethanol (E85) is a mixture of nominally 85 % ethanol and 15 % petrol, but it also includes the
possibility of having different 'seasonal grades' containing 50 % or more ethanol.
NOTE 1 This document is directly related to prEN 15293:2017 and will be updated if further revisions to the
standard take place.
NOTE 2 For the purposes of this document, the terms “% (m/m)” and “% (V/V)” are used to represent the mass
fraction, µ, and the volume fraction, φ, respectively.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 228, Automotive fuels — Unleaded petrol — Requirements and test methods
EN 1601:1997, Liquid petroleum products — Unleaded petrol — Determination of organic oxygenate
compounds and total organically bound oxygen content by gas chromatography (O-FID)
EN 13016-1, Liquid petroleum products — Vapour pressure — Part 1: Determination of air saturated
vapour pressure (ASVP) and calculated dry vapour pressure equivalent (DVPE)
EN 13016-3, Liquid petroleum products — Vapour pressure — Part 3: Determination of vapour pressure
and calculated dry vapour pressure equivalent (DVPE) (Triple Expansion Method)
CEN/TS 15293:2011, Automotive fuels — Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel — Requirements and test
methods
prEN 15293:2017, Automotive fuels — Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel — Requirements and test methods
EN 15376, Automotive fuels — Ethanol as a blending component for petrol —Requirements and test
methods
EN 15485, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of sulfur content — Wavelength
dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method
EN 15486, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of sulfur content — Ultraviolet
fluorescence method
EN 15487, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of phosphorus content —
Ammonium molybdate spectrometric method
EN 15488, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of copper content — Graphite
furnace atomic absorption spectrometric method
EN 15489, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of water content — Karl Fischer
coulometric titration method
EN 15490, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of pHe
EN 15491, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of total acidity — Colour
indicator titration method
EN 15492, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of inorganic chloride and sulfate
content — Ion chromatographic method
EN 15691:2009, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of dry residue (involatile
material) — Gravimetric method
EN 15692:2009, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of water content — Karl
Fischer potentiometric titration method
EN 15721:2013, Ethanol as a blending component for petrol — Determination of higher alcohols,
methanol and other impurities — Gas chromatographic method
EN 15769, Ethanol as a blending component of petrol — Determination of appearance — Visual method
EN 16270:2015, Automotive fuels — Determination of high-boiling components including fatty acid
methyl esters in petrol and ethanol (E85) automotive fuel — Gas chromatographic method
EN 16761-1, Automotive fuels — Determination of methanol in automotive ethanol (E85) fuel by gas
chromatography — Part 1: Method using single column technique
EN 16761-2, Automotive fuels — Determination of methanol in automotive ethanol (E85) fuel by gas
chromatography —Part 2: Method using heart cut technique
EN ISO 2160, Petroleum products — Corrosiveness to copper — Copper strip test (ISO 2160)
EN ISO 3405:2000, Petroleum products — Determination of distillation characteristics at atmospheric
pressure (ISO 3405:2000)
EN ISO 5163, Petroleum products — Determination of knock characteristics of motor and aviation fuels —
Motor method (ISO 5163)
EN ISO 5164, Petroleum products — Determination of knock characteristics of motor fuels — Research
method (ISO 5164)
EN ISO 7536, Petroleum products — Determination of oxidation stability of gasoline — Induction period
method (ISO 7536)
EN ISO 12185, Crude petroleum and petroleum products — Determination of density — Oscillating U-tube
method (ISO 12185)
EN ISO 22854, Liquid petroleum products — Determination of hydrocarbon types and oxygenates in
automotive-motor gasoline and in ethanol (E85) automotive fuel — Multidimensional gas
chromatography method (ISO 22854)
3 Summary
The European Commission is promoting the increased use of renewable energy and, as part of this
policy, is encouraging the use of ethanol as a blend component with gasoline.
For ethanol itself, a European Standard, EN 15376, was published in 2011, and this was developed
further into a standard for ethanol suitable for blending at all levels up to 85 % in gasoline (2014
publication).
For ethanol (E85) automotive fuel, the standardization activity began with the creation of a
CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA). This was developed subsequently by the Task Force (E85) into a
CEN Technical Specification, positively balloted by the end of 2010 (CEN/TS 15293).
The Ethanol Fuel Task Force (EFTF) was formed by CEN in 2011, and combined the activities of TF E85
and the existing Ethanol Task Force. EFTF was mandated to develop the Technical Specification for E85
into a full European Standard.
The test methods have been examined by the experts in the task forces to ensure their applicability to
E85 fuel and to determine if their precision is sufficient to support the limit values proposed. This
activity was supported by work in several other CEN working groups where the specialists in particular
methods are present.
All parameters were reviewed in terms of their need to be in the specification, and their limit values re-
assessed to fit with current needs. Parameters have been added or removed accordingly. Improved
methods have been developed, and some discontinued that did not meet the precision requirements.
Automotive ethanol (E85) automotive fuel is constituted from a mixture of ethanol complying to
EN 15376 and of regular market petrol product. The latter either complies to EN 228 or is a Blending
Oxygenate Base-stock (BOB) that fulfils EN 228 after addition of ethanol. The need for a particular
parameter to be part of the E85 specification has taken account of those parameters in the ethanol and
gasoline specifications.
This document is the report on the technical work to date carried out by the TF E85 (see 5.1) and
subsequently the EFTF (see 5.2) towards establishing a European Standard for ethanol (E85)
automotive fuel.
4 Historical context
The European Commission is following a policy of promoting renewable energy use in Europe, and to
this end is encouraging the extension of automotive gasoline fuel with a proportion of renewably-
sourced ethyl alcohol (referred to in this document as ethanol).
In order to facilitate a transparent and stable market in ethanol, it is necessary to establish an ethanol
(E85) automotive fuel standard for Europe that will ensure a uniform high quality fuel for problem-free
use as a gasoline fuel for FFV engines.
In anticipation of a mandate from the Commission, in 2007 the Comité Européen de Normalization
(CEN) Technical Committee 19, responsible for Automotive Fuels Standards, accepted the
CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) revision as a work item on its programme to be developed in
Working Group 21, responsible for Automotive Gasoline management.
The intention of CEN/TC 19 was to develop CWA 15293 through to a European Standard, based on the
publication of EN 15376 for ethanol and EN 228 for gasoline, also taking into account the developments
in Sweden, France and Germany. Discussion in WG 21 had indicated that there were still test method
questions to be solved and thus national initiatives were not halted.
Initial planning was for enquiry text to be ready in August 2008, and the final text to be delivered in
November 2009. WG 21 had advised the use of EN 228 as the blending component and had supported a
six month extension allowance for the E85 specification for the necessary updating of test methods and
seasonal grades. prEN 15293 was published for ballot in May 2009.
The TF 85, however, had encountered several open issues due to the uncertainty of octane guarantee in
the future with the integration of Blending Oxygenate Base-stock (BOB) in all European markets and its
impact on ethanol (E85) automotive fuels. In addition, the test methods’ precision for chlorine content
at 1 mg/kg or below and the high-boiler requirement, had been under evaluation. Further time was
required to collect data on the current market, resulting in a better specification proposal. At the end of
2009, TF 85 still planned to aim at a submission for formal vote halfway through 2010. After the
CEN enquiry, considering the technical comments and the suggested necessary updates, the deliverable
on prEN 15293 had been changed into a CEN Technical Specification with its submission to CEN/CCMC
in March 2010.
CEN/TS 15293 was ratified by CEN on 28th September 2010 and was published as
CEN/TS 15293:2011.
The EFTF was formed in 2011 at the request of WG 21, and combined the work programmes on ethanol
and on E85. The mandate from WG 21 was:
a) to revise the Ethanol standard EN 15376 to be applicable to ethanol for blending at all levels up to
and including 85 %
b) to develop the CEN Technical Specification CEN/TS 15293 to a full European standard
The Ethanol European standard was duly revised and published as EN 15376:2014.
For E85, work within the EFTF commenced in 2011 to develop CEN/TS 15293 into a full European
standard. After significant work within the EFTF, and with the help of WG9 and WG 27, the meeting of
WG 21 in November 2014 approved the process of progressing to full EN standard. A NWI proposal was
prepared and balloted with a positive result (16 in favour, 1 against).
A draft text for prEN 15293 was submitted for Enquiry Vote in February 2016. The proposed text was
rejected, mainly as a consequence of confusion and concerns around the topic of deposits/sulfate (see
6.2.14). WG 21 requested further clarification in June 2016, and a great deal more work was done in this
area. In February 2017, WG 21 agreed to progress to a second EV which commenced in June 2017.
5 Task Forces
5.1 The Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel Task Force
CEN requested TC 19/WG 21 to convene a task force and begin work on a draft ethanol (E85)
automotive fuel standard. A call was made to the industries concerned by the mandate for experts to
participate in the TF E85. The experts who have contributed to the work are listed in Table 1.
Table 1 — Membership of the Task Force (E85)
Name Organization Country
Auger Celine (from meetings 2 to 9) Renault France
Baldini Luca ENI Italy
Bennett John Afton Chemical United Kingdom
Bernard Joerg Südzucker Germany
Betlejewski Marek (from meetings 2 to 7) PKN Orlen Poland
Colbert Dane Ethanol Union France
Name Organization Country
Costenoble Ortwin (TF Secretary) NEN Netherlands
Crépeau Gerald (Convenor) PSA Peugeot Citroën France
Elliott Nigel Exxon Mobil United Kingdom
Engelen Benoit Total Belgium
Feuerhelm Tom DIN/FAM Germany
Gameson Thomas Abengoa Bioenergia Spain
Gibarroux Germain (since meeting 10) Renault France
Grand Jean-Gabriel (until meeting 2) Renault France
Hermans Pierre (until meeting 10) Exxonmobil Belgium
Jeuland Nicolas (since meeting 5) IFP France
King Stan (until meeting 9) Afton Chemical CEFIC-ATC
Koppen Piet (since meeting 8) PAC Netherlands
Kronström Börje Svenska Shell Sweden
Lloyd Robin (until meeting 4) Argent Energy United Kingdom
Leber Edwin (until meeting 8) Opel Germany
Manuelli Pascal Total France
Mirabella Walter Lyondell Italy
Nilsson Magnus (until meeting 10) General Motors Powertrain Sweden
Olofsson Mathias (until meeting 10) SEKAB Sweden
Pollak Vanda (since meeting 6) Hungrana Hungary
Rantanen – Kolehmainen Leena (since meeting Nesteoil Finland
6)
Rappange Aly (until meeting 10) Royal Nedalco Netherlands
Saunders Bob (since meeting 8) EI United Kingdom
Schuermans Kurt (since meeting 7) Chevron Netherlands
Sijben Jo (from meetings 4 to 10) Process Design Center Netherlands
Skret Iwona (until meeting 6) Instytut Technologii Nafty Poland
Sniegula Agnieska (since meeting 8) PKN Orlen Poland
Spaans Han (until meeting 9) AC Analytical Controls Netherlands
Tittarelli Paolo SSC Italy
The task force has met on the following occasions:
1) 30th October 2007 Brussels, 1st meeting
2) 15th January 2008 Brussels, 2nd meeting
3) 5th March 2008 Hamburg, 3rd meeting
4) 18th April 2008 London, 4th meeting
5) 3rd July 2008 Brussels, 5th meeting
6) 11th September 2008 Brussels, 6th meeting
7) 4th/5th December 2008 Paris, 7th meeting
8) 23rd April 2009 Paris, 8th meeting
9) 23rd September 2009 Paris, 9th meeting
10) 18th February 2010 Brussels, 10th meeting
TF 85 Convenor for 1st and 2nd meetings was John Bennett. Convenor for subsequent meetings was
Gerald Crépeau. Following the finalisation of the ethanol specification at the level of 10 % blending, it
was decided to merge the TF 85 with the Ethanol TF. At the end of 2010, both taskforces were
disbanded.
5.2 The Ethanol Fuel Task Force
CEN combined the work of the Ethanol and E85 task forces in 2011 and formed an Ethanol Fuel Task
Force (EFTF). The EFTF worked on the revision of the EN 15376 Ethanol standard, and the
development of the E85 CEN/TS 15293 to full European standard. The experts involved in this
combined task force were mainly those who participated in the previous task forces. The experts that
have contributed to the work since 2011 are listed in Table 2 (those no longer active in italics). EFTF
Convenor has been Phil Davison al this time.
Table 2 — Membership of the EFTF
Name Organization Country
Andersson Jan-Erik Lantmannen Sweden
Baldini Luca ENI Italy
Barahona Maria Ascension Ecocarburantes Spain
Bennett John Afton Chemical UK
Bernabeu Victor ePURE Liaison
Bernard Joerg Suedzuecker Germany
Bontoft Carole Exxon Mobil UK
Burrows Aubrey Downstream Fuels Association UK
Burton Jerry Downstream Fuels Association UK
Catalano Salvatore SGS Italia Italy
Name Organization Country
Chatzigakis Alexandros Helpe Greece
Costenoble Ortwin NEN TF Secretary
Crépeau Gerald PSA Peugeot Citroën France
Davison Phillip (Convenor) Davison Consultants UK
Desplechin Emmanuel ePURE Liaison
Di Giorgio, Laura Q8 Italy
Engelen Benoit Total Belgium
Faedo Davide SSC Italy
Feuerhelm Tom DIN/FAM Germany
Fiolet Gerard Shell Netherlands
Fischer Juergen DIN/FAM Germany
Gameson Thomas Abengoa Bioenergia Spain
Garcia Eduardo Abengoa Bioenergia Spain
Gibarroux Germain Renault France
Gynnerstedt Magnus Scania Sweden
Jackson Alistair Exxon Mobil UK
Jacobsson Lisa Volvo Cars Sweden
Jacquelin Paul Tereos France
Jeuland Nicolas IFP France
Karvo Anna Neste Finland
Kehoe Charlotte BP Germany
Kemppi Ida-Kaisa NEOT Finland
Keuken Hans Process Design Center Netherlands
Koppen Piet PAC Netherlands
Kouwenhoven Lenny PAC Netherlands
Kronström Börje St1 Sverige AB Sweden
Kuenne Henning VW Germany
Kurtsoglou Nicolas SNPAA France
Lemahieu Hendrik Belgian Bioethanol Association Belgium
Lois Evripidis Technical University Athens Greece
Manuelli Pascal Total France
Mirabella Walter LyondellBasell Italy
Papachristou Charaklia Hellenic Petroleum Greece
Pollak Vanda Hungrana Hungary
Name Organization Country
Quignard Alain IFP Energies Nouvelles France
Rantanen – Kolehmainen Leena Nesteoil Finland
Roj Anders Volvo Sweden
Saunders Bob Energy Institute UK
Scavone Roberto Bertolino Italy
Schuermans Kurt Chevron Netherlands
Starck Laurie IFP France
Terschek Rudolf ROFA Germany
Woldendorp Jacco Shell Netherlands
The task force has met on eleven occasions:
1) 27th September 2011 Brussels, 1st meeting
2) 2nd February 2012 Brussels, 2nd meeting
3) 31st May 2012 Seville, 3rd meeting
4) 4th October 2012 Brussels, 4th meeting
5) 7th March 2013 Brussels, 5th meeting
6) 18th September 2013 Paris, 6th meeting
7) 22nd October 2014 Breda, 7th meeting
8) 28th April 2015 Paris, 8th meeting
9) 21st October 2015 Paris, 9th meeting
10) 7th June 2016 Bordeaux, 10th meeting
11) 4th October 2016 Brussels, 11th meeting
In addition there were four web conferences held:
1) 23rd May 2013, 1st web conference
2) 3rd February 2014, 2nd web conference
3) 16th April 2014, 3rd web conference
4) 23rd January 2017, 4th web conference
6 The ethanol (E85) automotive fuel specification
6.1 Parameters included
Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel should be based on a mixture of ethanol complying to EN 15376 and of
regular market petrol product. The latter either complies to EN 228 or is a Blending Oxygenate Base-
stock (BOB) that fulfils EN 228 after addition of ethanol.
The parameters chosen by the TF E85 were those presented in Table 1 (general requirements) and
Table 2 (seasonal requirements) of CEN/TS 15293:2011. After the 10th meeting, all the parameters
were agreed upon in full consensus. The applicability of all the test methods had been checked within
CEN/TC 19 or at that time were under an improvement process (such as the oxygenates content
determinations), with the exception of octane. An overview of the assessment is presented in Table 3
below. Nevertheless, for octane, it was suggested to include any new or adapted methodology in the
next revision such as the alternatives indicated in DIN 51617-1. It was expected that by the end of the
first quarter of 2011, all the parameters would be in line with an applicable method.
Table 3 — Test method assessment
Property Test method Applicability prEN 15293, Annex A
for E85 fuel to be completed
Density EN ISO 12185
Oxidation stability EN ISO 7536
Existent gum content (solvent
EN ISO 6246
washed)
Copper strip corrosion (3 h at
EN ISO 2160
50 °C)
Acidity, (as acetic acid CH3COOH) EN 15491
pHe EN 15490
electrical conductivity EN 15938
Methanol EN 1601
Higher alcohols (C3–C5) EN 1601
Ethers (5 or more C atoms) EN 1601
Water content EN 15489
EN 15692
Inorganic chloride content EN 15492
Copper content EN 15488
EN 15837
Phosphorus EN 15487
EN 15837
Sulfur content EN 15485
EN 15486
Property Test method Applicability prEN 15293, Annex A
for E85 fuel to be completed
Sulphate EN 15492
Ethanol + higher saturated alcohols
EN 1601
content
Vapour pressure EN 13016-1
Research octane number EN ISO 5164
Motor octane number EN ISO 5163
Research octane number DIN 51756-7
Motor octane number DIN 51756-7
High boiling component EN ISO 3405
Legend
Applicability OK
Applicability OK but revised method standard necessary (prEN 15293, Annex A to be
completed)
Applicability NOK
Comments to be integrated
very soon
Comments already integrated
NOTE For rejected parameters see 6.3.
Throughout the work of the EFTF from 2011, the list of parameters was developed and progress
tracked using a Gantt chart. The chart from end October 2014, following the 7th EFTF meeting is shown
in Table 4 below.
Table 4 — Test methods’ assessment – status October 2014
6.2 Considerations on the parameters
6.2.1 Denaturants
The presence of petrol that conforms to EN 228 is generally considered sufficient to render Ethanol
(E85) a denatured product. The taskforces E85 considered it necessary to follow the same line of
requirement as set out before by CEN/TC 19 regarding denaturants in EN 15376 and thus that
requirement is copied. Permitted denaturants are specified in EN 15376:2014.
6.2.2 RON/MON
In Europe, E85 Flex Fuels Vehicles (FFV) are engineered to take advantage of the higher octane value of
85 % ethanol. Originally, the CWA was drafted on the assumption that EN 228 would be used for
blending and the ignitions of engines are tuned to these specification limits. The difference in the range
of RON between E0 to E85 were analysed and the combustion potentials with higher octane fuels were
demonstrated. The impact of energy content loss, the knocking effect and the ignition timing was
explained. The car manufacturers calibrated for E0 and E85 fuels based on an oxygen (ethanol) sensor.
It was necessary to limit the variation on RON/MON for E85 fuel because a lower value on RON/MON
was not suitable for engine calibration and could potentially damage the engine. Furthermore, it was
impossible to test for EN 228 quality at the fuelling station in E85. If in the future EN 228 at E10 level is
used, it will be the finished E10 that meets the EN 228 boundaries. FFVs needed to be able to run on
RON 95, but for optimization reasons (car makers calibrate on the full range of fuels used in the FFV)
they would need a minimum of 104/90 for E85. If the octane was not measured (and EN 228 would not
be required for the petroleum part), other elements like paraffin needed to be limited and calorific
value needed to be tested. Moreover, it was shown that the 104/90 RON/MON proposal was also for
optimization of the vehicle’s fuel economy.
The European automobile manufacturers association (ACEA) suggested 104,0 RON and 90,0 MON
minimum limits and the ethanol producers agreed to support the car makers in their need to use the
better octane.
The oil industry mentioned that the only available petrol for blending would be BOB, which meets
EN 228 after addition of ethanol. They suggested defining an alternative proposal requiring blending
with EN 228 minus the octane specification. After a lot of discussion inside TF E85 covering several
meetings, all stakeholders concluded that the final RON/MON depended on the quality of the BOB
(typical BOB RON could be down to 92), but suspected that in E85 it would be close to 104/88.
This issue warranted a RON/MON limit in the specification to maximize the benefits in the market,
besides having sufficient blend stock available at economic conditions to allow the market to grow.
The group agreed to consider a higher RON/MON based on the proposal of the engine manufacturers
and agreed on setting a MON/RON limit with the actual CFR engine test, include a BOB- ethanol
calculation table as information for the blenders and to do a BOB- ethanol base blend check to further
define the E85 limit. After discussions, an E85 based on a fuel with 91 of RON and 83 of MON that can
reach the 104 and 88 targets was accepted by the group. Tests on two batches of low RON and MON
implied that the RON/MON requirement (104/88) was safely set. Oil industry confirmed these values
and that sufficient flexibility for the refinery remained.
Due to the uncertainty of the future value of RON and MON with the introduction of the BOB, a new
debate on the subject appeared. Following additional information, EU car makers designed vehicles in
order to exploit higher octane when available in the tank, for example, with a RON of 106 vs. 98, a CO
gain of 5 % is achieved on mixed cycle. However, if car makers are sure of the higher RON value, fuel
consumption could be reduced by 40 % to 25 %, particularly if driven on highways due to a better
knocking resistance.
As car makers and ethanol producers believed this would make E85 fuels more attractive for the
customer, it was agreed to leave the 104 as indicative in the table in the first instance. Once there would
be sufficient confidence with actual field data, the values could become mandatory. It was agreed to
replace the octane requirements in the specification table with a separate clause following the
suggestions as presented during the meeting. Both additions to the annex on the test method updates
and an extra informative annex with the background would be included to the text.
During the 10th meeting, the group agreed that the explanatory statement would remain as it is and
that both RON and MON requirements would be re-evaluated once the test methods were upgraded
towards applicability for E85.
The ISO 5164 test at that time could measure at the level of 106 of RON. It was suggested to specify 104
based on the precision at that level. However, two steps should be taken notice of: estimation of the
octane number and the depiction of the specific nozzle on the CFR engine. As all engines should be
certified for their specific nozzle, it was agreed not to clarify the specific r and R in the specification. A
correction should not be included in the E85 specification.
It was suggested including any new or adapted methodology in the next revision such as the
alternatives indicated in DIN 51756-7 [17]. CEN/TC 19/WG 9 did check if a GC method could be an
alternative to determine RON/MON but concluded against. Around that time, ISO/TC 28 and ASTM D02
had initiated mutual revision studies on the octane engine test.
There was considerable discussion in the EFTF on the subject of octane – whether an octane target
should be included in the E85 specification, what this target should be, and whether there was a
suitable method to measure RON/MON at these levels. If RON at > 100 could be measured accurately,
then it was felt that this could be part of the E85 specification, given the octane boost benefit brought by
the ethanol. ASTM was working on a method to measure RON at this level, but scope was up to E25
only. ISO/TC 28/WG 15 was looking at high ethanol fuel octane testing.
A sub-taskforce was set up to examine this issue. A comprehensive test programme, including a RR, was
carried out under the leadership of SSC in Italy. This demonstrated that for E85 fuel, a RON of at least
104 could be guaranteed. The only doubt may come from an E50 blend, where RON 103 could be
guaranteed, but in practice this was not normally used. Although a method may be available,
laboratories normally would not have the additional equipment in place to test E85 using an adapted
engine or lead-containing PRFs.
Although a method to measure RON at > 100 was desirable, an urgent need was not foreseen, and it was
decided in EFTF to continue with an indicative RON 104, as set out in prEN 15293:2017, Annex B. The
wording in that annex is consistent with the outcome of the RR work.
6.2.3 Ethanol content and higher alcohols
The ethanol content is specified as a minimum to ensure a correct degree of purity for its use in
automobiles, and to qualify for Customs and Excise recognition. As the ethanol coming from the
production facility may contain small quantities of higher saturated alcohols C3 – C5 that are not
considered harmful to engines, they are included within this parameter. The higher saturated alcohols
are also limited by a maximum content as a separate parameter.
TF E85 supported allowing more flexibility on the amount of petrol to achieve the necessary
performance. It was suggested to include the French limits and to use different indications of grades to
prevent confusion with EN 228 climate classes.
French Customs required for ethanol content a maximum range of 10 % from a consumer protection
viewpoint. Yet the flexibility in the DVPE would be lost if the range of ethanol were limited to 10 %. It
was suggested to define first the volatility grades and see if the ethanol content needed similar or
additional grades.
Since the summer period seemed to give the constraints, ethanol producers suggested leaving out the
requirement of maximum ethanol percentage and limiting it by the vapour pressure. However, in
winter, a limit of 75 % seemed to give optimum results, as the more gasoline the better.
The group agreed to address the need for a maximum ethanol limit and the French 10 % range
requirement, based on information from the car makers.
The engine needs vapour pressure for a cold start and DVPE is a way to measure it. Once running, the
broad distillation characteristics become more critical and driveability is assisted by high front-end
distillates. The usefulness of the Driveability Index was debated. It was feared that we would deviate
too much from the original model with such high ethanol quantities.
Referring to the work in CEN/TC 19/WG 9 on three different methods, the GC test should report:
oxygenates only or also hydrocarbons. A reliable ethanol determination could be made with only minor
updating of the existing test methods.
It was suggested that the definition of the effective ethanol content be improved, which was a
calculation of 100 % minus the rest. The group felt that the ethanol content meant ethanol plus higher
alcohols. The oil industry, referring to the fact that it needed to be measured in volume terms, thought
that ethanol contained higher alcohols. Ethanol producers indicated that any denaturants should be
excluded and administrators referred to the needs of the tax authorities.
The TF E85 agreed to limit the ethanol and higher alcohols content, using EN 15721 or another test
suggested by WG 9, and not the content in EN 15376, since there was a maximum on the higher alcohols
content in the specification table.
Regarding limiting the content of unleaded petrol, the suggestion to delete the petrol content
requirement from the table was accepted since Ethanol (E85) is defined as a mixture of ethanol and
petrol.
Ethanol producers favoured the original principle of actually blending 85 %; lowering the percentage
too much would make the product less commercially attractive. In the US, 70 % was required as a
minimum. To be sure that the complete range of EN 228 products can be used to ensure the vapour
pressure requirements (see 6.2.4), a consensus proposal with four grades was presented and discussed.
A wide range of limits on ethanol and higher alcohol content was proposed: grade “a” from 70 % to
85 %, grade “b” from 70 % to 85 %, grade “c” from 60 % to 85 % and grade “d” from 50 % to 85 %.
The debate was about acknowledging the French experience and allowing a wider ethanol content
range (70 % to 85 %), whereas the ethanol producers preferred the 75 % ethanol minimum. The oil
industry argued that with the E10 requirement becoming the new market situation, having a low DVPE
BOB in stock was essential. CONCAWE members would not approve a 75 % ethanol limit and additional
data would be provided by the French oil industry. On the b, c and d grades consensus was achieved, as
were the DVPE values. For the lower limit of ethanol content in grade a, this was dealt with before the
end of the enquiry.
BOB in France had not been available until April 2009, and acquiring new data would take time. The
group agreed to await further data at the next meeting and requested CONCAWE members to provide
further field data. The oil industry tabled that the French oil industry goal was motivated by tax
incentives on ethanol quantity, to have the maximum amount of ethanol in E85, but they would not like
to be blocked by availability of gasoline in stock.
Based on a study with three base fuels with different vapour pressures done with the regular test, the
data showed differences between the model and the actual blends. For low vapour pressures, the model
overlapped (taking precision into account) with the actual data. For the highest VP base fuels, the model
largely overestimates the actual vapour pressure in the lowest blend percentages.
Taking into account the fact that flexibility was needed during seasonal changes, the RED requirements
would push blenders to use the highest ethanol percentages and that a no-risk approach would be
necessary, the group agreed to 70 % minimum of class a. To emphasize the importance of vapour
pressure it would be presented as the first row of second in the specification text.
6.2.4 Vapour pressure
OEMs provided data on the DVPE test results and engine impact regarding emissions and cold start,
which showed that in winter the ethanol content should be above 75 %. With regard to exhaust
emissions, a discussion on the catalyst adaptations needed and the delay in the combustion took place.
The group concluded that the fuel needed to be compatible with flexible-fuel vehicles. Further
discussions on the optimization of the ign
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