Technical Paper
Comprehensive Laboratory Fuel Economy Testing with RFG and Conventional Fuels
1996-02-01
960855
Reformulated gasoline (RFG) was introduced at retail gasoline stations in the six county Southeastern Wisconsin severe ozone non-attainment area in December, 1994, preceding the mandated January 1,1995, introduction date. By late January and early February a substantial local outcry encompassing health complaints and excessive fuel economy reduction complaints had materialized. In response to the negative public reaction, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly conducted an investigation of the excessive fuel economy reduction anecdotes in a two week, 15,000 mile on-road test study. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Alternative Fuels (UWM) performed a follow up investigation of the excessive fuel economy reduction anecdotes at the UWM emissions laboratory under controlled, repeatable conditions.