Oxy Fuels

All gasoline sold in Bernalillo County from the 1st of November through the last day of February must contain a minimum of 2.7% oxygen by weight.  Albuquerque/Bernalillo County was one of the first areas in the nation to implement a winter oxygenated fuels program in 1989.  These programs became mandatory for carbon monoxide nonattainment areas like Albuquerque in 1993 as a result of the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments.

Oxyfuel Effect

Oxygenated fuels reduce carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles by adding oxygen directly to the fuel and thus the combustion process.  Oxyfuels are most effective at reducing emissions from older carbureted vehicles and from vehicles during cold-start when up to half of a typical trip’s emissions are generated.  Consequently, oxyfuels are most effective in high altitude cities like Albuquerque, Denver, and Salt Lake City due to reduced oxygen in the ambient air for combustion and seasonal cold weather.  Tests conducted in Albuquerque in 2003 showed an average carbon monoxide reduction of 18% for vehicles operating on oxyfuels.

Why Ethanol is Used

While there are several oxygenates approved for use by EPA, market conditions have resulted in Albuquerque being effectively a 100% ethanol market since 1993.  This is primarily due to a federal tax credit and the higher oxygen content of ethanol relative to petroleum ethers like MTBE.   Ethanol is typically blended in gasoline at the distribution racks in Albuquerque at a volume of 8%.  The 2007-2008 season saw record levels of ethanol use with the average content approaching 10% ethanol by volume.  All vehicles are certified to operate on ethanol blends of up to 10%, which is the maximum volume allowed in winter oxyfuel programs.

Enforcement and Program Monitoring

NMAC20.11.102 requires the Vehicle Pollution Management Division to conduct compliance sampling on at least 20% of the almost 800 fuel tanks in Bernalillo County.  VPMD staff conducted same day analysis of 540 samples during the 2007-2008 season at our on-site fuel lab using a PetroSpec GS1000 fuel analyzer.  The analyzer is calibrated with reference fuel samples provided by the NM Petroleum Standards Bureau and provides rapid and accurate analysis of all EPA approved oxygenates.  VPMD issued one notice of violation during the 2007-2008 season.  The minor violation was corrected within 24 hours.