The Future of Biofuels in Boating

Future Fuel?

Suzuki proves going electric isn’t the only way to lower carbon emissions.

One afternoon in mid-April, I read an article by my colleague Eric Colby at Trade Only that piqued my curiosity. To test and promote a new, more ecologically and boat-friendly ethanol replacement, Suzuki was running an alternatively-fueled 26-foot Sea Pro from Jacksonville to Washington D.C. There, Suzuki would tell the boat’s tale to government officials during an early May appearance at the American Boating Congress.

“There are roughly 12 million gasoline powered boats across America today, so it’s important to emphasize to the boating industry, our government representatives and consumers coast to coast that there are viable ways available right now for boating to reduce its overall footprint,” George Blakely, a Suzuki Marine executive vice president said in a statement.

A quick call to Suzuki revealed that the crew would be passing within a few miles of my home in South Carolina the next day.

Soon, Suzuki test captains Nick Abraham and Matt Dugas were idling up to a local marina aboard a decal-sheathed center console. When Abraham reported that his wife was a big fan of the Netflix show Outer Banks, I told him we were near a few of the show’s main filming sites. He readied his camera and handed me the throttles of the twin Suzuki DF140’s.

As the motors spooled, Abraham said the Sea Pro had performed perfectly on VP Racing’s fuel, EcoGen90. “It runs amazing,” he said. “You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. It’s 90 or better octane and we haven’t had any issues. Today we ran 91 miles and burned 41 gallons.”

EcoGen90 is a blend of fossil gasoline and a bio-base called Ideal EMP at around 1.5-2 times greater ratio as gasoline/ethanol. The bio-portion actually made from ethanol—and serves to boost octane similarly. But don’t let that scare you. This fuel component, basically combines butane and ethanol to form EMP (2-ethoxy-2-methylpropane), an ether (engine starter fluid is another type of ether). According to VP Racing R&D Director Mark Walls, that EMP conversion mitigates many of the problems ethanol causes—from corrosion to an infamous propensity to attract engine and injector/carburetor-damaging water. “It eliminates the alcohol functionality and drastically reduces solubility in water, corrosivity and hygroscopicity,” said Walls. “It also makes it much more compatible with other gasoline components, vehicles and the gasoline infrastructure.”

EcoGen’s renewable components have been used for 15 years in Europe, Japan and South America. VP is conducting EPA-standard tests and expects to have full emissions results compared to E10 and “full fossil” E0 in May. Basically, Walls said, EcoGen90 offers 30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and increased fuel economy over E10. It further reduces carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and unburnt hydrocarbons and lowers a gasoline property known as ‘vapor pressure,’ lessening volatile organic compound emissions responsible for ozone and particulate pollution. “We see overall reduction in engine-out emissions, partially due to the renewable content of the fuel, but also from the reduction of aromatic compounds typically found in pump gasoline,” he said. “Aromatics like BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) are not only carbon intensive to produce at the refinery, but have higher carbon density that other gasoline components. Using a renewable oxygenate (EcoGen) not only reduces the carbon produced during the combustion process but also improves the combustion of the gasoline.”

The ether is made of fermented corn kernels or cane sugar with natural gas aiding the refining process. With technology to “alcoholize” chemically tougher cellulose sugars improving, Walls expects to see corn stover, wheat and rice straw, forest residue and even municipal solid waste to the mix in the near future.

Walls added that EcoGen is relatively easy to produce and can also be stored long term with fuel stabilizers.

VP plans to start offering a 100 percent bio EcoGen gasoline for its IMSA auto racing series. It will be quite expensive at this point, but VP plans to sell marine EcoGen90 at prices comparable to pure gasoline (E0). As more refining comes online and automotive adoption hopefully increases, the pump price could conceivably reach parity with E10.

Currently EcoGen90 fuel is only available at select marinas in Texas, with a Florida roll out coming in 2024. “Our message to Congress is that electrification is not the only way to lower carbon emissions and is not a short or mid-term solution for recreational boaters,” said Walls. “Sustainable liquid fuels need to be promoted and their deployment supported by Congress.”

With a gorgeous cruise up towards Bowen’s Island, my impression lined up exactly with Abraham’s. The Sea Pro simply felt as if it was running on the E0 gasoline we all pay a premium for. Idling past the Outer Banks filming site with a stern breeze, I might have noted a very subtle alcohol scent. “The raw fuel is pretty aromatic,” Abraham said. “But so is gasoline.”

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This article originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.

Source: https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/at-sea/the-future-of-biofuels-in-boating