While the pain of transition to summer-blend fuel is felt throughout the country, there are significant environmental benefits. But there is one other lesser-known benefit for drivers in the summer: increased fuel efficiency.
By June 1, retailers in more than 30% of the country are required to sell summer-blend fuels. The annual spring transition to produce, transport, store and sell these fuels is one of the reasons that gas prices have increased an average of 53 cents per gallon each spring since 2000, when the Clean Air Act Amendments required that summer-blend fuels be sold in many areas of the country. Since then, other areas have opted in to the program, and summer-blend fuels are now used in 18 states, largely those with more densely populated communities.
“Regardless of where consumers fill up in the United States, they will often enjoy better fuel efficiency in the summer months. The level of fuel efficiency will depend upon fuel specifications required in certain regions, as well as weather-related factors,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.
NACS has developed a backgrounder to help explain the unique issues related to summer-blend fuels.
“Summertime: When the Livin’ Is Easy…And MPG May Increase,” is part of the 2017 NACS Fuels Resource Center, and examines conditions and trends that could impact gasoline prices. Online fuels resources are annually published to help demystify the retail fueling industry by exploring, among other topics, how fuel is sold, how prices affect consumer sentiment, why prices historically increase in the spring and which new fuels are likely to gain traction in the marketplace.
Source: NACS Daily
