This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is designed to support implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 30 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB30) (Alvarez, Chapter 247, Statutes of 2025) and California’s Reformulated Gasoline Regulations (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/California_Reformulated_Gasoline_Regulations_2-16-14.pdf) (Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Sections 2250-2273.5). As authorized by AB 30, at this time blends of gasoline containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol by volume (E15) that meet all applicable Federal, State, and local requirements may now be legally sold for use as a transportation fuel in California.

Unlike statutes and regulations, these FAQ do not have the force of law. They are not intended to and do not establish new legal requirements, nor do they supplant, replace, or amend any legal requirements. Conversely, any omission or truncation of regulatory requirements discussed here does not relieve entities of their legal obligation to fully comply with all applicable requirements. 

General Information

1.  What is AB 30?

Assembly Bill (AB) 30 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB30) adds a new section 43013.7to the California’sHealth and Safety Code that immediately allows blends of gasoline containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol by volume to be sold in the state for use as a transportation fuel until both of the following occur:

1. The California Environmental Policy Council completes its review and publicly posts its findings of the multimedia evaluation for blends of gasoline containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol by volume required pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 43830.8.
2. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) does either of the following:
    a.  Adopts a regulation establishing a specification for blends of gasoline containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol by volume.
    b.  Posts an assessment on its internet website demonstrating that it is not possible for a proposed regulation establishing a specification for blends of gasoline containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol by volume to meet the requirements of subdivision(f) of section 43830.8.

2.  What is E15?

Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), section 1090.80 defines E15 as gasoline that contains more than 10 and no more than 15 volume percent ethanol. AB 30 specifically authorizes blends of gasoline containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol by volume to be sold in California.

3.  What gasoline is currently used in California?

California’s Reformulated Gasoline Regulations (or “CaRFG” Regulations, at Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR), sections 2250-2273.5) permit the sale of gasoline with up to 10% ethanol by volume (E10). An existing fuel specification (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 13, § 2292.4) permits the sale of ethanol fuel blends with up to 85% ethanol (E85). There are no changes to the requirements for these fuels.

4.  What blendstock may be used to produce E15 in California?

A blendstock for oxygenate blending (BOB), also known simply as a blendstock, is an unfinished gasoline product that requires the addition of an oxygenate before it becomes a finished fuel. Ethanol is currently the only oxygenate that may be used in California gasoline.

In California, based on applicable fuel specification regulations, California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (CARBOB) is the appropriate blendstock to use to produce any California gasoline, including E15. CaRFG Regulations section 2260(a)(6.5) defines CARBOB as "a petroleum-derived liquid which is intended to be, or is represented as, a product that will constitute California gasoline upon the addition of a specified type and percentage (or range of percentages) of oxygenate.” Furthermore, CaRFG Regulations section 2266.5(a)(1) states that “All of the standards and requirements in sections 2261, 2262, 2262.3, 2262.4, 2262.5(a), (b), (c) and (e), 2262.6, 2264, 2264.2, 2265, 2266, 2267, 2268, 2270, 2271 and 2272 pertaining to California gasoline or transactions involving California gasoline also apply to CARBOB or transactions involving CARBOB.” California E15 may be produced either from a blend of ethanol and California Reformulated Gasoline Phase 3 (CaRFG3), also known as E10, or from a blend of ethanol and CARBOB.

For more information regarding applicable California gasoline fuel specifications, please refer to CaRFG Regulations section 2262.9 for requirements for ethanol intended for use as the blend component and CaRFG Regulations section 2266.5 for requirements for CARBOB and downstream blending.

Additionally, E15 is considered a fuel blend, and would be subject to ASTM International (ASTM) D4814. For more information regarding ASTM fuel specification requirements, please reach out to dms@cdfa.ca.gov (mailto:dms@cdfa.ca.gov).

5.  What are the benefits of using E15?

Emissions test results show that total hydrocarbons (THC), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and ethylbenzene are reduced using E15.1 (#footnote1_np4d66k)

6.  What vehicles are compatible with E15?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) website (https://www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/e15-fuel-registration) contains a list of vehicle compatibility with E15. According to that list, E15 can be used in:

• Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs);
• Model year 2001 and newer cars;
• Model year 2001 and newer light-duty trucks; and
• Model year 2001 and newer medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs).

E15 cannot be used in:

• On-highway and nonroad motorcycles;
• Vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses, transit buses, and delivery trucks;
• Nonroad vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles;
• Engines in nonroad equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws; or
• Model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles.

To avoid potential warranty issues, it is important to check the vehicle owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s guidelines to determine compatibility with E15.

E15 Standards and Misfuelling

7.  Which existing fuel specification requirements apply to E15 in California?

Only CARBOB or CaRFG3 (California compliant finished fuel with up to 10% oxygenate by volume) may be blended with ethanol to produce E15 for use in California. CARBOB being used as blendstock for E15 must comply with all requirements for CARBOB per CaRFG Regulations section 2266.5. CaRFG being used as a blendstock for E15 must meet CaRFG regulatory requirements prior to blending per CaRFG Regulations section 2261.

To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, producers, importers, and small refiners should continue to evaluate CARBOB and CaRFG as a blendstock for E15 using the predictive model as specified in section 2265. The predictive model is a set of equations that relate the properties of a particular gasoline formulation to the predicted exhaust and evaporative emissions that result when that gasoline is combusted in a motor vehicle engine, as defined in the procedures2 (#footnote2_ina6ze2) incorporated by reference in CaRFG Regulations section 2265(a)(2)(A). Applicable regulatory requirements include:

• Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) cap limits and regulatory control periods specified in section 2262.4(a); and
• Sulfur, benzene, aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, T50, and T90 cap limits specified in section 2262.3(a).

Consistent with Health and Safety Code section 43013.7(a), CARB will not enforce the oxygen cap limits specified in CaRFG Regulations sections 2262 and 2262.5(b) for E15. E15 must not exceed 15% ethanol by volume.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) will continue to take E15 samples for analysis and testing in accordance with the latest version of ASTM D4814 “Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel.” For more information regarding the CDFA’s sampling, please reach out to dms@cdfa.ca.gov (mailto:dms@cdfa.ca.gov).

8.  What measures exist to help prevent misfuelling?

U.S. EPA’s “Misfueling Mitigation Rule” requires companies to submit a “Misfueling Mitigation Plan” (MMP) to U.S. EPA for approval prior to selling E15.3 (#footnote3_2h3leb1) MMP requirements include but are not limited to:

• Fuel labeling: Labels must be placed on E15 retail dispensers indicating that E15 use is only for E15 compatible vehicles and equipment;
• Product Transfer Documents (PTD): PTD must accompany all transfers of fuels for E15 use;
• Participation in Compliance Survey: Parties involved in the manufacture of E15 must participate in a survey of compliance at fuel retail dispensing facilities; and
• Any other reasonable measures U.S. EPA determines are appropriate that may include public outreach and consumer education.

Requirements

9.  What are the federal labeling requirements for selling E15?

Title 40, CFR, section 1090.1510 requires retailers dispensing E15 to apply a label to the fuel dispenser. Additionally, Title 16, CFR, section 306.10 imposes general requirements for fuel dispensing labeling. Below is a sample label with instructions:

10.  Does E15 require an octane label?

No, in California, E15 does not require an octane label; however, if a retailer chooses to post an octane label, the product must meet the minimum octane posted. In other states, E15 is generally labeled as 88 octane. For more information regarding the octane, please reach out to the CDFA’s DMS at dms@cdfa.ca.gov (mailto:dms@cdfa.ca.gov).

11.  What type of fuel dispensers are required for use with E15?

Fuel dispensers must be approved for use with E15. For more information and to check the status of your dispensers, please reach out to the CDFA’s DMS at dms@cdfa.ca.gov (mailto:dms@cdfa.ca.gov).

12.  What type of underground storage tanks are required for use with E15?

California statutes require underground storage tank (UST) systems to be compatible with the substance stored, and the leak detection equipment to be able to function appropriately with the substance stored. Incompatibility increases the risk of unauthorized releases.

UST regulations4 (#footnote4_hj5etz4) require the storage of substances not certified as compatible by an independent testing organization, typically Underwriters Laboratories (UL), if the manufacturer of the components provides affirmative statements of compatibility. Fiberglass USTs manufactured before April 1, 1990 (Xerxes) and July 1, 1990 (Owens Corning) cannot be certified by UL and both manufacturers only will certify compatibility with fuel blends containing 10% ethanol or methanol.

California maintains approximately 35,000 secondarily contained USTs, of which 5,100 USTs and (estimated) 2,000 additional piping systems are not compatible with E15. For more information regarding the UST program, please refer to the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWCB) UST Program - Leak Prevention (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/ust/leak_prevention/) website.

13.  How does this legislation affect the vapor recovery requirement at new and existing gas stations moving forward?

Most vapor recovery systems will need to be certified for use with E15 since the equipment was certified for use with E10. Before CARB can provide these certifications, state law requires approvals from four other state agencies: Department of Industrial Relations (Division of Occupation Safety and Health), Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (State Fire Marshal), California Department of Food and Agriculture (Division of Measurement Standards), and State Water Resources Control Board. CARB is working with these state agencies to certify E15 equipment in a manner consistent with current regulations.

14.  Who is responsible for enforcing the vapor recovery requirements in California?

The 35 local air districts are responsible for enforcing the vapor recovery requirements5 (#footnote5_6f3ru8c) through their permitting and enforcement authority over gas stations and for ensuring that CARB certified vapor recovery components are installed and testing requirements are implemented.

• 1 (#footnoteref1_np4d66k)Dr. Georgios Karavalakas et al., Final Report: Comparison of Exhaust Emissions Between E10 CaRFG and Splash Blended E15, June 2022, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/E15_Final_Report_7-1… (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/E15_Final_Report_7-14-22_0.pdf).
• 2 (#footnoteref2_ina6ze2)CARB, California Procedures for Evaluating Alternative Specifications for Phase 3 Reformulated Gasoline Using the California Predictive Model - https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/isd/fuels/gasoline/p… (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/isd/fuels/gasoline/premodel/pmusersguide2012.pdf).
• 3 (#footnoteref3_2h3leb1)U.S. EPA, Final Rule: Regulation to Mitigate the Misfueling of Vehicles and Engines With Gasoline Containing Greater than Ten Volume Percent Ethanol and Modifications to the Reformulated and Conventional Gasoline Programs, https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards/final-rule-regulation-mitigate-m… (https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards/final-rule-regulation-mitigate-misfueling-vehicles-and-engines-gasoline).
• 4 (#footnoteref4_hj5etz4)Cal. Code Regs., tit. 23, § 2610 et seq. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/ust/regulatory/docs/ccr_ch16_202010.pdf (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/ust/regulatory/docs/ccr_ch16_202010.pdf).
• 5 (#footnoteref5_6f3ru8c)Cal. Code Regs., tit. 17, 94011 et seq.