Different gasoline blends are used in hot and cold climates to offset the negative effects of exhaust gases on the environment. The US government imposes volatility requirements and oxygenated fuel programs to reduce emissions and smog. Gasoline costs more in summer due to temporary shortages during periods of change. Seasonal gasoline recipes began in the late 1980s as part of new environmental regulations.
Hot and cold climates do not require different fuels for cars, but governments may promote or require different types of gas for environmental reasons. Because weather can exacerbate the negative effects of exhaust gases, different automotive fuels, or perhaps more precisely, different gasoline blends, can be used to offset the impact that gasoline-powered vehicles have on the environment. In the United States, for example, oxygenated fuels may be used in the winter months and volatility requirements may be imposed in the summer months.
If you’re having trouble understanding the difference between a summer gas mix and a winter mix, you’re not alone. The United States government, for example, uses terms like RVP (reid vapor pressure) and PSI (pounds per square inch) to control the properties of gasoline. While the chemistry and terminology can be confusing, the general concept is relatively simple.
In the United States, the federal government has volatility requirements that impose certain gasoline blends in the summer to reduce emissions and smog. This is accomplished by reducing the amount of gasoline that evaporates into the atmosphere by removing some of the chemical properties of the gas. In general, summer mixes are only used from early June through September, and are specifically geared towards hot climates. Gasoline summer blend may be better for the environment, but, especially in colder climates, it can render vehicles nearly inoperable since the combustibility is not as great. This reduced level of combustion can make it difficult for vehicles to start at colder temperatures.
Different automotive fuels are also created for use in the winter. In addition to volatility requirements, for example, the US government has an Oxygenated Fuel Program that focuses on the use of oxygen-containing fuel additives. The increased amount of oxygen in gasoline helps the gas burn cleaner and reduces emissions.
As an interesting side note, the federal government only mandates summer blends in 12 metropolitan areas. However, some legislatures have enacted the same mandates throughout the state. California’s rules are the most stringent, starting its requirement in May, rather than June. As for the Oxygen Fuel Program, states administer that throughout the country.
So why does gas cost more in the summer? It is true that the mixes are more expensive to produce, but the expense is minimal, only about a penny per gallon. The actual price spikes occur at the beginning of the summer and at the end of the summer, during the periods of change. This causes temporary shortages, leading to temporary price spikes until things stabilize again.
For those who claim they don’t remember such seasonal price spikes when they were younger, that’s probably correct. The seasonal gasoline recipes that produce these different automotive fuels have recently been part of the picture. In the United States, the change in mixes began in the late 1980s as part of new environmental regulations.
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