Testing Demonstrates Gevo’s Isobutanol-Gasoline Blend is Superior to E15 Fuel for Boaters

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) just released a report evaluating isobutanol, provided by Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), that shows great promise for it as a petroleum blendstock for the boating industry. Over the summer, NMMA conducted two tests, an emissions test and a product test, to evaluate the effects of butanol-blended fuels in a harsh marine environment. The project aimed to determine if isobutanol could be a better alternative to ethanol blends for the boating industry.

NMMA President Thom Dammrich says of the NMMA and American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) isobutanol research, “We are pleased with the results of the isobutanol evaluation and look forward to more testing on this, and other, important alternatives to E15. We know E15 causes significant damage to boat engines and therefore rushing it to the market is irresponsible and an unnecessary step, especially in light of the promising test results on isobutanol.”

The emissions tests compared a 16.1 percent isobutanol blend to indolene, the standard gasoline used for engine testing. The test used a sampling unit that was developed for an EPA/NMMA greenhouse gas study. The evaluation showed there was a reduction of carbon monoxide from the isobutanol blended fuel, compared to indolene. The results also show that hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide emissions were virtually the same between the two fuels.

“It's great to have another third party verify the benefits of isobutanol," said Chris Ryan, president and COO of Gevo. "The product attributes of isobutanol, made in retrofitted ethanol plants, can solve the problems associated with current generation biofuels. Isobutanol is compatible with all gasoline engines and infrastructure like pipelines and fuel pumps. These benefits make it a very promising biofuel additive that can help the nation achieve greater energy independence and align the interests of farmers, ethanol plant owners, refiners, engine manufacturers and consumers.”

The emissions tests were not the only positive results seen. When comparing isobutanol to ethanol for use in boating, several of isobutanol’s key benefits emerged. Isobutanol can be blended into gasoline at higher percentages than ethanol, and unlike ethanol-blended gasoline, isobutanol blends do not cause phase separation when water enters a boat’s fuel system. This is a critical distinction between ethanol and isobutanol blends.

NMMA’s PowerPoint containing the evaluation’s findings can be found here.

About Gevo

Gevo is converting existing ethanol plants into biorefineries to make renewable building block products for the chemical and fuel industries. The Company plans to convert renewable raw materials into isobutanol and renewable hydrocarbons that can be directly integrated on a “drop in” basis into existing chemical and fuel products to deliver environmental and economic benefits. Gevo is committed to a sustainable biobased economy that meets society’s needs for plentiful food and clean air and water. For more information, please visit www.gevo.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to a variety of matters, including but not limited to the cost, timing and anticipated completion of the retrofit, the expected commencement of commercial isobutanol production and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2010, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.