In This Issue:

FYI Newsletter Volume 8, Issue 12, July 29, 2003 

•   New E85 Location in Maize, KS •  Grand Openings Proven Successful in Santa Fe and Oklahoma City •   E85 Sold Now in Elk River, MN

•   85 Cents for E85 in Windom, MN •   KS Corn's Wrapped Car •   San Diego Acquires E85 •   Letters to the NEVC

E85 Sold Now in Elk River, MN

Beaudry Oil in Elk River, Minnesota has added E85 to their choice of fuels.  A 4,000-gallon diesel tank has recently been retrofitted to hold the alternative fuel blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

“We had many customers asking for the fuel,” commented Lisa Olson, Beaudry Oil station manager.  “We lost customers because we didn’t carry E85.”

The station has extensively marketed the renewable product.  Beaudry ran almost 20,000 $1 off E85 coupons in their local newspaper.  They also circulated flyers to government fleet agencies and to the Elk River Ford dealership.

“We are very excited to see how the community will react to us carrying E85,” said Olson.

Beaudry Oil at 610 Proctor Avenue, opened to the public about ten years ago.  Owner Ken Beaudry has been in the business for about 23 years but this is the first E85 pump at one of his sites.  The station has two 24-hour touchless car washes, a convenience store, and the pay-at-the pump option. 

Beaudry plans to sell the domestic fuel considerably lower than its regular unleaded gasoline cost.  The current price of E85 is $1.25 while unleaded is $1.49.

85 Cents for E85 in Windom, MN

E85 for 85 cents was an undeniable success for Windom’s Country Pride fueling station which is located at 215 1^st Avenue in Windom, Minnesota.  Almost 43 drivers took advantage of the inexpensive fuel on July 11, 2003! 

After nearly two years of researching the logistics of retailing E85, Windom’s Country Pride began pumping the clean-burning fuel the afternoon of June 26, 2003.  The American Lung Association of Minnesota and Ethanol2000 assisted with establishing the new station and Country Pride could not refuse.  

Only two weeks of planning of the event secured its success.  The station bought local radio and newspaper advertisements immediately.  (Newspaper advertisement shown right).  Three DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motor dealers also jumped on board for promoting the event. 

“We sent out mailings to E85 owners from the last three years and they also let us use two FFV vehicles from their lots to display at the station,” said Kelly.  “We pumped the fuel, washed windows, answered questions and handed out packets supplied by Ford Motor Company.” 

Two local dignitaries, Representative Elaine Harder and Senator Jim Vickerman, attended the event to show their support of the renewable transportation fuel. 

“They stopped by for a little while and helped wash windows, take pictures and generally lend their support,” said Kelly. 

Windom Country Pride is currently selling E85 at $1.33, twenty cents below regular unleaded.  The store is open Monday thru Friday, 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on weekends from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. 

“I think E85 is great,” commented Kelly, “not only are you using what the local farmers grow but you’re also helping clean-up the air and do something about using fossil fuels at the same time.”

KS Corn's Wrapped Car

-originally released by the Kansas Corn Commission

The Kansas Corn Commission's ethanol-powered Ford Taurus has a new look. The Taurus was treated to a car wrap that features ears of corn floating from a cornfield into a blue sky. Lettering on the car touts the use of ethanol-blended fuels. The Kansas Corn Commission will use the car to promote ethanol and corn at fair parades and other events throughout the year.

"We wanted a car that would give a positive message about ethanol and corn." The Commission's Director of Value Added Products Robert White said. "This isn't just a car with a picture on it. The entire car is the picture-it's a real head-turner."

The 2002 Ford Taurus is a flexible fuel vehicle, which can run on any combination of regular unleaded and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol. The Commission is active in efforts to increase the use and availability of ethanol-blended fuels.

The commission is also active in efforts to expand the infrastructure to increase the use of E85 fuel, an 85 percent ethanol fuel that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. Kansas currently has two public fueling stations for E85 fuel located at 1235 Wanamaker Road in Topeka and at 5340 North Maize Road in Maize. The state soon could have additional E85 fueling sites.

The Taurus will be at several fair parades and events in the next month.

E85 is finally available on the west coast!  The Regional Transportation Center (RTC) Fuel Depot located at 4001 El Cajon Boulevard at the intersection of El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego, California is the first station to carry the domestically grown fuel in the state. 

Designed to efficiently accommodate the fueling requirements of both Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) and conventional automobiles, the RTC Fuel Depot offers motorists an unprecedented nine types of fuel, including six types to power AFVs. Alternative fuel depot “firsts” include: Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG) — the first public underground tank in the US for automobile fueling; Ethanol (E85) — the first tank on the West Coast; Biodiesel — the first tank in San Diego with fuel that is actually made from recycled french fry grease; Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) — San Diego’s first 3,600 psi fueling station; Electricity — the largest electrical charging station in San Diego; and Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel. Three standard grades of gasoline are also available to fuel bi-fuel, flex-fuel and conventional automobiles.  

Lewis said the fuels are dispensed from futuristic, 8-feet-tall “Eclipse” pumps, which also make their San Diego debut at the RTC Fuel Depot. In addition, motorists get the “white glove” full service treatment at no charge from RTC service attendants dressed in 1950’s era uniforms and eager to assist with air, water and window cleaning services. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the RTC Fuel Depot accepts all major credit, debit, and Voyager cards, as well as another first for Alternative Fuels … cash. 

 “We are very excited that the RTC Fuel Depot has opened and is able to accommodate virtually any type of alternative or conventional vehicle in San Diego,” Lewis said.  "The Fuel Depot represents the important first component of the RTC, which will be the world's first comprehensive showcase of alternative fuels and the vehicles that use them.”            

The RTC is set to hold its official grand opening on August 8^th in its $15 million, 92,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility designed to educate people about the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The RTC's architecture reflects a high-tech feel of the 21st Century, while its subtle design elements recall the golden age of motoring in the 1950s. The project has been under development since 1998 and construction began July of last year. Located on 1.65 acres, the RTC serves as a gateway project in the City Heights Redevelopment Area. When opened, the RTC will have several unique components as well as the Fuel Depot, which is said to be the most unique fuel station in the country.        

The RTC's signature structure will be the AFV Showroom, a stunning example of modern, state-of-the-art automobile showroom design — efficient, comfortable and high-tech. The showroom floor will showcase Ford Motor Co.'s complete line of AFVs. The showroom will be managed and operated by Pearson Ford, a family-owned Ford dealership, which has been serving San Diegans for more than 60 years.

Complementing the showroom will be the AFV Rental/Demo Center, which will expose the general motoring public to the advantages of new fuel technologies by allowing them to drive and experience the new vehicles.

The AFV Service Center will provide both AFV and conventional automobile owners with a convenient location for vehicle repairs.  The Service Center will have multiple service bays equipped to service various of AFVs, both from Ford and other manufacturers. 

Funded in part by a $1.4 million donation from Ford Motor Company, the RTC Education Center is designed to educate middle and high school students about innovative technologies that will improve the environment.  The Center’s curriculum, developed in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, will focus its lessons on alternative fuels and other energy efficient technologies.

For a listing of E85 locations near you, visit http://www.e85fuel.com/.

 Letters to the NEVC

Letters to the NEVC - This section highlights emails that the NEVC has recently received.  Many of the comments or suggestions that we receive are of interest to a wider audience and we would like to share them with our readers.

Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the NEVC, recently sent the following email to the ExxonMobil web master.  Mr. Lampert was inquiring as to the efforts of ExxonMobil regarding the production of hydrogen from renewable resources.

Renewable Fuels?

Text of Email to ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil should be applauded for your efforts to develop fuel cells.  However, are you working on renewable forms of energy to produce the hydrogen or concentrating on fossil fuels?

. . .

Text of Response

Phillip, 

Your e-mail was sent to me for reply. 

I thought the below information might be of interest to you: 

In terms of advanced fuels, ExxonMobil is currently focusing on what we consider to be some of the most interesting of emerging technologies. We are working with GM and Toyota to develop a gasoline fuel processor for potential fuel cell powered vehicles.  Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction that creates electricity.  We have also been working with Toyota for many years on fuel requirements for hybrid vehicles that combine gasoline engines with electric motors. 

With respect to traditional renewables (e.g. solar, wind) we believe they could play a role in meeting the world's energy needs in certain niche markets.  In order for renewables to be competitive, however, their costs must be reduced and their performance improved. More than 20 years ago we were among the first and largest investors in solar and other alternative energy technologies.  Like others, however, we were unable to develop technologies that were cost-effective.  At the current level of technology, renewables still face significant cost and reliability disadvantages and therefore we have chosen not to invest in these areas at this time.   

For more information on our activities you can visit our website at: http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Notebook/Corp_Notebook.asp

Thank you for contacting ExxonMobil.

Caroline Francis
ExxonMobil Corporation

. . .

NEVC Comments

First, ExxonMobil should be applauded for even responding to our inquiry.  Their frank reply, while troubling in its content, is refreshing in the sense that they did reply. 

The policy of ExxonMobil to concentrate efforts to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels is not surprising.  Certainly, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will achieve high mileage with low pollution.  However, it appears obvious that the national dependence on imported petroleum would continue to increase even with a hydrogen program.  As long as fossil fuels are used as the basis for the “hydrogen economy” and as long as people continue to drive more and more miles per year, the U.S. will continue to depend on imported petroleum.

The following letter was written to NEVC Director of Communications, Michelle Saab. 

E85 in Nashville

Good Morning,

Tennessee shows no E85 fuel available.   However I had received an email from one of our site Fleet Managers July 7th, stating there was a station in Nashville, Tennessee now carrying E85.   I have been trying to find out the location and address and have not been able to locate.   The name supposedly is Main Street Citgo somewhere near the Titans Football Stadium in Nashville, TN.    Our travel fleet is primarily E85 alternative fuel vehicles and drivers frequently travel through Nashville on their way to Paducah.   I would like to know if this station is located near the interstate where drivers might be passing so we can utilize E85 fuel.   Do you have any knowledge of this station and an address? 

Anticipating an answer, thanks,

Annie Campbell 
H & M Enterprises

. . .

Annie,

Thank you for your interest in E85!  The Nashville location is at 500 Main Street.  It seems to be near Highway 24.  You can view a map of the location as well as addresses and maps of all E85 refueling sites on our website at www.E85Fuel.com under the sidebar, refueling locations.

 -Michelle Saab

The following letter was written to NEVC Director of Communications, Michelle Saab. 

E85 and MPG

In a recent article, a University of California, Berkeley professor said that since ethanol has a 34 percent lower heating value than gasoline, it would take 23 gallons of ethanol to drive a car the same distance as you would achieve from 15 gallons of gasoline.   It this true?  How much does MPG change when you switch from ethanol to gasoline in a flexible fueled vehicle?

Jim Duffield
Agricultural Economist

. . .

Jim,

Ethanol has less energy content than gasoline. However, E85 also has a much higher octane (ranging from 100 to 105) than gasoline. FFVs are not optimized to E85, so they experience a 5% to 15% drop in fuel economy. This will vary based on temperature and driving conditions.

For comparison purposes, aggressive driving habits can result in a 20% loss and low tire pressure can reduce mileage by 6%. Research indicates Ford FFVs experience a 5% horsepower gain on E85. The range of any particular vehicle is dependent on the size of the fuel tank and driving habits. Current Ford Taurus FFVs have an 18-gallon fuel tank and will normally travel 350 miles between refuelings.

Thank you,
Michelle Saab

Thanks for the emails to the NEVC!  Feel free to email us with your comments at anytime.

NEVC Calendar

July 30 – August 1, 2003
American Coalition for Ethanol’s Annual Meeting & Ethanol Conference at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, SD.  For more information, visit www.ethanol.org/conference.htm or email wsburen@ethanol.org.

August 17-24, 2003
Energy 2003 Workshop and Exposition in Orlando, FL.  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program and co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. General Services Administration.  Visit www.energy2003.ee.doe.gov or call 1-800-395-8574 for more information.

September 21-23,2003
The US Refining and Automotive Industries 2003 and Beyond - Coming Together of Energy, Environmental & Economic Issues in Washington, DC at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.  For more information, visit call 1-800-872-3835. 

March 2-4, 2004
Commodity Classic 2004 in Las Vegas, NV.  For more information, visit www.commodityclassic.com.

CONTACT US. . .

Please feel free to e-mail your story suggestions, comments, corrections or clarifications to us at info@e85fuel.com or call us toll free at 877-485-8595.

Phillip J. Lampert, Executive Director
info@e85.com

Michelle Saab, Director of Communications
info@e85.com

Randa Barker, Director of Administration
info@e85.com

You may view this FYI online at
http://www.e85fuel.com/news/index.htm

NEVC  promotes the use of 85 percent ethanol as a renewable form of alternative transportation fuel while enhancing agricultural profitability, advancing environmental stewardship and promoting national energy independence.