In This Issue:

FYI Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 13, July 30, 2002 

 EPA Developing Dedicated E85 Vehicle

For the past several years, E85 advocates have been dealing with the reduction in energy content of E85 when compared to unleaded gasoline.  Long recognizing that a dedicated E85 would overcome this issue, the NEVC and other advocates have been working to address the flexible fuel vehicle engine technology.  Now, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that a dedicated E85 vehicle is in the works!  The EPA has been conducting extensive research on a project that will produce a vehicle that will run on only E85.  This new clean burning vehicle is expected to produce low criteria emissions and have higher fuel efficiency, one-third better than a gasoline engine.

“A recent report in February announced as much as thirty percent reduction in vehicle greenhouse gas emissions per gallon of ethanol consumed.  If highly-efficient dedicated fuel vehicles were used, up to forty percent reduction would be possible,” said Matt Brusstar, National Technical Expert, Advanced Technology Division at the EPA.  “At EPA, we're generally more motivated by numbers such as these!”

Flexible fuel vehicles have little to no incremental cost to consumers from gasoline-powered vehicles.  The EPA estimates that the dedicated vehicle will in the end cost consumers even LESS than an E85 flexible-fuel vehicle.  “The cost of manufacturing a dedicated fuel vehicle is roughly equivalent to an FFV,” commented Brusstar.  “However, due to the significant gain in fuel economy that is possible, the operating costs of a dedicated fuel vehicle are nearly one-third lower compared with an FFV.”

But how do the automakers feel about this new vehicle?

“We have had limited discussion with the automakers to date,” said Brusstar.  “Their primary concern is the limited volume potential of dedicated vehicles, given the availability of E85.”

Availability of E85 is now growing at a rapid rate.  More pumps are soon to arrive at a city near you!  DOE funds were recently granted to clean cities coalitions to install twenty new E85 pumps.

There is a question of how well the dedicated E85 vehicle will sell.  When sales of dedicated CNG vehicle are compared to sales of FFVs, there is a large difference.  Currently, there are about 5,000 dedicated CNG vehicles on the road today compared to two million FFVs. 

“While it is true that FFV sales have skyrocketed over the last five years, E85 consumption has remained fairly low--over 99% of FFVs burn gasoline.  We are offering a dedicated fuel alternative that has similar annual fuel cost and driving range to a gasoline vehicle--something FFVs cannot offer,” replied Brusstar.  “This, I feel, will make such vehicles more attractive to centrally-fueled fleets, who are less restricted by infrastructure issues than private vehicle owners.

The analogy to dedicated CNG vehicles is not entirely valid. First, the cost to install a new CNG fueling station is an order of magnitude higher than for an E85 station.  Second, CNG vehicles are not very cost-effective to manufacture:  the added manufacturing cost is over $4000 per vehicle, even with CAFE credits factored in.  Third, refueling CNG vehicles takes longer than it does with liquid fueled vehicles, and

uses ‘different’ technology.  Dedicated E85 vehicles, on the other hand, are more transparent to the consumer, and are more cost-effective to build and operate.”

Also, will the new Hybrid, which is currently being powered by gasoline and electricity, ever be able to run on E85 and electricity?  This has recently been considered by Ford and the EPA has begun to evaluate the vehicle’s alcohol compatibility.  Rollout of an E85 and electric Hybrid is expected in about five years.  Rollout for the dedicated E85 vehicle has not yet been approximated. 

 New E85 Stations Soon to Come

Following is an inquiry sent from a gentleman who resides in Excelsior, Minnesota, Mr. Rodney Robinson.  Mr. Robinson’s question to NEVC’s Director of Communications, Michelle Saab, is a simple question asked by many. . .   

“Michelle,

I enjoy the E85fuel web site and direct others to it whenever I can.  I drive a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager that burns E85 and I am now very reluctant to burn gasoline any more.

I am planning a trip in the south in a few weeks.   I, of course have your printout of all the current stations offering E85.

My question is, are there any stations getting ready to offer E85 in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida? 

Last year I traveled down the east coast and I used your list and was able to fill up at the Navy Exchange in Arlington, Virginia, also filled up in Atkins, South Carolina and in Louisville, Kentucky and Rockford Illinois on the way home to Minnesota.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Rodney Robinson

 . . . .

Rodney,

I am glad that you are a supporter of our clean, alternative fuel!  Many of the areas you questioned have just been given a grant to support infrastructure for E85 fueling stations.  The list of those areas is at http://www.e85fuel.com/pdf/070202.pdf.  So, to answer your question, YES, new E85 refueling stations are on the way!

The Department of Energy has recently announced grants to establish twenty new E85 stations in support of Clean Cities Coalitions around the United States.  The E85 refueling facilities will be built in these Clean Cities areas:  one new station in Dover, Delaware; eight new stations in the Twin Cities, Minnesota area; three stations in Buffalo, New York; three new stations in Southeast Wisconsin; three new stations in Titusville/Kennedy Space Center; one new station in Cleveland, Ohio; and one new station in Fargo, North Dakota. 

Sincerely,

Michelle Saab”

The NEVC commends these clean cities for their hard work and we are very excited to see these new projects underway.  The funds provided by the U.S. Dept. of Energy to advance the construction of these new stations comes in part from the federal appropriation that was made by the Congress in Fiscal Year 2002 to advance E85 infrastructure development.  The NEVC and our partners and supporters were instrumental in achieving a $2 million appropriation – the first ever for E85.  The fruit of these labors are now being seen!

E85 Station in California to Open Soon

-from NACS Daily News Stories, July 12, 2002 

With an aim of mainstreaming alternative fuel vehicles, the San Diego Environmental Foundation is beginning construction on the nation's first Regional Transportation Center (RTC) designed to fuel and service all types of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and to educate people about the benefits of AFVs. 

The $17.9 million, 60,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open in May 2003. It will house an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Showroom, an AFV Rental/ Demonstration Operation, an AFV Servicing Center, an AFV Fueling Station and an Alternative Fuels Education Center. 

Six types of alternative fuels will be available at the fueling stations, including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied propane gas (LPG), ethanol (E-85), electricity, low-sulfur diesel and bio-diesel. Gasoline will also be available to fuel bi-fuel, flex-fuel and conventional automobiles. In addition, the Center will provide automotive repair services for both conventional auto owners and AFV owners. The AFV Fueling Station is designed to accommodate the fueling requirements of all AFVs. 

The RTC's signature structure will be the AFV Showroom, managed and operated by a Ford auto dealership in San Diego. Complementing the showroom will be the AFV Rental/Demo Operation, designed to show consumers the advantages of new fuel technologies by allowing them to drive and experience the new vehicles. 

Announcements about the facility did not indicate that any other type of retail operation, such as a convenience store, would be part of the RTC. 

In addition to Ford Motor Company, the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Air Resources Board have provided major funding for the facility. For information on the RTC, visit www.rtc4afv.com.

In addition to this signature facility, the NEVC is currently assisting a broad range of groups in their efforts to establish E85 fueling stations in California.  Watch the FYI for future announcements.

Fed Fleet 2002

Every other year, the General Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy co-sponsor a conference for federal fleet administrators.  This year’s conference was recently held in Kansas City, Missouri.  Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the NEVC, was invited to speak at the conference and the NEVC also displayed a booth at the event. 

More than 1,000 federal fleet administrators from across the nation attended this excellent event.  The conference also included an Alternative Fuel Workshop sponsored by the Department of Defense. 

Lt. Col. Bruce Harding, USAF and currently assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, provided the outline of the DOD alternative fuel efforts. 

Col. Harding stated that the goal of the Department of Defense was not just to meet the alternative fuel vehicle acquisition requirements of the 1992 Energy Policy, but also to “one, reduce petroleum consumption, two, assist with growing the AFV markets, three, initiate and advance new alternative fuel industrial capacity, and four, assist the nation’s farmers by using renewable sources of energy such as E85 and biodiesel.” 

Col. Harding also reported that the Department of Defense recognized that most of the flexible-fuel vehicles that had been acquired were not using E85, but unleaded gasoline.  The DOD has implemented a policy whereby 51% of the total fuel used in FFVs will actually be E85 by federal fiscal year 2005. 

David Fuchs, Alternative Fuel Coordinator for the U.S. Army, indicated that the Army will install E85 fueling sites at no less than five military reservations in each of the following four years.  These sites would be high use areas and military bases that will commit to use of the alternative fuel.  

Representatives of the Defense Energy Supply Center, the fuel acquisition group of the armed forces, indicated that regional contracts would soon be issued for E85.  This would allow local and regional vendors to participate and compete in bids as DESC begins to seek the several million gallons of E85 that they believe will be used annually in the next couple of years.

The NEVC applauds the efforts of the Federal Fleet Council to hold such a well organized and attended event as much was learned and much was identified as needing to be accomplished.

NEW from the NEVC

The NEVC is now offering three new promotional items!  Three new bumper stickers that relay our message of using E85 as an alternative, domestic fuel are now available in a design for everyone’s liking.  These items can be viewed at  http://www.e85fuel.com/nevc/promoitems.htm and can all be purchased from the NEVC.   You can purchase these items at a lower cost by becoming a member of the NEVC.  This benefit and many more can be yours by joining the NEVC at https://www21.securewebsite.net/~e85fuel/membership.htm. 

Join the NEVC today to help support us in our cause to reduce oil imports and support our farmers!!

 NEVC CALENDAR

August 10-13, 2002
2002 Convention and Trade Show sponsored by the Colorado Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Assn. and the Wyoming Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Assn. at the Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, WY. For more information, contact Christi Krenke at (303) 422-7805 or at ckrenke@cwpma.org.
 

September 4, 2002
North Dakota Ethanol Workshop for Rural America at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck, North Dakota.  For more information, call (701) 258-7700.

September 18, 2002
Designation of Greater Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities Coalition at Old Faithful at 9:30 a.m. in West Yellowstone, MT. For more information, contact (208) 529-1431.

September 26-27, 2002
Fuel Ethanol Thailand at the Regent Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information, email abfbkk@loxinfo.co.th or email Nuchada Paradeevisut at nuchada@abf-asia.com.

October 6-8, 2002
National Association of Convenience Stores Show at the Orlando County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. For more information, visit http://www.cstorecentral.com/nacsshow/2002info.asp.

October 15, 2002
Ethanol Workshop for Rural America at the Holiday Inn in Billings, MT.  Kickoff banquet on October 14 in the Stillwater Room of the Holiday Inn at 5500 Midland Rd.  For more information, visit http://www.ethanolmt.org.

October 22-26, 2002
2002 National Conference of State Fleet Administrators in Mystic, CT. For more information, contact (623) 772-9096.

October 28-30, 2002
2002 New Mexico Environmental Health Conference at the Historic Sheraton Old Town in Albuquerque, NM. For more information, visit www.nmehc.org.
 

February 17-19, 2003
8th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Policy and Marketing at the Camelback Inn Marriott Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, call BBI International at (800) 567-6411.

February 27 – March 1, 2003
2003 Commodity Classic at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. 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/073002fyi.htm