The Faces of Biofuels

A few weeks ago, Propel Fuels and Biofuels Digest undertook to discover, and publish, the stories of people that use renewable fuels. Too often, in our view, stories about renewable energy focus on oil companies, or the environmental establishment, or renewable energy producers, or financiers of fuel.

What do the actual customers believe? Why do they use renewable fuels -  motivated by green concerns, price, location, the cool factor, or something else. We want to know why, and know them. We’ll continue to publish this as an occasional series, and we are deeply appreciative to the team at Propel Fuels, who have helped to bring the stories of their customers to national media for the first time.

Kai – aka “Ethanol Fuel Enthusiast”. “Why am I excited about using E85? 1 – It reduces America’s dependence of fossil fuels, just like in Brazil. 2 – E85 is less expensive than gasoline. 3 – E85 burns cleaner and cooler in our engines. 4 – It promotes job creation in rural and urban communities. 5 – It increases horsepower in our engines. 6 – Most importantly, it is cleaner for the environment” See Kai’s twitter page. and blog, and YouTube video. (Propel Fuels – Fremont, CA)

Jennifer drives a C230 Mercedes-Benz and has been fueling with flex fuel ever since the service department at her vehicle dealership told her that her C230 was flex fuel capable. (Propel Fuels – Elk Grove, CA)

When we met Martha at our Rocklin, CA clean fuel point she had been filling her Ford Explorer with flex fuel for the past three months and loved it! Especially the price. Her husband noticed they could use Flex Fuel E85 from a label posted on the inside of the gas tank door. She lives in Penn Valley, CA, but works conveniently close to Propel’s Rocklin location. She and her husband are big proponents of E85 and spread the word to friends and family.  (Propel Fuels – Penn Valley, CA)

We met Fred filling up his flex fuel Chevy Tahoe at Propel’s Folsom Blvd location in Sacramento–it’s conveniently close to home for Fred and he likes to save money at the pump. He’s looking forward to more station new stations in the Bay Area and in Fresno. (Propel Fuels – Sacramento, CA)

Cacee, driver for Sacramento States, fills up the Parking Enforcement’s Chevy Silverado with Flex Fuel. He’s been fueling with E85 ever since Propel installed the Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point (Sacramento). Sac State has a number of flex fuel vehicles and whenever possible they use Propel flex fuel E85 since it’s located so close to campus. (Propel Fuels – Sacramento, CA)

Trey and Melissa frequently fill up their flex fuel-capable Ford F150 at Propel’s Rocklin, California location. They bought the F150 without realizing it was a Flex Fuel Vehicle–able to run E85, regular petroleum gasoline or a mixture of both. Trey noticed a label on the fuel tank door stating “ethanol fuel or unleaded gasoline only,” so he called the dealership. Sure enough, 5.4L engine Ford F150s from the model years 2006 – 2009 (8th character of VIN = “V”) are all flex fuel capable. (Propel Fuels – Rocklin, CA)

Lon Hatamiya, former Secretary of Technology, Trade and Commerce for Calfiornia, fueling his Chevy Suburban with Flex Fuel E85 at Propel’s Folsom Blvd location. He’s a major proponent of alternative fuels and has been filling at the Folsom Blvd and Rocklin locations since the stations opened in California. (Propel Fuels – Sacramento, CA)

Della and Mike have been waiting nearly 5 years  to fill their flex fuel capable Ford Ranger with E85. They’re thrilled to have a Propel pump in Sacramento providing Flex Fuel access. Della and Mike’s truck has an identifying FFV “leaf and road” badge on the tailgate, though Flex Fuel-ready Ranger pickups can also be identified based on the model year and VIN. (Propel Fuels – Sacramento, CA)

More Coverage on this Topic

• Coalition for E85 forms
• E85 ethanol in the US: dead or alive?
• POET, Cleveland Auto Show, National FFV Campaign partner for E85 giveaway cards
• 7 Changes, 7 Rationales for Ethanol Policy: Rapier
• Opinion: "Instead of exporting ethanol from the Midwest to New York we should make sure that E85 dominates the local markets."
• Growth Energy offers $2500 to assist E85 conversion, $5000 for E30, E85 blender pumps
• Iowa RFA says E85 more efficient than gasoline on a price-per-mile basis
• As E15 receives the full court press from ethanol lobbies, E85 languishes

Tags: E85, ethanol, Propel, The Faces of Biofuels

Category: Consumers & Fleets, Producer News