Marine-friendly image finds Gevo’s isobutanol pumping from its first retail station

In Texas, Express Lube of Fredericksburg has become the first U.S. service station to sell gasoline blended with Gevo’s renewable isobutanol at the pump. The company said that this is anticipated to be the first of many retail locations to offer Gevo’s product as the company rolls out its isobutanol to the marina, outdoor equipment and off-road gasoline markets.

According to Express Lube owner Adam Sheffield, he decided to sell isobutanol-blended gasoline because its moisture resistance and capacity to reduce engine corrosion are ideal for equipment and vehicles that are used intermittently. Sheffield learned about Gevo’s renewable isobutanol from Kino Oil, a local distributor that sells the product in drums. Kino began to offer the fuel made with isobutanol after finding that it is ethanol-free and is excellent for use with marine and off-road engines.

As a result of this improved performance provided by isobutanol-blended gasoline, Express Lube has been selling its fuel at over a 50 percent premium in comparison to local E10 gasoline blends (10 percent ethanol).

Concern over the performance of ethanol blends has been the subject of intense controversy, but is one reason propelling an astonishing growth rate in ethanol-free (G0) stations. Here is an opportunity to be renewable and ethanol-free, for those who seek it.

“Isobutanol is great for weed eaters, mowers and farm or ranch equipment that sits unused for long periods of time – because it does not cause carburetors to gum up the way ethanol does,” says Sheffield. “I tried it myself after discovering that the ethanol-blended gasoline sitting in my riding mower over the winter had ruined the carburetor. It cost me $700 to replace. That’s when I switched to isobutanol.”

“We welcome Express Lube as the very first retail service station to sell gasoline made with our isobutanol. It’s only a matter of time before other distributors and gas stations across the U.S. and in other parts of the world discover the benefits of isobutanol, and begin to offer our product commercially as well,” said Gevo CEO Pat Gruber.