During a grand opening event at the Bay Area’s newest renewable fuel station in Oakland, CA, Propel Fuels along with partners from the California Department of General Services, California Energy Commission, CALSTART & East Bay Clean Cities, formally launched Propel’s Bay Area operations, which will include more than 20 stations across the Bay, with up to 10 open by the year’s end.
The event also announced a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and California Energy Commission (CEC) to build and operate 75 retail renewable fuel stations throughout California over the next two years.
From Left: Director Joel A. Ayala Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Matt Horton, CEO, Propel Fuels. Steve Sokolsky, represents both East Bay Clean Cities and CALSTART. Commissioner Anthony Eggert, California Energy Commission
The station development project, know as the Low Carbon Fuel Infrastructure Investment Initiative (LCFI3), has the potential to create more than 450 green jobs in California, while displacing 39 million gallons of petroleum and 187,500 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Posted in At the Pump, Biodiesel, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, News Links, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations
Tagged Biodiesel, propel, biofuel, ethanol, diesel, fleet, Flex Fuel, E85, biodiesel driver, Propel customer, E85 driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, Propel stations
Ford’s new offering to the police force comes equipped with an E85-compatible 3.5L V6 engine that boasts 280 horsepower.
The Interceptor SUV and sedan will both be built at a Chicago Assembly Plant–American-built vehicles that can use American-made fuel.
Read more about the Ford Police Interceptor.
Posted in Emissions, Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Vehicles, blog
Tagged biofuel, ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, V6 Flex Fuel, E85 driver, alternative fuel, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel
With a free computer upgrade, Ford gives its 6.7-L PowerStroke V8 turbocharged diesel engines an added boost of fuel efficiency. This translates to a 20% increase in efficiency for the 2011 Super Duty diesel pickups over last year’s models.
Ford is providing upgrades free for all current owners of a 2011 Super Duty diesel pickup. The upgrade will entail a 30 minute software adjustment by a dealership service department–customers will receive information in the mail regarding the upgrade beginning August 31st.
Want another added bonus? Ford supports the use of Biodiesel B20 blend in all new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engines.
Read more from Green Car Congress.
Posted in Biodiesel, Green Business, News Links, Vehicles, blog
Tagged Biodiesel, propel, biofuel, diesel, ford diesel, biodiesel driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, power stroke diesel, b20 biodiesel
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is helping to create independence from imported oil,
providing security to our nation in a whole new way. The base has announced the addition of E85 Flex Fuel, a change that positively affects our economy, our environment and our security.
Government Flex Fuel vehicles are required to use E85 to help meet Federal renewable fuel goals. An executive order states that federal agencies need to reduce energy intensity by 3 percent each year, leading to a reduction of 30 percent by the end of 2015.
“Ethanol is a much safer source of fuel for our environment,” said 1st Lt. Delwyn Campo, 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron, fuels management flight commander. “Along with implementing biodiesel in 2003, E85 is just another great step JB MDL is making toward a long-term environmental change.”
The joint base has two E85 fuel tanks – a 12,000-gallon tank at McGuire and a 10,000-gallon tank at Lakehurst – that are available for flex-fuel government vehicles. There are currently 261 vehicles at McGuire and 43 vehicles at Lakehurst that are E85 capable.
“It’s important for us as a country to start moving away from our dependence on petroleum-based fuels,” said Col. Gina Grosso, JB MDL commander. “This is a big step in that direction, and the joint base is now a model for this initiative.”
Read More
Posted in Emissions, Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, News Links
Tagged ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel
Find, edit and update E85 retail locations–all from your iPhone.
The Renewable Fuels Association recently released a new iPhone App, E85 Fuelfinder–view in iTunes Preview–to help drivers locate E85 access nation-wide.
Users can add favorite stations, get driving directions, and view or update fuel prices. The application costs $1.99 and is available from the Apple App Store.
Read more from DomesticFuel.com.
Posted in Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, News Links, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations
Tagged propel, biofuel, ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, Propel customer, E85 driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, e85 iphone app, find e85
The old rules of racing are being challenged as cleaner and more efficient automotive fuels find
their way to the track. Project Green, a group of researchers from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has found that modern fuel-injected engines powered by E-85, outperform the same engine with a carburetor and leaded racing fuel. The cleaner burning fuel injection engines have been replacing carburetors since the 80s, except on the track.
“The testing disproves two widely and firmly held beliefs in the circle track racing community: that carbureted engines are inherently more powerful than engines equipped with a fuel injection system; and that E-85, which is less expensive than leaded racing fuel, is not well-suited as a fuel for race cars”, says Forrest Jehlik, principal mechanical engineer at Argonne’s Center for Transportation Technology.
Read more http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News/2010/news100707.html
“The definition of the World Green Car of the Year was expanded a bit today when the World Car of The Year organization named Volkswagen‘s BlueMotion product brand – including the Polo, Passat, and Golf models – as the 2010 World Green Car during the 2010 New York Auto Show. The 59-member jury’s statement declaring BlueMotion the winner took a swipe at hybrid technology when is said:
It is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency. Based on Volkswagen’s common-rail diesel engines, the BlueMotion models are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. In fact, the Passat BlueMotion can travel just about 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel in the European cycle. As far as internal combustion engines go today, these models are the ultimate you can get.
Even with these critical words, the organization did pick the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight as the Green Car of the Year runners-up. In other World COTY news, the VW Polo won the overall World Car of the Year title.”
Read more from Autoblog Green.
Find out where to fill up your diesel with cleaner burning biodiesel in California and Washington.
Posted in At the Pump, Biodiesel, Driver Testimonials, Emissions, Green Business, News Links, Retail locations, Vehicles
Tagged Biodiesel, propel, biofuel, diesel, VW, biodiesel driver, Propel customer, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, Volkswagen TDI
The Clean Air Choice Team, lead by the American Lung Association in North Dakota, encourages drivers to choose American-made fuel this Independence Day weekend.
E85 Flex Fuel is a new option at the pump for most drivers. The goal of the Clean Air Choice Team is to educate consumers about E85 fuel and its compatibility with flexible fuel vehicles.
Robert Moffitt, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association in North Dakota, said, “we calculate that if a single flex fuel vehicle is fueled with E85 instead of gasoline for a year, it prevents 4 tons of emissions from entering our air.”
The Clean Air Choice team has launch a North Dakota campaign encouraging drivers to fill tanks with E85 over the 4th of July weekend. Every trip to the pump is an opportunity to choose cleaner burning, domestically produced fuel.
Celebrate your freedom to choose what type of fuel to put in your car, truck or van. Find out if your vehicle can use Flex Fuel E85.
Posted in At the Pump, Emissions, Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, News Links, Retail locations, Vehicles
Tagged propel, ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, Propel customer, E85 driver, alternative fuel, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel
You’re on your summer road trip cross-country, tank gage edging toward empty, you need to find the nearest E85 pump asap — simple, use the TomTom GPS App to navigate toward the closest E85 location.
The application, released by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), maps out the location of E85 fueling outlets all across the country. Flex Fuel Vehicles drivers can download the app to TomTom or Garmin GPS devises at www.ChooseEthanol.com.
Upon announcing the new app, Robert White, RFA Director of Market Development said, “We are continuing to explore new ways to connect the consumer with ethanol-blended fuels. TomTom and Garmin represent 67% of all GPS devices sold in the United States, and with our cooperation with the Department of Energy on station locations, this will continue to yield great results.”
To see a map of E85 stations across the US, visit the US Department of Energy’s interactive map.
Posted in At the Pump, Emissions, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, News Links, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations
Tagged biofuel, ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, Propel customer, E85 driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel
Monday morning, Senator Patty Murray (D – WA) & Propel hosted a press conference to discuss support for the Biodiesel Blenders Tax Credit and its positive impacts on job growth, carbon emissions reduction and national security. Since the tax credit was left to expire in January, US biodiesel production has largely screeched to a halt. As a result, many producers including Imperium Renewables have looked to markets outside of the US to sell its fuel. The industry’s message was clear; renew the tax credit and our industry will immediately increase production, and create jobs.
The event was held at Propel Fuels Clean Fuel Point, the first renewable fuels station in downtown Seattle, Senator Murray was joined by the leaders of companies from up and down the biodiesel value chain (bioscience, refining, production and retail consumer access), who discussed the importance of the extension of the tax credit currently being debated in Congress.
Speakers included Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels, Todd Ellis, VP of Business Development for Imperium Renewables, Dr. Margaret McCormick, COO for Targeted Growth, and Cameron Hewes, President and CEO of General Biodiesel.
Posted in At the Pump, Big Oil, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Production, Biodiesel Quality, Biodiesel Research, Climate Change, Cold Weather Biodiesel, Emissions, Feedstocks, Green Business, Green House Gases (GHG), Introduction, Media, Next Generation Feedstock, Nox, Particulates, Politics, Propel Customers, Retail locations, Vehicles, blog
Of all the tons of corrugated cardboard recycled by the Cedar Rapids paper mill in Iowa, 5 percent of fibers from old containers cannot be recycled, which equates to about 50,000 tons of paper waste ending up in a landfill every year. Fiberight LLC plans to change this.
Fiberight has partnered with International Paper Cedar River to convert waste paper into cellulosic ethanol fuel. The clean tech company converted a first-generation corn ethanol plant in Blairstown, Iowa into a cellulosic ethanol production facility.
According to Todd Olstad, the paper mill’s operations manager, “through Fiberight’s new facility, we can now be assured that whatever recycled fiber can’t be made into new packaging can be used to create green energy, while helping us offset our disposal cost.”
By 2011, Fiberight’s facility will reach a final commercial production capacity of about 6 million gallons of cellulosic fuel per year.
Read more about Fiberight’s cellulosic fuel plant.
Posted in Biodiesel, Biodiesel Production, Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Next Generation Feedstock
Tagged biofuel, ethanol, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, waste feedstock, second generation fuel, biofuel feedstock, waste into fuel
With production expected to begin next year, Colorado-based ZeaChem has broke ground on a cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Boardman, OR. The plant will use ZeaChem’s core technology, to produce ethyl acetate, a salable chemical intermediate that can turn poplar tree waste into cellulosic ethanol. The biorefinery is expected to produce up to 250,000 gallons per year.
“Breaking ground on ZeaChem’s biorefinery in Boardman is a significant milestone,” said Jim Imbler, president and chief executive officer of ZeaChem. “As a leader in this industry, ZeaChem is committed to producing economical and sustainable advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals, creating jobs, and being a good neighbor in the community.”
ZeaChem is receiving $25 million in stimulus money for the plant that will create 300 direct and indirect jobs.
Read Press Release.
UC Davis test plot yields for advanced biofuel crops prove fruitful.
Findings from a three year switchgrass trial have shown increasing yields, from twelve to eighteen tons per acre depending on the site. Several switchgrass varieties were tested at facilities in El Centro & at UC Davis. Switchgrass has the potential to be a whole-plant cellulosic ethanol feedstock and is considered an important crop for the future of renewable fuels. The hardy grass begins its annual growth in the spring and can grow 4-7 feet tall. Leaves measure 30-90 centimeters in length.
Switchgrass uses C4 carbon fixation which means it is fairly efficient in the photosynthesis process and tolerates drought and high temperatures. The grass has low fertilizer requirements and grows well on marginal land.
Many of these hearty crops can grow on marginal lands and have the potential to produce biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol, and provide a new revenue source for American framers.
Read more about advanced feedstock research from Western Farm Press.
Posted in Biodiesel, Biodiesel Production, Biodiesel Research, Ethanol Research, Feedstocks, Green Business, News Links, Next Generation Feedstock, Uncategorized
Tagged Biodiesel, biofuel, ethanol, biodiesel driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, next generation, next generation fuel, biofuel feedstock, advanced biofuel
Propel customer, Essential Baking Company, is highlighted in the latest edition of the National Biodiesel Board’s monthly bulletin.
“The Web site for The Essential Baking Company in Seattle says it all: “We’re fussy. Fussy about taste, the texture of our bread, the flakiness of our pastry, the richness of our desserts, and preserving the time-honored techniques of baking. And don’t even get us started about the importance of the pureness of what we put into our bodies or our impact on the environment.”
That commitment to the environment is fulfilled in part by using 99 percent biodiesel . . .” Read more from the National Biodiesel board.
Posted in At the Pump, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Production, Biodiesel Quality, Biodiesel Research, Driver Testimonials, Emissions, Green Business, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations, Vehicles, blog
Tagged Biodiesel, propel, biofuel, diesel, biodiesel driver, Propel customer, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel
Add another flex fuel capable model to the list. All 2011 Buick Regals will be flex fuel ready starting this fall. The retooled 2.0-liter direct injected turbo engine is designed with alternative fuel in mind. The new design will increase fuel efficiency while using Flex Fuel E85.
As technology continues to improve, future engines will maintain the same level of fuel efficiency whether using flex fuel or petroleum gasoline.
Read more from autoblog.com.
See a list of all Flex Fuel Vehicle models.
Posted in Climate Change, Emissions, Energy Balance, Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Vehicles, blog
Tagged 2011 ffv, alternative fuel, buick regal, domestic fuel, E85, E85 driver, ethanol, Flex Fuel, flex fuel buick, Green Business, low-carbon fuel
GM recently announced that it will invest more than $890 million to renovate five North American plants, creating or retaining more than 1,600 jobs and producing a new generation of fuel efficient, E85 compatible engines.
Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, stated, “these latest investments show our commitment to improving fuel economy for buyers of every GM car, truck and crossover and giving them the best possible driving and ownership experience.”
The new small block engine family will gain fuel efficiency through direct injection, a redesigned combustion system, and lighter aluminum engine blocks. GM says, “in addition to being E85 ethanol capable, these engines are being designed with the capability to meet increasingly stringent criteria emissions standards expected throughout this decade.”
Read more on GM’s new investment.
Posted in Emissions, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, News Links, Vehicles
Tagged alternative fuel, domestic fuel, E85, ethanol, Flex Fuel, flex fuel compatible, GM flex fuel, Green Business, green jobs, low-carbon fuel
Earlier this week, Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer train made its first journey powered by B20 biodiesel.
The Heartland Flyer will run on tallow-based B20 biodiesel for the next year with plans to potentially expand the program to the entire system. The Heartland Flyer uses over 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel every year on its 400-mile route between Fort Worth, TX and Oklahoma City, OK.
The biodiesel test program is funded by a federal government grant. Amtrak will monitor and track train performance and emission reductions from the use of biodiesel.
The majority of Amtrak’s passenger trains burn petroleum diesel. In one year, Amtrak trains use over 62 million gallons of fuel. Switching to B20 biodiesel would significantly reduce consumption of petroleum diesel and has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by almost 200 million pounds.
More about the Heartland Flyer’s biodiesel test.
Posted in Biodiesel, Biodiesel Quality, Biodiesel Research, Climate Change, Emissions, Green Business, News Links, Propel Biofuels, Uncategorized
Tagged Biodiesel, biofuel, diesel, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, waste feedstock, amtrak biodiesel
Come celebrate Earth Day with Propel in Sacramento on Thursday, April 22, 2010 from 9am – 2pm at Cesar Chavez Park at 10th and I Streets. Propel will be giving away FREE FUEL CARDS to lucky flex fuel and biodiesel drivers.
Enjoy free entertainment, interactive learning and celebrate the earth! For more information please call the Earth Day HOTLINE (916) 808-6525.
Find Propel Events on Facebook
Posted in Biodiesel, Climate Change, Flex Fuel E85, Pricing, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations, Vehicles, blog
Tagged Biodiesel, earth day, Flex Fuel, Free Fuel, Propel Event, Sacramento
Trade in your charcoal barbaque for a cleaner burning alternative–grill with ethanol using FlameDisk®. Sologear, a Wisconsin-based company, developed FlameDisk® technology to create a new, more ecofriendly heat source for existing grills. The grilling technology uses solidified ethanol, it lights quickly and is ready to cook right away.
Sologear describes FlameDisk® as ”much more eco-friendly than charcoal and lighter fluid because it features renewable ethanol. Ethanol is extremely clean burning and generates 90% fewer pollutants than charcoal. The FlameDisk®’s aluminum casing is also recyclable.”
More about FlameDisk®.
In January, American drivers displaced 784,000 barrels of foreign oil every day by using American-made ethanol fuel, the most renewable fuel ever used in America’s history. A big thanks to all Propel customers who contributed by choosing to fill their vehicles with renewable, homegrown Flex Fuel E85.
Together, we can change what we put in our tanks, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and support domestically-produced, cleaner burning fuel.
Read more from Domestic Fuel.
Posted in At the Pump, Driver Testimonials, Emissions, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations
Tagged alternative fuel, biofuel, domestic fuel, E85, E85 driver, ethanol, Flex Fuel, flex fuel tahoe, ford ffv, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, propel, Propel customer
Mazda recently announced that it plans to bring a mid-sized diesel vehicle to the United States by 2012. This will be Mazda’s first diesel sold in the U.S.–the vehicle will use the new SKY-D engine and have a 43 mpg highway rating.
Compared to the current diesel engine design, the diesel SKY-D will be 20 percent more fuel-efficient, have more torque, and have a ceramic diesel particulate filter which will meet American emission regulations.
More about Mazda’s upcoming diesel.
Posted in Biodiesel, Emissions, Green Business, Vehicles
Tagged alternative fuel, Biodiesel, biodiesel driver, biofuel, diesel vehicle, domestic fuel, fuel efficiency, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, mazda diesel
No news on the price tag, but Lamborghini aims to make its new generation more efficient, meet a 35 percent CO2 reduction goal and add E85 fuel compatibility.
A post from Car and Driver reports that Lamborghini is working on “stop/start capability to thrift fuel in urban settings, cylinder deactivation—so that both the V-10 and the V-12 can operate on half as many cylinders—E85 compatibility, and possibly even a mild-hybrid solution.”
Lamborghini will also utilize carbon fiber to reduce the weight of the vehicle and offset any weight-gain from incorporating a hybrid system. Lamborghini collaborated with the University of Washington and Boeing to create the Automobili Lamborghini Composite Structures Laboratory (ACSL). Look for further developments in this field as carbon fiber costs are predicted to decline by 2012 – 2014.
Read more about Lamborghini from Car and Driver.
Posted in Emissions, Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Green House Gases (GHG), Vehicles
Tagged biofuel, ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, E85 driver, alternative fuel, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, Lamborghini, lamborghini E85, E85 compatibility
Chrysler’s new flex fuel-ready, V-6 engine goes into production this week, as part of an overhaul to Chrysler’s powertrain lineup. Not only will engines be fully flex fuel compatible, fuel efficiency will also increase by 25 percent over the next four years.
The new Pentastar V-6 engine will be available in Chrysler, Ram Truck, Jeep and Dodge models. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be the first model to debut the revamped engine, which boasts a 38 percent increase in horsepower, 11 percent increase in torque and 11 percent fuel economy improvement. Read more from Motor Authority.
Is your current vehicle compatible with Flex Fuel E85? Find out now.
Posted in Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Vehicles
Tagged biofuel, ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, Chrysler, V6 Flex Fuel, E85 driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel, Chrysler flex fuel, fuel efficiency
Last Wednesday’s event brought drivers across Sacramento to Propel stations to fill with E85 Flex Fuel for $0.85/gallon. New and returning customers were happy to brave the morning’s stormy weather to fill their tanks with low-carbon, domestically produced E85.
Drivers across the region joined together to reduce approximately 30,000 lbs of CO2 and save over $10,000 at the pump–in just one day!
Propel team members enjoyed meeting new customers at the pumps on Wednesday, as well as catching up with many loyal Propel users. We appreciate all your comments and suggestions on ways to improve customer experience at the pumps.
See more pictures from the event on our Facebook page.
Posted in At the Pump, Driver Testimonials, Emissions, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Green Business, Green House Gases (GHG), Pricing, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations, Vehicles
Tagged alternative fuel, biofuel, domestic fuel, E85, E85 driver, ethanol, Event, Flex Fuel, flex fuel tahoe, ford ffv, low-carbon fuel, propel, Propel customer
On Wednesday, February 24th, Propel will offer E85 Ethanol for $.85/gallon at all Sacramento locations. The goal of the program, in partnership with CALSTART, is to help inform the 25,000 Flex Fuel drivers in Sacramento of the economic savings and environmental benefits of fueling with domestically produced, low carbon fuel. Join us at the pump on Wednesday from 9 am to 6 pm!
Promotion Details
Where: All Propel Sacramento area locations – see map
When: Wednesday, February 24, 9 am – 6 pm
More Info: Email info@propelfuels.com or call 1.800.871.0773
Not sure if you have a Flex Fuel Vehicle?
E85 capable Flex Fuel vehicles can be identified by the manufacturer’s vehicle badge, yellow gas cap, or by checking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) online. Find out if your vehicle is E85 compatible by checking online at www.propelfuels.com/driveE85.
Posted in At the Pump, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Pricing, Propel Biofuels, Propel Customers, Retail locations
Tagged alternative fuel, biofuel, domestic fuel, E85, E85 driver, ethanol, Flex Fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, propel, Propel customer
Engine technology is beginning to catch up with alternative fuels. How an engine is designed can directly improve fuel economy for alternative fuels like E85, and
Ricardo is making great strides in this direction with their Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection (EBDI) technology. Ricardo estimates that an E85 fuel economy improvement of up to 30 percent is possible with no loss of power or performance, using their EBDI engine in place of currently available gasoline power train. That makes E85 more efficient then gasoline.
So the testing begins. Two demonstrator vehicles are to be produced incorporating Ricardo’s EBDI engine technology showing that extreme optimization of ethanol combustion can enable engine downsizing of the order of 50 percent and still deliver substantial fuel economy and CO2 emission improvements from a cost-effective, high performance, inherently low emission power train. The project will use Ricardo’s EBDI flex fuel engine, developed from a production V6 gasoline engine, to repower two GMC Sierra 3500 HD pickup trucks, each with a curb weight of 6,000 pounds. Ricardo and partner Growth Energy have announced the project aims to show the market-readiness of Ricardo’s EBDI technology, which optimizes flex-fuel vehicles to burn ethanol with consumer value, horsepower and fuel economy comparable to gasoline. All that and independence from foreign oil. We wish them luck!
Read more.
Posted in Ethanol Research, Flex Fuel, Flex Fuel E85, Vehicles
Tagged ethanol, Flex Fuel, E85, E85 driver, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, E85 Engine
Enterprise, the largest vehicle rental company in North America, announced plans to fuel their entire airport shuttle fleet of more than 600 buses on biodiesel. Most shuttle buses will begin by using a B5 biodiesel blend, while in nine regions, buses will use a B20 blend with the intention of converting the entire bus fleet to B20 in the next five years.
By switching to biodiesel, the Enterprise fleet will reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of retiring 40 shuttle buses and will reduce petroleum use by 420,000 gallons–in the first year alone.
In California, Propel Fuels and Enterprise have formed a partnership aimed to educate Enterprise customers on the availability and benefits of alternative fuels, and to fuel Enterprise’s rental cars with renewable E85.
Read more from Enterprise.
Posted in Biodiesel, Biodiesel Quality, Emissions, Energy Balance, Green Business, Green House Gases (GHG), News Links, Propel Biofuels, Vehicles
Tagged Biodiesel, propel, biofuel, diesel, Flex Fuel, biodiesel driver, Propel customer, alternative fuel, Green Business, low-carbon fuel, domestic fuel
