Entries from April 2009
Propel and Enterprise Rent-A-Car have partnered to increase use of alternative fuels across Sacramento. This first-of-its-kind program aims to educate Enterprise customers on availability and benefits of alternative fuels, and fuel Enterprise’s rental cars with renewable E85.
Enterprise has the largest “Flex Fuel” rental fleet in the nation with over 73,000 vehicles able to run on standard gasoline or E85. Twelve Enterprise locations in the Sacramento region will participate in the pilot program, giving customers an opportunity to try alternative fuels when they rent a Flex Fuel vehicle. Customers will have access to Propel Flex Fuel at five locations across the Sacramento region.
“We’ve seen an increase in customers looking for more environmentally friendly options from us,” said Chris Littlejohn, Sacramento Area Manager of Enterprise. “We continue to increase our offerings of alternative technologies and environmentally friendly vehicles, and this includes Flex Fuel vehicles, but up until now there were few places for our customers to purchase E85 fuel. With Propel’s launch, and their plans to expand, we can now offer our customers more options and with better access to low-carbon fuels.”
“All it takes is a few leading companies to put a stake in the ground and say they’re going to be part of the solution,” said Rob Elam, President and Co-Founder of Propel Fuels. “Enterprise is making it easy for consumers to drive Flex Fuel vehicles while they are on business or vacation. It’s a great way for people to experience the satisfaction of purchasing clean, domestically produced fuels. Our hope is that this translates into greater consumer demand for environmentally friendly fuels and vehicles.”
Read more about the Propel partnership and Enterprise’s green program.
Categories: Biodiesel · Flex Fuel · Green Business · Propel Biofuels · Retail locations · Vehicles
Tagged: E85, ethanol, fleet, Flex Fuel, propel
Last Friday, Propel team members spent the day volunteering at the third annual DownStream Fly Fishing event. The program offers children with Down Syndrome a chance to spend a day outdoors with family and volunteers fly fishing.
Program founder, Ryan Miller, hopes “that through fly fishing, children with Down Syndrome can improve coordination, fine tune motor skills, boost social skills and attain a sense of accomplishment while having fun.”
We certainly had a great time — kids and volunteers alike!
The program hosted other activities in addition to fishing — we tied flies, practiced casting and made watercolor art.
We look forward to participating in DownStream 2010.
Learn more about DownStream Fly Fishing and how you can be a sponsor or volunteer, here.
Categories: Propel Biofuels
Tagged: Event, volunteer event
Propel Community members share their stories.
Rocklin, CA – Rocklin Clean Fuel Point – Thursday, April 23rd
Bud is hoping for a Propel station in Nevada County, but until then, he’s happy to fill his Ford F-250 with biodiesel in Rocklin.
“People have told me that it runs more quietly now that I’ve been using biodiesel — less knocks,” says Bud.
Biodiesel does enhance engine lubricity, making diesel engines run more smoothly. Many drivers testify to a smoother, quieter ride with biodiesel fuel.
Categories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Biodiesel Quality · Climate Change · Driver Testimonials · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations · Vehicles · blog
Tagged: Biodiesel, propel, diesel, ford diesel
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Propel joined Whole Foods Market Roseville at the first annual Everyday is Earth Day celebration. It was an afternoon chalked full of activities for kids, organic food tasting, and eco-friendly information.
We met several Propel customers at the Earth Day event and informed many future customers of our near-by location in Rocklin, CA.
Whole Foods was happy to share great ways to help the planet (and body) by eating organic, using green cleaners, reducing packaging, and more.
Find out about future events at Whole Foods Market Roseville.
Categories: Biodiesel · Emissions · Flex Fuel · Green Business · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers
Tagged: Biodiesel, E85, earth day, ethanol, Flex Fuel, propel, whole foods
Propel community members share their stories.
Bellevue, WA – Factoria Clean Fuel Point – Thursday, April 23rd
On an uncharacteristically sunny spring afternoon in Washington, we met Nicki at the Bellevue/Factoria station. Nicki, proudly displays her son’s 1995 Jetta TDI.
A native of Germany, Nicki is a big fan of the TDI platform, the Jetta is one of three she has at her home in Mercer Island, WA. “I fill all three of them with Propel biodiesel,” she says proudly. We certainly appreciate her love of TDIs and her support of clean fuels!
Categories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Driver Testimonials · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations · Vehicles
Tagged: Biodiesel, propel, biofuel, diesel, VW
Propel community members share their stories.
Sacramento, CA – Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – Wednesday, April 15th
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.
The 3.0L Ford Ranger, model years 1999 – 2000, and the 3.0L Supercab Ranger, model years 2001 – 2003, with a “V” as the 8th character of the VIN, are Flex Fuel capable. To see a list of all FFV models, click here.
Categories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Driver Testimonials · Flex Fuel · Propel Customers · Retail locations · blog
Tagged: E85, ethanol, Flex Fuel, ford ffv, propel
Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6 engine lineup debuted at the New York Auto Show in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The new V6 engine, designed for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models, will be flex fuel capable.
Chrysler announced, “the Pentastar V6 is designed to run on regular gasoline, offering a 10 percent reduction in fuel cost compared with premium fueled engines. The engine also is fully flex fuel capable, offering consumers the choice of gasoline or E85 fuel without any degradation in performance or emissions.”
Overall, the new V6 engine is said to improve fuel efficiency on average by eight percent over the previous model.
To learn about Chrysler’s current lineup of Flex Fuel E85 compatible vehicles, click here.
Categories: Emissions · Flex Fuel · Vehicles
Tagged: Chrysler, E85, ethanol, Flex Fuel, V6 Flex Fuel
Propel community members share their stories.
Citrus Heights, CA — Citrus Heights Clean Fuel Point — Tuesday, April 14th
Yes! Solar Solutions, a Propel Clean Fleet partner, regularly fills up their rigs with biodiesel. This Tuesday, we met Robert filling the Ford F350 in Citrus Heights. The truck sported a super-sized fleet biodiesel bumper sticker.
As a renewable energy company, Yes! Solar Solutions is glad to have access to an alternative fuel product for their current fleet of vehicles. As Robert put it, “anything to help the environment, right?”
Categories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Driver Testimonials · Green Business · Propel Customers · Retail locations · Vehicles · blog
Tagged: Biodiesel, propel, diesel, fleet
The Audi Q7 TDI will be available in U.S. dealerships later this month. Buyers of the new 2009 diesel will qualify to receive a $1,150 Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit from the IRS — which may take a little of the edge off the hefty price tag. The premium package starts at $50,900, while the base price is a slightly more palatable $43,500.
With an EPA fuel mileage rating of 17 city and 25 miles per gallon highway, the Audi Q7 provides a 30% better fuel economy than gasoline engines of a similar size according to Audi of America.
Read more from Autoblog Green.
Categories: Biodiesel · Vehicles
Tagged: audi, Biodiesel, diesel
Propel community members share their stories.
Seattle, WA – South Lake Union Station – Wednesday, April 8th
Propel Clean Fleet partners Port Supply and Tree Cycle were filling up with biodiesel at Propel’s South Lake Union location in Downtown Seattle.
Port Supply Seattle is a local wholesale marine products supplier that’s been doing business on Lake Union for years. They are seeing more interest in marine applications for alternative fuels, and are currently fueling their land-based Sprinter fleet with biodiesel.
Also met up with Tree Cycle, an innovative Seattle company committed to safety, high quality tree care and environmental stewardship. Their owner Peter Gruenwoldt is deeply committed to preserving the health of our urban forest. More information about arborist services is available at www.treecycleseattle.com.
Categories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Driver Testimonials · Green Business · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations · blog
Tagged: Biodiesel, fleet, propel
On display at the New York Auto Show, the Mercedes E 250 BlueTEC concept is designed specifically for release in States, meeting all the strictest emission standards including U.S. Bin 5 compliance.
Mercedes estimates ratings of 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway from the EPA.
More E 250 stats.
Categories: Biodiesel · Emissions · Green House Gases (GHG) · Vehicles
Tagged: Biodiesel, diesel, Mercedes
Propel community members share their stories.
Rocklin, CA – Rocklin Clean Fuel Point – Tuesday, April 7th
Met Linda this afternoon at the Rocklin pump. She regularly makes her way down from Penryn to fill up her Flex Fuel Tahoe and has been using the Rocklin Clean Fuel Point since the fuel started flowing early this year. She’s excited to have access to E85 closer to home. In fact, she has happily shown three new customers the ins-and-outs of using the Propel location.
We often meet Tahoe drivers at Propel pumps. Chevrolet has been making the Tahoe 5.3L Flex Fuel compatible since 2002 and the 6.2L model as of 2009.
Most Tahoes have an identifying Flex Fuel badge, but you can also check your vehicle owners manuel or VIN number for compatiblity — visit Can you drive E85 FlexFuel?
Categories: At the Pump · Biodiesel · Driver Testimonials · Flex Fuel · Propel Biofuels · Propel Customers · Retail locations · Vehicles · blog
Tagged: E85, ethanol, Flex Fuel, propel, tahoe
Propel Fuels, in partnership with Bosch and Neste Oil, helped power California Diesel Days with next generation NExBTL green diesel. Green diesel, also known as renewable diesel, is a synthetic diesel product derived from bio-based oils and fats, and is suitable for use in all diesel motors. This renewable alternative to petroleum improves air quality by reducing particle emissions and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Several of the top-end diesel vehicles displayed at Diesel Days ran on NExBTL.
On display were advanced clean diesels from serveral manufacturers: Mercedes-Benz ML 320 and GL 320, BMW 335d and X5, Audi Q7 and A3 diesel and from Volkswagen, the Jetta TDI and V6 Touareg TDI.
California Diesel Days brought together automotive industry, state government, and environmental organization representatives focusing on clean diesel passanger vehicle technology. The conference topics included CO2 reduction strategies for California, the latest clean vehicle technologies, and the future of Clean Diesel passenger vehicles.
More on Propel’s participation in California Diesel Days.
Categories: Biodiesel · Biodiesel Quality · Biodiesel Research · Emissions · Green Business · Green House Gases (GHG) · Next Generation Feedstock · Propel Biofuels · Vehicles
Propel Biofuels Making Ethanol and Biodiesel Refueling Easier
“There’s an oddly singular focus in Washington DC these days on electric drive. But what’s holding up the widespread use of ‘green’ alternative fuels like biodiesel and E85, especially in states like California that have long been at the leading edge of alternative fuel vehicle efforts? It’s definitely not the technology. Right now, there are millions of flexible-fuel vehicles already on American roads that can use the industry-standard E85 mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Also, most vehicles with a diesel engine can use biodiesel – especially lower blends like B5, B10, and even B20 – “
Find out what’s holding up the use of alternative fuels. Read more from GreenCar.com . . .
Categories: Biodiesel · Flex Fuel · Green Business · News Links · Propel Biofuels · Retail locations · blog
