Tag Archives: E85 driver

Study finds E85 increases efficiency offsetting MPG loss

PropelCD5_E85_pumpA study released by the University of Nebraska found that E85 delivers more efficiency over higher petroleum fuel blends, offsetting much of the loss in Miles Per Gallon (MPG) typically attributed to E85. The study illustrates that when calculating fuel MPG performance, both the energy density of the fuel (BTUs), and the energy efficiency must be accounted for.

The report tested light, medium and heavy vehicles showing E85 improved energy conversion by 13, 9 and 14 percent respectively when compared to higher petroleum blends. This increased efficiency translates into an MPG decrease of only 14 to 19 percent depending on vehicle size using E85, showing that energy density and efficiency of fuel both factor into overall MPG performance.

This difference in MPG is compensated by the lower price of E85 blends at the pump that are on average 20-30% less than regular unleaded. In fact, Propel E85 is nearly 60 cents cheaper than regular gasoline, making E85 the ecomomic choice.

Find the station nearest you.

Read the University of Nebraska study.

US Postal Service Earns Top Environmental Award

USPS Fills at Propel's Citrus Heights, CA location

USPS Fills at Propel's Citrus Heights, CA location

The U.S. Postal Services was awarded the Environmental Achievement of the Year by Postal Technology International magazine. In addition to recycling and energy-efficiency efforts, the Postal Service recently announced plans to replace 6,500 vehicles with 1,000 E85 ethanol-capable and 900 gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles.

In the Sacramento region, the USPS is a loyal customer of Propel clean, American Flex Fuel and biodiesel.

Ford adds Flex Fuel and B20 Biodiesel trucks to the 2011 lineup

In a recent press release, Ford calls attention to the alternative fuel capability of vehicles in their 2011 F-series lineup. Not only is Ford adding a new E85 capable engine, but also will offer a diesel engine compatible with a B20 biodiesel blend.

2011 Ford Super Duty Reveal

Ford announces, “the 2011 F-Series Super Duty boasts all-new powertrains, led by the Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel engine, which delivers significantly improved torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy while maintaining best-in-class towing and payload capability; new engine also has biodiesel compatibility up to B20.”

“A new 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine also is added to the lineup; it also delivers significantly improved torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy; new gas engine can run on regular-grade gasoline, E85 or any blend in between.”

Find out if your current Ford vehicle can use Flex Fuel E85.

Full Ford press release.

Read article from DomesticFuels.com.

At the Pump . . .

Propel community members share their stories.

Rocklin, CA – Rocklin Clean Fuel Point – Thursday, September 3rd.

Martha_Rocklin

Martha has been filling her Ford Explorer with Flex Fuel for the last three months and loves it–especially the price, nearly 70 cents cheaper than regular gasoline.

Her husband noticed that 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–though she’d like to see a station in Grass Valley area sometime soon. She and her husband are big proponents of E85 and spread the word to friends and family.

Can your vehicle run Flex Fuel E85? Find out.

Take our survey, enter to win $300 of FREE FUEL

Propel has teamed up with students from Sacramento State for a summer internship program. Students are conducting short customer surveys at all Propel Sacramento locations– Monday, August 17th through Sunday, August 23rd.

PropelSurvey

Stop by any Propel Sacramento location, take our survey and register to win $300 of FREE fuel. And chat with our friendly interns, they’re doing a great job!

For a map of Propel California locations, visit our station locator.

At the Pump . . .

Propel community members share their stories.

Sacramento, CA – Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – Monday, August 10

Fred_folsom

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.

Right now, Propel’s Flex Fuel E85 is nearly 70 cents cheaper than regular gasoline!

Fred looks forward to Propel stations in the Bay Area and in Fresno.

You can sign up for new station announcements or request a station in your area on Propel’s website.

Propel Customers in the National Spotlight – CNBC Story

CNBC’s The Tech Effect features Propel and reports on the growing access to clean fuels in the Sacramento, California region.

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Propel Fuels offers customers choice at the pump beyond traditional petroleum options. Matt Horton, Propel CEO says, “today we’re selling E85 ethanol and biodiesel, tomorrow we’ll be selling hydrogen and electric vehicle charging–whatever makes sense at the time.”
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Propel customers like Paul Wikoff, choose to use Flex Fuel E85 not only because it is less expensive than regular gasoline, but also for the environmental and health benefits.

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Watch the CNBC clip.

US Postal Service adds numbers to alternative fuel fleet

usps_elkgrove3The United States Postal Service is a regular customer at Propel’s California locations, filling their service vehicles with Flex Fuel E85. Nearly twenty percent of the Postal Service fleet is alternative fuel-capable, the majority of which are Flex Fuel Vehicles.

The USPS recently announced that it will be swapping 1,000 older vehicles for Flex Fuel-capable models as part of a larger replacement program. According to Ethanol Producer Magazine, the purchase of these vehicles “will bring the total number of alternative fuel-capable vehicles in the Postal Service fleet to more than 43,000.”

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Lara, a mail carrier for the USPS, fills her service vehicle with Flex Fuel at Propel’s Elk Grove, CA location.

She likes the lower price of E85 and that it burns cleaner than regular gasoline.

For a list of all Flex Fuel-capable vehicles, visit Propel’s website.

At the Pump . . . Sacramento State

Propel community members share their stories.

Sacramento, CA – Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – June 2009

cacee_ffv_silverado2We met Cacee filling up his rig at Propel’s Folsom Blvd location. The Flex Fuel Chevy Silverado is part of Sacramento State‘s Parking Enforcement fleet.

Cacee has fueled the Sac State vehicle with Flex Fuel E85 since Propel started pumping in the Sacramento region at the beginning of this year.

Sac Sate has a number of Flex Fuel Vehicles and whenever possible they use Propel’s Folsom Blvd pump as it is conveniently close to campus.

Can your vehicle use clean, American-made fuel that is easier on your wallet?

Find out if your vehicle can use Flex Fuel E85.

United States Postal Service runs alternative fuel

USPS fills up with Flex Fuel E85 at Propel’s Rocklin, CA location.

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Comcast…at the Pump

Propel community members share their stories.

Elk Grove, CA – Elk Grove Clean Fuel Point – June 2009

We were excited to meet Comcast technician, Koso, filling his Flex Fuel service van at Propel’s Elk Grove location. Many of the 2009 Ford E-Series commerical vans are flex fuel capable.

comcast_ffv_Kosocomcast_ffv_badge

Comcast makes a concerted effort to deploy alternative fuel vehicles as part of their fleet. Currently, Comcast has over 1,200 flex fuel vehicles.

According to Comcast’s 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report, it has the 2nd largest number of hybrid and alternative fuel capable vehicles in the communications industry.

Comcast pledges to “continue to purchase alternative fuel capable vehicles and use alternative fuels where it proves environmentally beneficial and operationally responsible”.

With the increased access to alternative fuels in the Sacramento area, we hope to see more of Comcast at Propel’s pumps!

At the Pump . . .

Propel community members share their stories.

Rocklin, CA – Rocklin Clean Fuel Point – Thursday, June 11th

tray_f150_ffv

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.

As regular gasoline prices climb, filling with E85 has helped Trey and Melissa save money–sometimes as much as $30 a tank!

At the Pump . . .

lon_suburban_ffvlon_flexfuel_badgePropel community members share their stories.

Sacramento, CA – Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – Friday, June 5th

On a quick trip out to the Folsom Blvd location, we met Lon Hatamiya, former Secretary of Technology, Trade and Commerce for Calfornia, fueling his Chevy Suburban with Flex Fuel E85.

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 earlier this year.

’84 Toyota pick-up converted to run on ethanol

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We met Dave filling up at our Rocklin, CA location. And couldn’t help but notice his enthusiasm for alternative fuel.

He converted his 1984 Toyota pick-up  with the help of David Blume’s book, Alcohol Can Be A Gas!, to run on E85 flex fuel. It’s been four months since he made the conversion and all is going well.

Dave says, “I went from 24 miles per gallon to 22, and the last time I bought fuel, ethanol was $2.05 per gallon and regular was $2.80 at the same station, that’s a lot better miles per dollar.”

Toyota-ethanol-003_web

At the Pump . . .

Propel community members share their stories. 

Sacramento, CA - Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – Wednesday, May 6th

Gam_FolsomWe met Gam filling her Chevy Tahoe with Flex Fuel at the Folsom Blvd Propel pump—located at the Shell station at the intersection of Power Inn Road and Folsom Blvd.

She usually fuels at the Elk Grove location, but as it happens, the Folsom pump is conveniently close to where she works! 

Gam appreciates the fact that Flex Fuel has been significantly cheaper than regular petroleum gasoline.