Success Stories/Case Studies
The following summaries describe some successful E85 fleet operations. You can view the details using the links following the success story summaries. We have also included the contact information for the fleet managers who are willing to help others establish E85 fueling stations.
Quick links to the stories below:
- Above Ground Tank supplies E85 to more than 1,000 FFVs
- Federal Lab Opens California's First E85 Fueling Site
- University Gets E85 Online with Minimal Costs
- 28,000 Gallons of E85 Used Annually, After Permitting Hurdles Were Overcome
- Proper Planning Make E85 Infrastructure Installations Successful
- Power Company Fuels 54 FFVs with 900 Gallons Monthly
- Space Center Dedicated to E85 Use
- Skid Mounting Proves Successful with Electric Company
- Trouble-Free E85 Tank Installation Credited to Project Contractor
- Electric Company has 12,000 Gallon E85 Tank Fueling 69 FFVs
- 6,000-Gallon E85 Above Ground E85 Tank Fuels University Vehicles
Above Ground Tank supplies E85 to more than 1,000 FFVs
Minnesota Department of Administration, Minneapolis, Minnesota
With one above ground tank in a concrete shell, the Minnesota Travel Management Division's (TMD) refueling station stores 2,000 gallons of E85 and receives new fuel deliveries every six weeks. On-line since the early 1990's, Tim Morse, director of the division, says TMD receive their E85 supply from a local supplier that also supplies other stations in the area. The division chose the above ground tank because it "is easier to maintain, as any problems or damage can be visually seen," Morse said.
With 1,130 FFVs in its fleet, the station is used mainly to refuel vehicles returned to the TMD. The site was installed in a cooperative project between the Department of Administration, the State Energy Office, and others.
Federal Lab Opens California's First E85 Fueling Site
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, San Francisco, California
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in 2003 opened the first E85 fueling station in California. A common alternative fuel in the Midwest, E85 has historically been rare on the West Coast.
Because of a state ban on MTBE, an oxygen-boosting gasoline additive, interest in E85 is increasing in California. "It's just a matter of time before it becomes commonplace here," says LBNL site services manager Bill Llewellyn.
When deciding on an alternative fuel, the lab then considered compressed natural gas and propane, but ruled them out because of financial constraints and other incompatibilities. "E85 made the most sense, but we didn't know where we'd get it," Llewellyn says.
LBNL was at a geographic disadvantage when it came to locating an ethanol supplier. Luckily, an Internet search turned up a cheese factory in southern California that could produce ethanol as a by-product of whey.
The station, which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week and features one fuel dispenser and a 4,000-gallon, above ground storage tank, fuels the lab's more than 50 FFVs. LBNL's goal: "to go almost completely to E85," Llewellyn says-a goal the lab continues to strive toward.
University Gets E85 Online with Minimal Costs
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota, oversees two stations offering E85 fueling. The Minneapolis location, opened in July 2000, stores 6,000 gallons. The St. Paul location, opened in November of 2003, stores 4,000 gallons. "We added E85 when we either added or remodeled a fuel island, so cost was minimal," Roberts says.
Both stations receive fuel every four months from the Chippewa Valley Co-op, which also delivers to other E85 locations in the area. As a result of requiring all FFVs to use only E85, the fleet goes through about 1,600 gallons each month. "We are happy. While vehicles on E85 do get lower MPG this is offset by a lower price for fuel," Roberts says.
Roberts suggests using brochures and dashboard notices to encourage drivers to fill with E85, along with placing station lists in glove boxes. He also suggests partnerships as a way to ensure success. "I think partnering would be a good idea. As an example, I believe there are other government entities that have vehicles near my sites that could use my sites," he said.
28,000 Gallons of E85 Used Annually, After Permitting Hurdles Were Overcome
Cinergy Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cinergy has 230 FFVs in its fleet, and goes through about 28,000 gallons of E85 each year. To support this usage, they have two fueling stations, both with above ground storage tanks that hold approximately 2,000 gallons each.
The first station, opened in Cincinnati in 1999, had multiple permitting hurdles to clear, including roofing and containment requirements. Total cost was about $30,000, and it was funded without help from outside sources.
The second station, opened in Plainfield, Indiana, in 2001, is a small, truck-portable unit that can be set up virtually anywhere, needing only an electric line by way of on-site amenities. Cinergy does not own or lease this station—it is owned by Growmark, Inc., which maintains the station on its behalf, provided only that Cinergy buy E85 from them.
Although they are generally happy with E85 use and operation, they have no plans for additional storage facilities because of the permitting requirements they ran into with their first station.
Proper Planning Make E85 Infrastructure Installations Successful
Georgia Power Company, Atlanta, GA
With four 550-gallon above ground tanks, Georgia Power Company's E85 fueling stations provide 3,200 gallons per month to 113 FFVs in its fleet. The stations, open since January of 2003, receive fuel deliveries every two to four weeks from United Energy Distributors.
Total cost for the stations was $45,000. "Don't try to get by cheap—you'll pay for it later with problems," Tony Saxon of Georgia Power Company suggests. "Do the homework up front. Don't assume the builders understand E85. We got information from talking to people putting stations in Minnesota concerning compatible equipment," he said.
Power Company Fuels 54 FFVs with 900 Gallons Monthly
Santee Cooper Power, Moncks Corner, SC
Santee Cooper Power operates three E85 fueling stations, including two in Myrtle Beach and one at their headquarters in Monck's Corner. Each station stores 1,000 gallons, and their 54 FFVs use 900 gallons each month. The E85 supply comes from United Energy, and is delivered every month to Monck's Corner and every two months to Myrtle Beach.
It cost $36,000 for construction of the three sites. "The construction was done by internal (Santee Cooper) folks. It was four months between jobs. We put in containment walls even though we didn't need to. The equipment was delivered quickly," David Vanosdoll of Santee Cooper Power said.
Space Center Dedicated to E85 Use
Stennis Space Center, Mississipi
In 2002, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) instituted One NASA, a concept that seeks to build unity and collaboration among its centers by using agency resources for the common good.
NASA's Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi is a shining example of this commitment. It consistently purchases alternative fuel vehicles to replace those that cycle out in its fleet. Of its fleet of 305 vehicles, 75 are E85 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).
Stennis is dedicated to fueling its FFVs with E85. The center retrofitted one of its two 10,000-gallon gasoline tanks to accommodate E85 and drivers are instructed to use E85 at all times, if possible. To ensure this, drivers are given a key rather than a credit card used to fuel the vehicles. Only if the vehicle leaves the site is the driver issued a credit card to buy gasoline.
Skid Mounting Proves Successful with Electric Company
Tampa Electric, Tampa, FL
Open since early 2001, Tampa Electric's three E85 fueling stations provide fuel for its 49 FFVs, which use about 6,000 gallons each year. The three stations (two on skids, one on a trailer) each store 275 gallons. One will be increased to a 500-gallon tank in the near future. Each station receives fuel on a weekly basis from Ward Oil.
Dan Shields of Tampa Electric explains their decision to use skid mounting. "It saved a lot of trouble, and involved a small tank which simplified things. This meant they were also moveable, so you could close a location and move it to the fleet. Doing skid mounting really avoided the leaking underground storage tank issues, which would have significantly complicated things," he said.
The construction was funded internally, and the company took the EPAct tax deduction.
Trouble-Free E85 Tank Installation Credited to Project Contractor
Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas City, Kansas
With a 5,000-gallon tank supporting 30 FFVs, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities' (KCBPU) E85 fueling station uses approximately 24,000 gallons of E85 each year. The tank, on-line since September 2000, receives fuel every six weeks from Carter Energy.
Harold Creason of KCBPU made the decision to go with E85. "I consulted the other two utilities in town, which were using CNG and propane, respectively. I decided to go with a liquid alternative fuel, and E85 seemed to fit the bill," he said.
Station installation cost $56,000. Double Check Company Inc. installed the E85 tank. Creason credits Double Check's competence for the trouble-free experience KCBPU has had with their tank.
Electric Company has 12,000 Gallon E85 Tank Fueling 69 FFVs
Nashville Electric Service, Nashville, TN
A 12,000-gallon tank provides E85 to a fleet of 69 FFVs for the Nashville Electric Service. The tank, which went on-line in October 2001, receives regular fuel deliveries every five weeks from Hollingsworth Oil Company. The fleet uses approximately 6,000 gallons per month.
The station, which cost $81,186 and was funded internally, was constructed in about five months. The project came in on schedule after local code authorities approved construction, and their general contractor was selected through competitive bid.
6,000-Gallon E85 Above Ground E85 Tank Fuels University Vehicles
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud State University's 6,000-gallon E85 storage tank, which has been on-line for two years, receives fuel deliveries from Chippewa Valley every two to three months. The site, which provides fuel for the University's 17 FFVs, goes through about 900 gallons of E85 each month.
After receiving a $5,000 grant from the American Lung Association of Minnesota via the Twin Cities Clean Cities and U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities activities and the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Division, the University asked three companies to provide quotes for the project and took the lowest quote. "We did not have many options. We had one 6,000-gallon tank for regular fuel. We converted the 6,000-gallon tank to E85 fuel use and installed two double walled, above ground 2,000-gallon tanks for our other fuel," Jim Williams, Fleet Supervisor, said. Williams suggests placing E85 stickers on the gas lids and doors to remind drivers to fill with E85. "We let our users know that they are driving FFV and should use E85 fill-ups when possible."