E85 Dispenser Study

Abstract

Executive SummaryThis study reviews E85 dispensing infrastructure advances and issues and evaluates the geographic concentration of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), E85 stations, ethanol production facilities, and E85 suppliers. Costs, space, financial incentives, and barriers to adding E85 fueling equipment at existing stations are also assessed.This study found that E85 is increasingly available in the U.S. in half of the states; however, the other half have minimal or no E85 fueling options. Despite these gains, E85 is only available at 1% of U.S. gasoline stations. Ethanol production reached 9.5 billion gallons in 2008, but less than 1% is consumed as E85. FFVs have not reached a significant concentration in any county, metropolitan area, or state. Summary of Findings• o Costs to convert an existing tank and add E85 dispensing equipment average $11,000 iv

Fuel Miles and the Blend Wall: Costs and Emissions from Ethanol Distribution in the United States

“…This scenario would have been feasible if E85 made up more than 6% of gasoline sales by volume (or 4% by vehicle-kilometers traveled). As recently as 2008, FFVs made up less than 5% of Iowa vehicles,30 and E85 stations were still not ubiquitous. Although not legally possible at the time, a lower E85 market share would have been needed if owners of vehicles manufactured in or after 2001 (which were approved to use E15 in 2011 31 ) had access to and had chosen to purchase E15 (which is not yet commonly available, see SI-1).…”