Inside Iowa State

June 20, 2007

Fill 'er up

by Diana Pounds

The new E-85 fueling station at Transportation Services on Haber Road is up and pumping. That means more university vehicles will be hitting the roads with the environmentally friendly fuel in their tanks.

E-85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is an alternative fuel that burns cleaner than gasoline. Transportation Services already has more than 130 flexible fuel cars and trucks that can run on E-85 (as well as gas), and that number will continue to grow as more flexible fuel vehicles become available from manufacturers.

Buying flexible fuel vehicles capable of burning E-85 has been a long-term buying strategy, said Arlo Meyer, assistant vice president for business services. More than 40 percent of the university fleet's passenger vehicles and light duty trucks are E-85 capable at present.

Flexible fuel vehicles have been offered in the midsize class for several years. As a result, nearly 100 percent of midsize vehicles operated by Transportation Services are flexible fuel vehicles.

A number of sponsors collaborated in the installation of a 5,000-gallon E-85 tank and pump. Financial support came from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and several ISU units including, Transportation Services, Extension's Value Added Agriculture Program, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Office of Biorenewable Programs and the office of the Vice President for Business and Finance,

There are 70-plus E-85 pumps in the state of Iowa. A link to those locations is found at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association at http://www.iowarfa.org/ethanol_e85refueling.php.

A new E-85 pump at Transportation Services provides environmentally friendly fuel for 130-plus flexible fuel vehicles in Iowa State's fleet. E-85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.