Announcements

Summary of E-85 Pilot Program

I would like to thank Gregg Krissek, Jere White, Sue Schulte, and the rest of the Kansas Corn Growers Association for all their help. Without their support and generosity this program would not have been possible.

We tested 5 vehicles on E-85 (alcohol based fuel). Four comparable cars ran on regular unleaded. The average total fuel economy for the five was 13.264 miles per gallon. The average mileage for the cars using unleaded was 16.126, a difference of 2.864 miles per gallon. This mileage difference was anticipated because E-85 develops less BTU's than gasoline. Three-miles to a gallon difference equates to roughly 51 miles difference per tank full. This works out to roughly 1.14 cents more per mile driven than unleaded.

Currently E-85 costs approximately $.71 per gallon delivered. Unleaded cost $.68 per gallon delivered. Retail prices vary from $1.87 a gallon at Topeka Travel Plaza, to $1.29 at Lybarger Oil in Garnett. Our cost on bulk purchases would be at least two to three cents a gallon higher than regular unleaded. I believe the cost of this fuel will decrease as production facilities increase.

An ethanol production facility opened recently in St Joseph Mo. Others are being planned for Kansas. The cost of vehicles capable of operating on both fuels has not been significantly higher than standard vehicles. The cost of fueling infrastructure would be comparable to standard systems.

In addition to the pilot vehicles, we experimented with adding this fuel to a conventional truck. One of our ¾ ton Dodge trucks has had a ping on acceleration since it was new. The dealer and our emission resources have not been able to resolve this issue. We had the operator add three to four gallons of E-85 to his thirty-five gallon fuel tank and then fill it with unleaded. Adding the E-85 increased the octane rating of the unleaded we use to a point that resolved the engine-damaging ping.

We also supplied the mechanical engineering department of the University of Kansas with over two hundred gallons of fuel for their "Future Truck Challenge" vehicle. This vehicle is a standard GM pickup converted by the university to run on E-85. It is part of an on going General Motor's research program.

Summarizing the overall performance of the pilot, I would say it was very successful. We learned a lot about the storage and use of this fuel. The price difference of 1.14 cents per mile works out to approximately a 25% increase in cost over unleaded. Increased production and closer production faculties should lower this cost. In light of recent national events, I believe it is in our best interest, to continue to position ourselves to take advantage of this renewable fuel. We will specify flexible fuel vehicles for our sedan fleet unless we receive directions otherwise.

Thank you,
Steve Stewart