Protec Fuel Bringing E15 to the South

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Protec Fuel is joining forces with fuel retailers in metropolitan areas of the South and Southeast to open 28 gas stations that offer both E15 and E85 fuel. This marks stage one of a multiphase plan to introduce E15 to areas including Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Florida and Virginia, and bolster the existing availability of E85.

Protect Fuel serves as both an ethanol blends provider and an ethanol blends station installer.

"Because of the success of our retailers who have offered E85 in the past, our retail customers are asking us for E15," stated Protec Fuel CEO Todd Garner. "With our proven expertise in the field, it's natural for us to help meet the demand of many convenience store retailers -– large and small -– who want to offer products different than their competitors. Further, this can aid in helping to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard blend wall, after market concentration of E10."

E15 is a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, while E85 contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

E15 is cleared for use in cars manufactured in 2001 and later -- more than 80 percent of all gasoline vehicles on the road today, the company said. Additionally, there are nearly 100 flex-fuel vehicle models on the market that can run on E85, and more than 16.5 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road.

The initial 28 stations should be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2015, according to Protec. Retailers in this phase have been identified, while future stages of the plan are in development.