One Potomac Mills Mobil station is working to keep more U.S. money inside the U.S. and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offering E85 fuel.
The Potomac Mills Mobil convenience store located at 14496 Gideon Drive in Woodbridge, Va. is now offering E85 and higher ethanol blend products. Potomac is now the first station along I-95 to offer the E85 blend. In celebration of the E85 introduction, the station hosted a car, classic car and bike show on July 31.
E85 fuel can be used in Flex-Fuel vehicles (FFVs). There are over 385,000 FFVs in Virginia, and over 100 FFV models on the market today that can run on high-octane, emissions-reducing E85. The station will be selling it comparably to, or under, the price of regular gasoline.
“I promote what I believe in, and, honestly, I wanted the E85 so I could use it myself,” said Love Rapaval, owner, Potomac Mills Mobil. “We have a lot of enthusiasm from the performance auto community for this high-octane fuel and I’m proud to be one of the first in northern Virginia selling it.”
Protec Fuel, ethanol supplier and station installer; Petroleum Marketers Group; the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; and the Commonwealth of Virginia teamed up with the Mobil to offer the fuel.
“Not only does E85 reduce harmful emissions significantly; car people love it because it’s 103 octane,” said Steve Walk, vice president of business development, Protec. “The station will serve a variety of fuel customers, while helping keep more U.S. money inside the U.S.”
“Access to higher blends of ethanol in our motor fuel allows consumers in the area and throughout Virginia to run cleaner and to support our economy to a greater extent,” said Alleyn Harned, Virginia Clean Cities executive director. “The Commonwealth of Virginia is proud to be partners in this project.”
The ethanol portion of these fuel blends is 100% U.S.-made, supports jobs and keeps money in local communities. Ethanol burns cleaner in engines, which helps the performance level of the vehicle. It also can extend the life of the engine.
E85 is an alternative fuel blend that can be used in over 18.5 million vehicles across the U.S. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline that can be used in flex-fuel vehicles. This alternative has been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon by 34%.
