City Vehicles Filling up on E30, Saving Money

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January 29, 2018

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by Dan Crisler (The Public Opinion) As Glacial Lakes Energy and its partners continue to promote 30 percent ethanol (E30) fuel blends for use in gas vehicles, two City of Watertown departments have jumped on board.

Housing two of the largest vehicle fleets in city government, the Watertown Police Department and Watertown Street Department have seen very positive results, albeit over two drastically different time frames.

The Watertown Police Department has used E30 exclusively since spring 2016 in its vehicles, including Ford Explorers and Dodge Chargers, following a one-month test with GLE. The street department followed suit last month in its gas-powered vehicles ranging in model years from 1997 to 2009.

Both WPD Capt. Scott McMahon and Street Supt. Rob Beynon said the benefits are such that there are no plans to revert back to the previously used E10 fuel (10 percent ethanol) blend.

Namely, both men reported the mileage loss has been minimal, at least within the city where the departments’ vehicles spend nearly all their time.

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McMahon echoed that and added that any mileage loss is more than offset by the drastically lower price, which can be as much as 30 to 40 cents less per gallon. That savings is compounded when considering the department used 26,561 gallons of fuel from January to November 2017.

With an additional six-cent discount from the pump price included into the contract between the city and its fuel provider, Cenex, McMahon said the department was able to save $8,232 compared to the E10 blend, as the department spent $48,873.41, a total well within its original budget.

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“We haven’t experienced any performance or mechanical issues as a result of E30,” McMahon said.

That supports GLE’s contention, with the added benefit that E30 makes for a cleaner environment as it allows car engines to burn fuel more efficiently with its higher octane rating.

According to Beynon, the E30 blend should also have a notable impact in helping vehicles start up on the coldest of days. Some vehicles, particularly older vehicles, may need use of a secondary product containing additional ethanol to thaw the fuel lines. READ MORE

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