Calverton Getty serves up E85 fuel

Drivers passing through Calverton have a new and, some say, greener option to fill up their gas tanks now that a Getty station there is offering the alternative fuel E85.

Available via two bright yellow pumps to distinguish it from regular gasoline, E85 has been selling at the Middle Country Road gas station since the fall.

"It's something really new," said station owner Marley Ozyilmaz. "A lot of people don't know we have it yet."

E85, a mixture of up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is a gasoline alternative experts say is both renewable and cleaner burning.

E85 also has a much higher octane rating than even premium gas, usually in the 95 to 106 range, allowing it to be used in higher performance vehicles,

Currently, only flex-fuel vehicles can use E85; the alcohol in the ethanol will corrode the rubber in the fuel tanks of cars that aren't equipped to handle E85. Carmakers are expected to offer more flex-fuel models in the coming years.

'It's something really new.' Marley Ozyilmaz
According to a pamphlet provided by the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, E85 is an "environmentally friendly fuel" and the ethanol can be made from the sugar of plants, usually corn, produced in the U.S. It also says that E85 contains fewer toxins and carcinogens than regular gasoline and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

At the Calverton Getty, E85 was going for $2.33 per gallon on Tuesday, while regular gas cost $2.85. Although E85 is obviously cheaper than regular gasoline by the gallon, it gives fewer miles per gallon than regular gasoline so whether or not it's the more economical option is debatable.

Still, Mr. Ozyilmaz is hoping to spread the word on the new fuel.

He said that when his Getty station first began offering E85, it sold only 300 gallons of the fuel in the first month. Last month, the gas station sold 4,500 gallons. "It's coming up slowly," he said.

It was representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who first approached Mr. Ozyilmaz about selling E85. The federal government offers tax incentives for gas station owners who sell it and Mr. Oziyilmaz said he makes eight additional cents for every gallon of E85 he purchases. It also enables him to sell the gas cheaper than regular gasoline.

Besides the Calverton station, the nearest gas stations to offer E85 are in Water Mill and Holbrook.

Currently Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, Isuzu, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota all install E85-compatible engines as standard equipment in some of their vehicles.

Jim Maloney, service manager at Lucas Ford in Southold, said his dealership has had minimal inquiries about flex-fuel vehicles, but he believes that will change as E85 becomes more available in the area.

Mr. Maloney said he thought Ford customers, many of whom are attracted to the domestic automaker because it did not receive government bailout money, would also be interested in a renewable fuel that reduces dependency on foreign oil.

He said Ford has been adding additional flex-fuel vehicles to its fleet of cars every year.

"I think people will be attracted to it," he said. "It gives people a choice."

source: timesreview