Propel Fuels has released a new white paper, “E85: A California Success Story,” that details their leadership as an E85 leader in California as well as in the U.S. Developed by the Propel Silicon Valley Workshop, the paper, and subsequent website, examines the productive role in what the paper terms as “low carbon E85” has had in enabling California to meet its carbon reduction and petroleum reduction targets, while improving air quality in the state’s severe non-attainment communities.

“Thanks to smart public policy and a strong value proposition for consumers, California’s E85 use has become a success story, and a road map for our nation for implementing low carbon fuels,” said Rob Elam, CEO of Propel Fuels. “This research conclusively demonstrates that E85 is a successful, sustainable, cost-effective fuel that consumers are choosing when they have retail access.”

Today, California has more than 1 million flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) on their roads. Utilizing data collected by Propel’s research team coupled with work done by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Energy Commission (CEC), the paper highlights information on E85 market growth, consumer demographics, value perceptions, emissions reductions, and the future potential of E85.

Key research findings include:

• California has the highest rate of E85 growth of any state in the nation. E85 use has expanded 600% in California since 2009, while gasoline demand has decreased.
• E85 use has significant positive impacts on air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and petroleum reductions; providing air quality benefits in severe non-attainment areas by contributing 18-67% reduction in NOx as well as a 32% reduction in GHG emissions.
• E85 use has specifically benefited CalEPA designated Disadvantaged Communities.
• E85 is California’s value fuel, with 92% of users saying it is the same or better value than gasoline.
• California’s 1 million FFVs can displace 600 million gallons of petroleum gasoline with E85.
• California’s retail E85 volume per location exceeds the national average by 300%.
• As a result of its policies, California is home to the lowest carbon ethanol in the country.