Texas Dealer Opens E85 Station |
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Anthony Fontanelle
April 8, 2008
Last Friday, those traveling in Texas who have vehicles that could run on E85 fuel had just a grand time. A refilling station of E85 fuel opened in Texas and this is the very first E85 station that is wholly owned by a dealership.
This dealership is the Classic Chevrolet/Hummer and this dealership has invested over $500,000 to make sure that this biofuel refilling station goes to work. Of course it is important to note that this dealership has been one of the most successful dealerships in the nation and knows just how important it is to invest money right. According to statistics, this dealership has been able to sell the highest number of trucks under the Chevrolet brand last year.
As per the new biofuel pump, the Classic Chevrolet/Hummer pump, known as the Classic Clean Fuels station, would be able to fill up the fuel tanks of cars which can run on E85, biodiesel, and E10. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils or even from animal fats. E85 is a combination of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent conventional gasoline. E10 is a mixture of 10 per cent ethanol and the rest is made up of conventional gasoline.
Charles Martin is the general manager for the Classic Chevrolet/Hummer dealership and on the new refueling station, he commented, “We sell a lot of trucks capable of running on alternative fuels like E85, and even though there has been some increased availability, we saw a need for more E85 pumps where drivers could fill up. This was the right thing for us to do for our customers, and it's good for the Metroplex.”
As part of the grand opening of the Classic Clean Fuels station, car maker General Motors took part in the opening. The company had sponsored a promotion that lasted for two hours - it started from 7 o’clock in the morning and ended at 9 o’clock. During this period, consumers who would be purchasing E85 fuel from the pump would be given a discount. The regular price of E85 is $2.74 for each gallon. However, during the promotion period of two hours, each gallon could be bought for only 85.9 cents.
Larry Burns is GM’s vice president for Research and Development and Strategic Planning. He stated, “There’s no telling where this might lead. We have to keep looking for ways to improve the overall ownership experience of our customers.”
Of course this is the very first dealership-owned biofuel pump. But analysts are looking at more pumps like this. Soon, there may be even dealerships selling automobiles with Lincoln Zephyr parts who would be opening pumps like this.
Source: Amazines.com