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Ethanol becomes more available in state; not yet in Lowcountry
By Holly Fisher
Supplements Editor
The alternative fuel ethanol is becoming more readily available in cities around South Carolina but hasn’t made its way to the Charleston region yet.
This spring, gas stations in Aiken, Columbia and Greenville began selling ethanol or E85. In the coming weeks, it will also be available in the Rock Hill area.
On Sept. 8, one station in Columbia was selling E85 for $2.59 per gallon. A station in Aiken was selling E85 for $2.10, and near Greenville the price was $2.59.
Ethanol is 85% ethanol—made from corn—and 15% gasoline. It burns cleaner and is currently cheaper for consumers. Wendy Bell, coordinator for the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition, said she is not aware of any ethanol stations under development in the Charleston area.
The coalition, formed about six years ago, technically serves nine counties in the middle of South Carolina but will work with anyone in the state wanting to promote alternative fuels.
The coalition is comprised of public and private partners, including the University of South Carolina, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Spinx gas stations and United Energy Distributors. It is one of 88 such coalitions around the country.
The number of calls Bell’s office is receiving has increased as the price of gasoline has risen, she said. The rising gas prices are making alternative fuels more attractive to consumers, Bell said.
“I think it makes alternative fuels more of a reality for people. I think it makes people realize the day of gas prices hovering around a dollar are over,” she said.
Consumers are encouraged to use ethanol but only if their vehicle is properly equipped to handle alternative fuels, Bell noted.
There are about 4.5 million vehicles equipped to use ethanol. A list of compatible vehicles can be found at www.e85fuel.com.
Bell said many new vehicles are flexible fuel vehicles and can handle regular gasoline or alternative fuels. Flexible fuel vehicles are equipped with a computer system that recognizes the fuel blend. If a driver fills up with E85 one week and then gasoline the next week, a flexible fuel vehicle will recognize the blend.
Vehicles not built to recognize different fuels could experience problems with long-term use, and consumers probably would first notice the check engine light coming on, Bell explained.
While the price of ethanol might be attractive, Bell noted ethanol users typically get fewer miles per gallon than with regular unleaded gasoline. Ethanol has fewer BTUs but higher levels of octane, so consumers should take into consideration that ethanol typically gets 15% fewer miles per gallon.
Holly Fisher is the supplements editor for the Business Journal. E-mail her at hfisher@charlestonbusiness.com.
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