Offering the first E85 in Baltimore, Three Brothers/A1 Auto Repair and Protec Fuel recently joined forces to launch a new E85 station to give more choice for the hundreds of thousands of flex-fuel vehicle drivers traveling in Baltimore, Maryland. The public can now fuel with the cleaner burning, E85 alternative at 3041 Frederick Avenue thanks to partners Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, and the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Clean Cities Coalitions.

This is the first E85 station for owner Paul Goeller. His station is unique in that it’s housed with an auto repair business—A1 Auto Repair. “I noticed all the flex-fuel vehicles coming through and was surprised there was nowhere to fuel with E85 in Baltimore,” said Goeller. “As a mechanic, I wanted to give a choice that not only is better for the environment and our country, but has certain engine benefits such as higher octane, performance and a cleaner engine.”  

E85 is an alternative fuel blend that can be used in over 11 million vehicles across the U.S. E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that can be used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), as can gasoline. This alternative has been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign petroleum. Automobile manufacturers such as Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and General Motors all produce FFVs. Recently reaching more of the U.S. market, the blend of E15 can be used in any 2001 model and newer gasoline vehicle.

“We invest in projects that support U.S. jobs and protect our environment, and the opening of this E85 station well fits that mission,” stated Paul Spies, Eastern Shore farmer and president of the MGPUB. “Ethanol is farm-grown and renewable, and today’s answer for replacing petroleum-based fuels from volatile foreign markets. As our domestic alternative fuel industry grows, we expect to provide even greater benefits for U.S. consumers, the environment, and our farmers,” Spies said.

There are nearly 100 FFV models on the market today that can run on E85. Coupled with the fact that there are over 16.5 million FFVs on the road, there is strong need for more stations offering higher level blends of ethanol. Visit http://goE85.com to check if your vehicle can run on E85 and find more station locations.

“Many cars have flex-fuel capability, whether the drivers know it or not,” said Steve Walk, a vice president of Protec Fuel.  “Alternative fuels like this, as well as E15 fuel or other ethanol blends, benefit air quality in sensitive areas such as big cities like Baltimore.”

Protec Fuel, based in Boca Raton, Florida, has partnered to help manage the E85 installation and provide fuel for the location’s new cleaner burning fuel offering of E85. Protec is a turnkey ethanol blends company specializing in station conversions and fuel.

“We are excited that Three Brothers has brought E85 to Baltimore,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “The location will help to develop an E85 fuel infrastructure for Baltimore’s flex fuel vehicles. It is our hope that this type of investment will serve as a model to other stations as we move closer to our statewide goals through clean, affordable, and reliable technologies," she said. Maryland Clean Cities is housed within MEA. The State of Maryland has aggressive greenhouse gas emission reduction and sustainability goals.

Three Bros./A1 Auto Repair is open Monday-Friday 7 am-6 pm and Saturday, 8am-4 pm. The company’s phone number is 410-566-5878. Currently, E85 is selling for less than regular gasoline at Three Brothers, and in general, it sells at a competitive price to conventional gasoline.