ARPC vehicles operate on alternative fuel

  • Published
  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  The Air Reserve Personnel Center is driving green. 

Three of ARPC's four vehicles are equipped to run on E85, an ethanol-based fuel more environmentally-friendly than gasoline. The vehicles are leased from the U.S. General Services Administration's Central Fleet Program, which helps government agencies purchase products and supplies. 

"GSA requires that we fill up with E85 fuel 'whenever possible,'" said Virginia Ostendorf, contractor and program manager for ARPC's vehicle fleet. 

In 2005, Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act, requiring federal vehicles capable of operating on alternative fuels be run exclusively on these fuels. 

ARPC's E85-capable vehicles include a sedan, minivan and pickup. The vehicles, known as flex fuel vehicles, also operate on regular gasoline. They have specially designed fuel systems that allow them to run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol that can vary from zero to 85 percent ethanol. 

Flex fuel vehicles have the same power, acceleration and speed as conventional fueled vehicles. About one third of all Air Force vehicles are flex fuel. 

Using E85, which is made from corn, can reduce greenhouse gas and carbon monoxide emissions, and saves money. 

According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, a nonprofit ethanol advocacy group, the current average price of E85 is $3.32 per gallon, compared to the national average of $4.02 per gallon for gasoline. 

"If everyone who checks out a vehicle fills up with E85 fuel, we can see almost a dollar per gallon savings on fuel costs," Ms. Ostendorf said. "And more importantly, we are keeping within the requirements of the law." 

E85 has also become more widely available. There are more than 50 E85 refueling stations in Colorado according to the NEVC's database. A list of stations in the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas can be found in the glove box of each of ARPC's flex fuel vehicles. 

The flex fuel vehicles are one of several ways the Air Force is investing in green power initiatives. 

For the last three years, the Air Force has been recognized as the top federal purchaser of green power by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Top 10 Federal Green Power Partners. In April, the Air Force purchased nearly 900 million kilowatt-hours of green power.