E85 Available at Texas Kroger Stores

E85 is becoming available at varous Kroger fuel stations in the Dallas and Houston areas. Some Kroger stores in the Houston area are now able to offer Texas motorists the benefits of ethanol fuel, thanks to the installation of Dresser Wayne's VistaT 387 E85 fuel dispensers in the summer and fall of 2006. Kroger believes that drivers are becoming interested in alternative fuel options, and this trend will continue to grow as access to alternative fuel becomes more convenient and gasoline becomes more expensive. The Vista 387 E85 dispenser, built by 'Dresser Wayne' is the ethanol pump chosen by Kroger, making it possible to safely provide ethanol to the traveling public. Kroger operates more than 500 supermarket fueling stations nationwide, including more than 60 in Texas, all of which are located next to Kroger retail grocery stores. Kroger is expected to seek additional opportunities to offer E85 fuel both in Texas and throughout the nation. Kroger operates more than 700 convenience-store fueling sites nationwide. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club are also considering selling E85 across the nation. The Dresser Wayne pump will be featured at Kroger Dallas, Kroger houston, and Kroger Austin Locations and soon, Kroger Nationwide.

Ethanol is Corrosive

Ethanol is a high octane, yet corrosive, renewable fuel created through the fermentation of plant sugars. In the U.S., it is typically produced from corn and other grain products, although ethanol can also be produced from paper and agricultural waste. In Brazil, cane sugar is the primary source in producing Ethanol. E85 is an alternative fuel composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, making it both clean burning and efficient. It is designed to be used in "flexible fuel vehicles," or FFVs, which can use E85, gasoline, or any combination of the two, interchangeably. Kroger has stated that it will price E85 ethanol lower than regular, unleaded gasoline. In addition to the lower price, Kroger Plus Card customers will enjoy the additional per gallon savings offered on all types of fuel.

E85 Dispensers are Certified

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition estimates that there are already some 6 million FFVs on American roads today. According to the Texas Railroad Commission, Texas is second only to California in the number of alternative fuel vehicles in operation. The corrosive nature of the higher blend of alcohol in E85 requires its different equipment than that used in the handling of gasoline. Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline, and poses challenges to both the use and delivery of the alternative fuel. Certain components such as the storage tank, fuel pump and, fuel lines of an FFV's fuel delivery system require modifications to make them ethanol-compatible. Fuel dispensers must also be modified, or leeched metals from current technology dispensers might be deposited into a vehicle's fuel system. The Vista 387 E85 dispenser uses components specifically designed to be alcohol tolerant, making them more durable and resistant to corrosion. By using the Vista E85 dispenser, retailers finally have the ability to safely offer customers an alternative fuel along in addition gasoline.

The new E85 dispensers are approved by the Weights and Measures Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. To bring them to market, Dresser Wayne has partnered with CleanFUEL USA, a leader in the alternative fuels industry.
For more information on the Vista 387 E85 fuel dispenser, visit www.wayne.com.