Installing E85 Equipment

Installing E15 and E85 equipment is like installing conventional gasoline equipment. The same permits apply. Consult with professionals who are familiar with local conditions and regulations during project planning because different localities may require additional steps.

Determine Fueling Volumes

It is important for a retail station operator or fleet manager to estimate the amount of onsite fuel storage needed and determine if an existing storage tank is available and compatible. If a new tank is necessary, some station owners have opted to use multi-compartment tanks where one tank can store two or three fuel types. This allows station owners flexibility in determining which fuels to offer at certain times. In the case of a private fueling location, station owners may want to consider sharing the fueling site with nearby fleet operations.

A fleet operator needs to manage their inventory of fuel to balance transportation costs, holding costs, and demand. Typically, fleets plan for a 30- to 60-day period between fuel deliveries. Extra per-gallon costs are incurred if fuel is ordered in small or partial loads. If there are other fleets or E85 retailers in the area, it may be possible to share transport loads (8,000 gallons or a "milk run").

Hiring a Project Contractor

In most cases, a fleet operator hires a project contractor to alter the onsite fueling system. This is often done through a bid process, especially if it is a fueling site operated by a government entity. The contractor is responsible for project oversight and successful project completion.