TDOT switches more than 200 East Tennessee vehicles to E85 fuel
WATE-TV
More than 200 state Department of Transportation (TDOT) vehicles in East Tennessee can now fill up with cleaner burning E85 fuel.
E85 is a blend of ethanol and gasoline that helps reduces the emission of carbon dioxide and a variety of ozone pollutants.
The fuel stations at TDOT's Region One Complex Office on Region Lane in Knoxville now have E85 fuel available. It can be used in flexible fuel vehicles that run on higher ethanol blends.
Approximately 225 vehicles will switch to E85 fuel in TDOT's Region One.
Ethanol is a high octane, domestic and renewable fuel made by the fermentation of plant sugars. In the U.S., it's typically produced from corn and other grain products.
Ethanol is blended with gasoline when used as vehicle fuel, usually in blends up to 10 percent (E10) or as E85, which contains up to 85 percent ethanol.
Three Pilot locations and Coffman Oil SmartServ in Halls now offer E85 fuel for the public in Knox County.
For a full list of vendors offering E85 and B20 fuel, click here.
TDOT has been using biodiesel in heavy duty state vehicles since 2005 in a continued initiative to reduce petroleum use. Officials say TDOT wants to reduce petroleum use by 20 percent this year.
