A new alternative: New Rhodes 101 to bring E85 fuel to Cape

They can be found in the Southeast Missouri towns of Benton, Bernie, Charleston, Dexter, Perryville and Sikeston. There are even two of them in Hayti.

And by the end of the year, a gas station offering E85 -- the blend of ethanol and gasoline that is hyped as the answer to everything from high gas prices to global warming -- will arrive in Cape Girardeau.

The new Rhodes 101 under construction at the corner of Sprigg Street and Highway 74 will sell E85, which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol is an alcohol-based renewable fuel is used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline. Ethanol is made from agricultural products, generally corn or soybeans.

"As far as we're aware, this is the first one in town," said Jeff Maurer, vice president of operations at The Rhodes Cos., which owns 27 convenience stores across Southeast Missouri.

Maurer said the gas station will also sell regular gasoline and diesel.

"This is just an option for the consumer," Maurer said. "They can get regular gasoline or they can get E85 if they choose to."

Currently, E85 can be used only in "flexible fuel model" vehicles, of which there are currently 31, plus 12 new models slated to hit the market in 2007. Because ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline, E85 cannot be used in standard vehicles.

Flex fuel vehicles are built with special noncorrodible materials in the gas tank, injection system and engine. Otherwise, the flex fuel vehicle is the same as a standard vehicle and costs about the same.

Gov. Matt Blunt has called for all gasoline sold in Missouri to be at least 10 percent ethanol by next year. All vehicles manufactured since the 1970s can run on E90.

Rhodes said they decided to put E-85 in their new gas station because they believe in ethanol.

"We understand it's coming," he said. "And we support the efforts of the new ethanol plants. We are looking forward to being the first to introduce it at the pump."

Retrofitting existing gas stations is expensive and complicated, so Rhodes executives decided to add it as they build new stores, Maurer said.

One of the drawbacks, however, is that E85 delivers only three-quarters as much energy per gallon as gasoline, meaning drivers will have to fill up their tanks more often if they choose to use the fuel.

While ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, the fuel economy is about 20 to 25 percent lower. The hope is that ethanol will eventually be inexpensive enough to balance out the lower gas mileage.

"We know some people are still apprehensive about ethanol," Maurer said. "That's why we're only making it an option."

Three fuel tanks were installed last week that range from 12,000 to 20,000 gallons. The tanks were buried underground -- one for gasoline, one for diesel and one for E85.

What's not determined yet, Maurer said, is whether Rhodes will buy the ethanol and blend it at the tanks on-site, or buy it already blended.

Rhodes will also buy the ethanol from whichever company has the best price, just as it does with its 15 or so different fuel suppliers. Three ethanol plants are planned for Southeast Missouri.

The new 5,000-square-foot store is slated to be open by the end of the year, Maurer said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137