Alternative Fuel Station May Be Future

Graphic compares the energy ratio of selected alternative fuels to gasoline. (AP Graphic) (AP)

The fuel works in more than 30 models, including the Yukon sport utility vehicle from General Motors Corp., Silverado trucks and Impala cars from Chevrolet, and the Ford Taurus. Those flex-fuel cars can run on gas, E85, or combinations of the two.

Sales of alternative fuels at Pearson usually hinge on the cost of gasoline and diesel. When those prices are climbing, alt-fuels can account for as much as 30 percent of overall sales, Lewis said.

On June 5, regular unleaded gas was selling for $3.29 a gallon, compared to $3.24 for diesel, $3.09 for E85, $3.29 for biodiesel, and $2.39 for natural gas.

Lewis said high gas and diesel prices don't boost the station's bottom line, so it's adding a mini-market to increase income.

To attract the customers of the future, the EcoCenter for Alternative Fuel Education, also located at the dealership, offers tours explaining the benefits of alt-fuels over gasoline.

Busloads of children _ 11,500 since the center opened in 2004 _ arrive daily for tours where guides discourage use of gasoline. At one exhibit, EcoCenter executive director Judy Bishop explains that drivers of electric-gas hybrids such as a Toyota Prius on display spend one-third as much on fuel as drivers of regular cars.

The anti-oil message is surprising at a center built with $1.4 million from Ford Motor Co. and $200,000 from the dealership owned by John McCallan.

Lewis, chairman of the nonprofit center's board of directors, said Ford has no say in that message. Bishop, an environmentalist, designed the lesson plans.

Lewis has been disappointed that automakers and oil companies haven't contributed to the operation of the center.

BP spokeswoman Cindy Wymore said the oil giant is impressed with the facility but declined to get involved because its goals are similar to BP's "A+ for Energy" program in which teachers receive grants to teach kids about alternative fuels.

The company has said it's devoting $8 billion over the next decade to development of alternative energy.

By then, Bishop hopes her young guests may be buying their first alternative-fuel or hybrid cars.