Some analysts think that green vehicles face a bigger challenge than comparison to prices of traditional gasoline engine vehicles – dealing with range anxiety. Americans are used to having gas stations just around the corner and have many concerns about convenient, accessible charging and fueling stations. There are only 3,100 of the 160,000 filling stations across the country that sell alternative fuels, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Propel Fuels was pleased to announce the opening of a new filling station near Anaheim, Calif., the country’s first station where drivers can pump gasoline, ethanol and biodiesel, cyclists can get tuneups, and commuters can find public transit schedules.
The new fuel station is in one of the top 10 trade areas (in California) for alternative fuels, based on the customer demographics, vehicle counts and traffic patterns, said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels. Backed by more than $19 million in venture capital and almost $12 million in grants from the DOE and the California Energy Commission, the company received an additional, $10.1 million grant recently from the commission to help build 100 stations around the state in the next four years. Propel is building its fueling network through its own standalone stations and partnerships with existing gas station owners.
