What if your campus shuttle could run on renewable biodiesel fuel without replacing a single engine? American University did just that—and reached carbon neutrality in the process, a full two years ahead of schedule.

American University is nationally recognized for its commitment to sustainability, achieving carbon neutrality in 2018 and setting ambitious goals for zero waste by 2030. As part of the university’s sustainable action plan, researchers identified that 39% of all of the university’s greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to transportation.

Source: https://unhsimap.org/public/institution/157

A key part of achieving carbon neutrality was a project to transition a portion of the campus bus fleet to biodiesel, a renewable alternative to traditional diesel fuel. This move significantly reduced American University’s carbon footprint and set a model for sustainable campus operations. To tackle such a large initiative, the AU fleet management team chose PepUp as the university’s trusted fuel supplier.

American University’s journey toward a greener fleet began in 2000, when it started using biodiesel in its shuttle buses. As the university’s needs grew, it turned to PepUp for dependable fuel delivery, storage, and quality assurance.

Today, select university shuttle buses run on biodiesel blends, with the fuel blend adjusted seasonally: B5 (5% biodiesel) in winter and B20 (20% biodiesel) in summer. This fueling plan, developed by AU’s fleet manager and the university’s PepUp account manager, ensures optimal performance in all weather conditions.

PepUp’s infrastructure has been essential to the success of AU’s journey to lower-emissions transit. While American University has a 1,000-gallon on-site tank, PepUp’s large-scale storage in Baltimore and dedicated bulk fuel delivery fleet ensures a steady fuel supply even when demand spikes.

Fuel quality and reliable delivery are critical to the success of any biodiesel program. PepUp is committed to providing high-quality biodiesel that meets strict industry standards.

PepUp Account Manager Seth Powell has managed American University’s fleet fuel account for more than 15 years, and he understands the fleet’s needs and American University’s sustainability goals. Powell works closely with American University’s fleet manager to recommend the right biodiesel blends and advise on best practices for storage and use, especially during cold weather.

Powell says AU’s eco-friendly fleet transition project proves biofuels can make fleet operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“It’s absolutely a viable option,” Powell explained, citing other education and municipal transportation fleets that made a similar transition when federal incentives made biodiesel more affordable. “It’s a renewable resource, but it is more expensive. The reality is that the push to move away from fossil fuels completely (and move to electric vehicles) isn’t a viable option, but biodiesel is the bridge fuel that can be used in existing fleets, sometimes without modification.”

Powell’s relationship with the AU fleet manager means American University continues to receive expert guidance from PepUp, from choosing the right blend to troubleshooting any operational questions. PepUp’s experience with other large institutional fleets ensures that AU benefits from proven solutions and lessons learned across the region.

• Reduced Emissions: Switching to biodiesel has cut greenhouse gas emissions from campus buses, supporting American University’s net-zero goals. See the results in this public reporting dashboard.
• Operational Efficiency: On-site fueling and scheduled bulk deliveries have streamlined operations and reduced costs.
• No Major Modifications: American University’s existing diesel buses required no significant changes to run on biodiesel blends, making the transition smooth and cost-effective.
• Education and Buy-In: Success depended on buy-in from all university stakeholders. Ongoing education and clear communication helped address early misconceptions about biodiesel and built strong support among staff and students.

American University’s experience shows that biodiesel is a practical, reliable bridge fuel as institutions work toward greener transportation. The partnership with PepUp demonstrates how the right supplier can make a big difference – not just by delivering fuel, but also by supporting every step of the journey to sustainability.

Want to make your fleet more sustainable—without overhauling your vehicles? See how PepUp can help you fuel smarter, cleaner, and more reliably. Speak with a PepUp Energy Specialist, who will connect you with a fleet fuels account manager to discuss your fleet needs.

Explore how PepUp supports fleets of all types and sizes with the knowledge and infrastructure to provide reliable fleet fuel delivery of up to 7,500 gallons of fuel, as often as twice weekly.

Fuel prices and supply chain or delivery challenges can impact your business in the blink of an eye. Your business needs reliable wholesale fuel delivery, control over price fluctuations, and a consistent, quality supply of fuel to keep your operation running, and your fuel budget manageable.

PepUp has been delivering wholesale fuels to our commercial customers for six decades, and it all started with a single poultry farm in Friendship, Maryland. When Lee McMahan bought that first used heating oil truck to make sure his chickens stayed warm through the winter, he naturally started hauling oil for neighboring farmers who also needed a reliable source of heating oil.

Today, PepUp has expanded our wholesale fuel delivery to more than just local poultry farms, but our focus remains the same: your business depends on reliable fuel delivery, and we’re committed to being that partner you can always count on to keep your business fueled up and running.

The PepUp team is committed to helping your business thrive, and with an expanded local storage capacity, we are prepared to handle your wholesale fuel delivery needs.

Our wholesale customers rely on PepUp for a variety of top-quality bulk fuels.

Propane, a byproduct of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, consists of hydrocarbons like propane and butane. It is extracted from raw natural gas using refrigeration and pressure. PepUp delivers the highest quality propane, often referred to as “consumer-grade” propane. In the Greater Delmarva region, propane is second only to heating oil for commercial and residential heating.

PepUp is the top Delmarva provider of high-quality, bulk propane fuel delivery for homes and businesses throughout our region. Our supply of consumer-grade propane is suitable for propane-powered vehicles and heavy equipment, home and commercial heating systems, and restaurants using propane cooking appliances.

Heating oil has been a reliable source of indoor heat since the early 20th century, and is common in the Mid-Atlantic region. Derived from crude oil, it is refined to create a safe and reliable heat source. Known for its ability to generate consistent, comfortable warmth during harsh winters, heating oil has powered countless homes and businesses across cold climates for decades.

Heating oils today are about 95% cleaner than they were 50 years ago, and provide energy-efficient heat during those surprise Delmarva cold snaps. Heating oil is also affordable, and PepUp service technicians and delivery drivers are highly experienced when it comes to the safe delivery and storage of heating oil for both residential and commercial use.

Widely used for its efficiency in cold-weather applications, kerosene is a more refined petroleum derivative than heating oil and tends to burn hotter. K-1 kerosene is the purest form of the fuel, and is used locally in some heating systems and fleet engines, and other heating applications.

PepUp specializes in custom soy biodiesel blends, a clean burning fuel that is renewable and domestically produced. Biodiesel can be blended at any level with petroleum to create a fuel that can often be used in any equipment that consumes regular diesel with few or no modifications.

PepUp offers the largest distribution network for soy-based biodiesel in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Custom blends of soy biodiesel can be created to customer specifications. From B2 to B99.9, the product can be delivered in quantities as small as 500 gallons to as much as 7,500 gallons.

Here’s a comparison of a few typical biodiesel grades PepUp provides:

B5 (5% Biodiesel, 95% Petroleum Diesel)

• Use Cases: Everyday vehicles, commercial fleets, marine applications, and agricultural equipment.

B20 (20% Biodiesel, 80% Petroleum Diesel)

• Use Cases: Alternative fuel used in commercial and government fleets, buses, delivery trucks, and municipal vehicles.

B50 (50% Biodiesel, 50% Petroleum Diesel)

• Use Cases: Alternative fuel used in certain fleet operations committed to sustainability, specific pilot projects, or controlled environments.

B100 (100% Biodiesel; No petroleum content)*

• Use Cases: Alternative fuel used in agricultural, industrial, and municipal fleet applications, government and educational research fleets, and controlled-use scenarios.

*B100 is available at our Federalsburg office for drive-up customers.

Machines and equipment that run on diesel still power many Mid-Atlantic businesses. PepUp provides wholesale ultra-low sulfur diesel and off-road diesel for fleet fuels, gas stations, commercial fisheries and maritime fleets, farm use, and other businesses that require regular large deliveries.

Powering internal combustion engines since the late 19th Century, gasoline still powers travel and business throughout our region. From fleet vehicles to generators and even gas stations, PepUp delivers the gasoline that keeps the Mid-Atlantic moving and working.

Most modern gasoline is actually gasohol, a blend of gasoline and ethanol. For engines that require the clean-burning efficiency of gasoline without ethanol, PepUp offers the purer version: ethanol-free gasoline, an alternative vehicle fuel available in large quantities for our wholesale fuel customers.

The PepUp fleet has grown quite a bit in the last 60 years. From one heating oil truck and one owner/delivery driver, the PepUp team now includes 25 full-time drivers and 29 transport trucks, specializing in bulk delivery of all the fuels our neighbors need to stay in business.

We want to help local business owners and farmers thrive. Let PepUp handle your fleet fuel needs. We’ll deliver just what you need, on time and on budget.
Our customized purchasing and delivery options help our wholesale customers tailor their fuel supply and budget to their specific business needs.

Unlike other wholesale suppliers, PepUp has local small business roots, and our family-owned business is committed to making it easy for our customers to keep doing business with us.

Here’s what we offer:

• Competitive Pricing: We work with our large network of fuel suppliers to negotiate the best possible prices, and maintain a network of storage facilities in our supply network for fast, reliable fuel delivery.
• Flexible Delivery Options: We customize delivery options to fit your business needs, including on-site fueling for large machinery, bulk delivery to fill your onsite storage tanks, and wireless tank monitoring with scheduled Automatic Delivery to take the guesswork out of keeping your fuel tanks full.
• Dedicated Account Management: Our experienced account managers provide personalized support and tailored solutions to make sure you’re happy, and they’re always just a phone call away.
• Cost Management Options: We offer a range of price risk management tools to help you protect your business from price fluctuations, including locked-in pricing contracts, flat price or spot term contracts (TVA), differential pricing, pre-buys, and swaps (OTC) contracts.

PepUp is your trusted partner for all your wholesale fuel needs. With our competitive pricing, diverse fuel offerings, flexible delivery options, and dedicated customer support, we’re committed to fueling your business’s success.

Contact us today to learn more about PepUp’s wholesale fuel delivery and services, and start your journey towards a more efficient and cost-effective fuel management strategy with a local partner you can depend on.