CFDC Calls Nebraska E30 Demonstration One More Step Towards Higher Blends

March 08, 2021

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(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) today applauded the work of the State of Nebraska following the release of a report that found higher ethanol blends are safe, efficient, and cost effective when used in conventional vehicles.

The yearlong demonstration involved 50 non-flex fuel vehicles (non-FFVs) from the State of Nebraska’s fleet “to determine adaptability, economic feasibility, and environmental impact of using E30”. According to Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, the final report on the test indicates positive results on all counts.

“These results validate what we have known for some time now, which is that today’s automobiles can perform quite well on higher ethanol blends, at a lower cost per mile and with significant environmental improvements”, said CFDC Member Jim Seurer of Glacial Lakes Energy in Watertown, South Dakota.

According to Seurer, who has sponsored the “E30 Challenge” for several years now, the Nebraska Report is consistent with the results of his ongoing demonstration program, which includes logging vehicles for mileage, emission, and performance issues.

Other studies from The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge and National Renewable Laboratories have consistently shown improvements in emissions with no material degradation from higher blends.

The Nebraska report showed no mechanical issues when comparing E15 to E30 while showing a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions. Furthermore, assuming ethanol’s historical cost advantage over gasoline, the E30 blend would be the economic choice. Seurer noted that with recent reports indicating oil prices will continue to climb, providing consumers with a cleaner, lower cost fuel could not come at a better time.

With such a national priority on reducing carbon emissions, the CO2 reductions are significant. In Nebraska alone, if just 10% of the registered vehicles in the state were to use E30 it would result in a reduction of 64,000 tons per year of CO2 while providing a huge boost to the state’s ethanol industry.

Seurer pointed out several regulatory obstacles that need to be overcome for E30 to make a meaningful impact in the market. When Governor Ricketts made the initial request to EPA for approval of the test protocols, according to Seurer, he noted that EPA’s limitation on ethanol volumes were based on an outdated interpretation of the “substantially similar” rule on fuel additives that is no longer relevant since E10 is in the nation’s base fuel. By extension, the limit of the existing vapor pressure rule should apply to all blends above E10, not just E15. In fact, said Seurer, E30 reduces vapor pressure to the point where an rvp waiver is not necessary.

“We applaud Governor Ricketts, the University of Nebraska, THE Ethanol Board, and everyone who helped put this test and demonstration together, said Seurer. This is one more step toward widespread adoption of higher blends like E30”. A copy of the report can be found here.

CFDC Member David Hallberg of Dakota Ag Energy, a former Nebraska Ethanol Board Member, wrote Ricketts on behalf of the organization commending them for their work and providing a detailed background on the legal, scientific, and economic support for E30 fuels. Click here for a copy of the letter. READ MORE

Ricketts: Local study shows cars can use higher blends of E30 with no harm to vehicle, performance (KETV; includes VIDEO)

Results of Nebraska ethanol study released, new DMV services announced (3NewsNow)

Gov. Ricketts Calls on U.S. Automakers to Design Cars to Run on Higher Ethanol Blends (Office of Governor Pete Ricketts)

Redefining Renewable Fuels: A demonstration of the long-term adaptability and economic feasibility of E30 consumption in non-flex fuel vehicles (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

E30 Demonstration Shows Fuel's Promise: E30 Has No Observable Negative Effects on Overall Vehicle Performance (DTN Progressive Farmer)

Excerpt from Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Highlights
Goal
The yearlong demonstration involved 50 non-flex fuel vehicles (non-FFVs) from the State of Nebraska to determine adaptability, economic feasibility, and environmental impact of using E30. Twenty six vehicles were fueled by E15, and twenty four vehicles were fueled by E30.

Effect of using E30 on performance and fuel efficiency
• Non-FFVs were able to adjust the air-to-fuel ratio (AFR) to adapt to the higher oxygen content of E30.
• E30 had no observable negative effect on overall vehicle performance.
• The cost per mile for E15 and E30 fueled vehicles were nearly identical over the one year demonstration.
• A price difference of more than 2.5% compared to E15 would cause E30 to become the more economically viable fuel.

Impact of using E30 on state-owned vehicles -- If the Nebraska Transportation Service Bureau (TSB) and State Patrol (SP) non-FFV fleets change from E15 to E30 fuel:
• Ethanol consumption would increase by 66,000 gallons per year
• CO2 emissions would decrease by 529 tons per year.

Impact of allowing state-wide E30 consumption -- If only 10% of the 1.7 million registered non-FFVs in Nebraska convert from E10 to E30:
• Ethanol consumption would increase by 18.5 million gallons per year
• CO2 emission would decrease by 64,000 tons per year. READ MORE

Excerpt from CFDC letter: In its 2019 proposed rulemaking, EPA recognized the ability of higher octane E30 fuel blends to improve engine fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe carbon emissions. EPA requested comments on how it could encourage such blends in a national fuel standard “consistent with Title II of the Clean Air Act.” The Biden Administration has announced that it would “repeal and replace” the Trump Rule, which fell short of expectations.

As you know, the fuel efficiency rules are largely based on required carbon reductions.

Experts at USDA and Argonne National Laboratory have concluded that corn ethanol produced with precision agriculture and other conservation practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent to 76 percent compared to gasoline. Other experts predict that over the next several years, high-octane, low-carbon, or HOLC,
fuels, such as ethanol, will be classified as ultra-low carbon fuels, surpassing the greenhouse gas benefits of vehicles running on electricity produced from coal and natural gas.

The transportation sector, almost completely dependent on gasoline and diesel, is the nation’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Adding electric vehicles into the fleet could help over time, but improving the quality of the gasoline we use now—more than 100 billion gallons annually—would reap immediate benefits. Higher octane
fuels would allow automakers to dramatically increase fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions, benefiting both the environment and public health In its November 2016 Technical Assessment Review, EPA noted that: “The reduction in
CO2 emissions from Tier 3 gasoline is due in part to the reduced carbon content of Tier 3 gasoline relative to Tier 2 gasoline. This is largely due to a reduction in aromatics for Tier 3 gasoline…”

Studies by Ford and others have determined that high-octane gasoline produced with 30 percent ethanol blends would make it possible for automakers to increase fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe carbon/greenhouse gas emissions by seven percent, saving consumers billions of dollars a year in both fuel and vehicle costs. E30 blends have also been shown to reduce the most harmful ultrafine particulates and black carbon by 45-85 percent.

EPA officials have confirmed that an additional advantage of E30 blends is their greatly reduced volatility. In most cases, E30 blends have the same or lower RVP than E0 blends.

In numerous rulemakings, EPA has acknowledged the important role ethanol’s superior high-octane properties have played in this reduction in aromatic content. It is now time for them to honor the mandatory provision in the Clean Air Act and ensure a timely transition to a national 100 RON E30 gasoline standard. READ MORE

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E30 Nebraska flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) Fleets South Dakota Department of Energy (DOE) E15 GHG (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) fuel prices ethanol/bioethanol EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) sub-sim (substantially similar) Reid vapor pressure (RVP) Regulations-Federal E30 optimized optimized flex fuel vehicles environmental policy Transportation Fuels Policy Sustainability Tier 3 Clean Air Act (CAA) High Octane Fuel (HOF) High Octane Vehicles (HOV) corn ethanol Carbon Intensity (CI)/Carbon Footprint Department of Agriculture (USDA) fuel economy Safer and Affordable Fuel Efficient Vehicles (SAFE) aromatics particulates black carbon octane price/value E30 capable E30 certification fuel

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