Automakers are seeking affordable, higher octane motor fuels enabling them to unlock increased efficiency gains within future spark-ignition engines.
While there are many potential sources of additional octane in future fuels, ethanol is the only commercially available product that can check all of these boxes: Low Carbon, High Octane, Affordable, Abundant and Renewable! The National Corn Growers Association, in partnership with state corn organizations, continue their efforts to shape long-term future domestic demand for U.S. produced corn-based ethanol.
Domestic Market Demand: A high-octane low-carbon fuel in the marketplace, once fully implemented, increases long-term annual ethanol usage by more than 5 billion gallons. That’s equal to over 1.8 billion bushels of new annual corn demand.(1) Domestic Energy Independence: More ethanol means less reliance on foreign oil. In 2018, ethanol displaced 594 million barrels of crude oil. Future Engine Performance: Automakers are asking for a higher-octane fuel standard allowing new technology capable of delivering substantial gains in engine efficiency and performance. Environmental Impact: In 2018, the use of ethanol in gasoline reduced CO2-equivalent Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from vehicles in the U.S. by 55.1 million metric tons. That’s equal to removing 11.7 million cars from the road for an entire year! Reduces the price at the Pump: Today regular gasoline without ethanol is oftentimes priced at well over a $0.50 higher compared to fuel containing a minimum of E10. Higher blends of ethanol in a future high-octane fuel would allow consumers access to a high-octane fuel without the high-octane price premium we see today.
1-Implementation gradually spread over the next 20 years
VIDEO
Ethanol is the Best Source for Octane (Aug 13, 2020)
To understand ethanol’s vital role as the world’s leading octane additive, as well as it’s increasing value as a low-carbon solution, requires a full appreciation of both characteristics. NCGA Chairman and Nebraska farmer Lynn Chrisp talks about why ethanol is the best source of octane.
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The Need for High-Octane Low-Carbon Fuel and Auto Manufacturers (Aug 13, 2020)
Corn ethanol is uniquely positioned to play a larger role in future transportation fuels. NCGA, state partners and automakers continue working on initiatives to get high-octane low-carbon fuel to the marketplace. NCGA First Vice President John Linder discusses why auto manufacturers are looking for a higher octane low carbon fuel.
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The Impact of Ethanol Growth on Rural America (Aug 13, 2020)
Ethanol is a commercially available, high-octane, low-carbon, affordable source of octane that stands ready to reliably supply the U.S. motor fuel market with a homegrown fuel. NCGA President Kevin Ross discusses the benefits of increased ethanol blends for farmers and surrounding communities.
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Engine Testing with Mid-Level Ethanol Blends (Aug 13, 2020)
Brian West is the former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this clip, Brian talks about some of the results he saw with mid-level ethanol blends while conducting a test on a 3.5 liter Ford F-150 V6.
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Assessing Fuel Economy and Emissions (Aug 13, 2020)
Brian West is the former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this clip, Brian shows us how they assess fuel economy and emissions in a laboratory environment with mid-level ethanol blends.
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How Fuel Impacts Compression Ratio (Aug 13, 2020)
Brian West is the former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this clip, Brian talks about how high-octane low-carbon fuels impact compression ratio.
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Efficiency Gains from Octane (Aug 13, 2020)
Brian West is the former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Brian talks about efficiency gains with mid-level ethanol blends.
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The Benefits of Higher Octane Fuel for Engine Technology (Aug 13, 2020)
Why does a higher octane fuel matter? Brian West, former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, explains why.
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Why Octane Matters for Spark-Ignition Engines (Aug 13, 2020)
Brian West talks about the importance of octane and why it matters to engine technology. Brian is the former Group Leader for the Fuels and Engines Research Group at the National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, explains why.
