TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Representative to Co-Sponsor the Next Generation Fuels Act (H.R. 8371)
To unlock improved performance in future auto engines, automakers will require consumer access to higher octane fuels at retail gas stations. Corn farmers, just like all Americans, want access to the lowest cost, most efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe motor fuels available. Corn ethanol is uniquely positioned as it is the only option that checks all of these boxes today. 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. Studies have shown that in order to optimize the performance of future engines, a high-octane fuel could utilize between 20%-40% ethanol compared to the 10%-15% blends standard across the U.S. today. The move to higher octane fuels will not occur overnight, but it is NCGA’s stance that we must move quickly to plant the seeds for future ethanol demand that will positively impact farmers for decades to come.
Learn more about the various benefits of high-octane low-carbon fuel below.
Corn ethanol is uniquely positioned to play a larger role in future transportation fuels as it is affordable, abundant, and renewable, making it a good source for high-octane low-carbon fuels.
Corn ethanol is uniquely positioned to play a larger role in future transportation fuels. Ethanol provides an affordable, abundant, and renewable source of high octane, low carbon motor fuel. Society continues to ask for lower-carbon products. In response, automakers are seeking affordable, higher octane motor fuels enabling them to unlock increased efficiency gains within future spark-ignition engines. Corn ethanol is the only commercially available product capable of meeting and exceeding all these asks: Low-Carbon, High-Octane, Affordable, Abundant, and Renewable!
Octane (Anti-Knock Index - AKI) is the number you see at the gas pump today. Octane is a measurement of fuel’s ability to resist Octane (Anti-Knock Index - AKI) is the number you see at the gas pump today. Octane is a measurement of fuel’s ability to resist premature ignition. Consistent, controlled, and predictable ignition of fuel is required for optimal engine performance. Premature ignition can lead to engine knocking resulting in decreased performance, decreased efficiency, increased emissions, and potential engine damage if left untreated. Today’s engines are designed and optimized to operate within specific fuel octane ranges. However, future internal combustion engines (ICE) will require higher octane fuels to fully utilize new technology and deliver substantial gains in efficiency.
America’s corn farmers maintain a vested interest in the future of liquid fuels. Today, nearly every gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is at least 10 percent ethanol derived from corn.
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, state partners, industry partners, and automakers continue working on initiatives to get high-octane low-carbon fuel to the marketplace.
Driving Demand Through Ethanol:
NCGA Chairman and Nebraska farmer Lynn Chrisp talks about why he got involved with the state and national organizations and why ethanol is such an important market for corn farmers.
Longevity in the Ethanol Market:
America’s corn farmers maintain a vested interest in the future of liquid fuels. Today, nearly every gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is at least 10 percent ethanol derived from corn. NCGA First Vice President John Linder talks about how he got involved with NCGA and why ethanol is an important market for America’s corn farmers.
The Importance of Ethanol to Corn Farmers:
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 President Kevin Ross talks about how he got involved with the Iowa Corn Growers Association and NCGA and outlines why growing the ethanol market is important for corn farmers.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory:
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 (ORNL). Brian talks about the research and engine work that happens at ORNL.
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.
Why should you care about High-Octane Low-Carbon fuels?
- 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
Ethanol is the Best Source for Octane
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.
The Need for High-Octane Low-Carbon Fuel and Auto Manufacturers
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.
The Impact of Ethanol Growth on Rural America
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.
Engine Testing with Mid-Level Ethanol Blends
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.
Assessing Fuel Economy and Emissions
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.
How Fuel Impacts Compression Ratio
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.
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.
The Benefits of Higher Octane Fuel for Engine Technology
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.
Why Octane Matters for Spark-Ignition Engines
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.
There are many environmental benefits of ethanol. Ethanol is cleaner for the environment resulting in fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) and tailpipe emissions than fossil fuel sources. The adoption of higher ethanol blends promotes better air quality and supports public health goals. Increasing the volumes of ethanol to a midlevel blend (E20-E40) corresponds to a significant reduction in harmful particulates and carbon monoxide.
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 Chairman and Nebraska farmer Lynn Chrisp talks about why ethanol is the best source of octane.
Environmental Benefits of Ethanol
Ethanol today reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40-45%. NCGA First Vice President John Linder outlines the environmental benefits of high-octane low-carbon fuel.
What does the number you see at the gas pump mean and why should you care? In the U.S. you’ll often see the octane number of 87 (regular), 89 (mid-grade) or 91-93 (premium) when you fill-up. If the minimum octane standard is increased, it would grow the overall market for octane additives, meaning ethanol demand would grow substantially as a result.
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 describes what octane is, what it measures and the difference between Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON).
The Next Generation Fuels Act would transition the gasoline supply to higher octane fuel in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, increase fuel efficiency, and grow future demand for corn.
Low Carbon High Octane Fuels
- Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allow automakers to use a new 98 Research Octane Number, or RON, fuel to certify new vehicles for emissions and fuel economy, making 98 RON fuel available no later than January 1, 2022.
- RON is the measurement of gasoline properties related to how the fuel combusts in engines; today’s regular gasoline is about 91 RON.
- Advanced engine design features are limited by 91 RON. Higher octane fuels, such as 98 RON, allow automakers to meet stricter emission standards and improve vehicle fuel efficiency from 5 to 7 percent.
- A new 98 RON would support mid-level blends like E25 and E30 which would generate new corn grind.
- Requires octane sources used in the new 98 RON fuel to result in at least 30 percent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than unblended gasoline, reducing emissions by at least 11 percent compared to current regular gasoline. Establishes a clean octane standard by limiting the aromatic hydrocarbon content of gasoline to an annual average of 17.5 percent by volume.
- This requirement ensures the progress already made to lower emissions, by replacing harmful petroleum-based gasoline components with cleaner renewable fuels, would continue.
Regulatory Harmonization
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Removes unnecessary and outdated regulatory barriers preventing more high octane, low carbon blends from entering the market by ensuring all ethanol blends greater than 10 percent receive the same Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) treatment as 10 and 15 percent blends.
- Updates the R-Factor, part of the EPA formula used to calculate vehicle fuel efficiency, to 1.0 to support low carbon fuel use and reflect modern engines.
- Streamlines EPA approval of fuel blends up to 30 percent ethanol to ensure cost-effective options are available to meet the 98 RON standard but without creating a mandate
- Requires the EPA to replace the flawed Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) model with one that accurately represents real-world fuels and vehicles currently in the market.
Vehicle and Fueling Infrastructure
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Requires automakers, beginning with the 2024 model year, to warrant vehicles for use on 98 RON fuel and ethanol blends up to and including 30 percent.
- Requires all new refueling infrastructure to be compatible with higher ethanol blends effective January 1, 2024.
- Re-establishes Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and GHG credits for flex-fuel vehicles, providing meaningful credits to automakers for production of vehicles that run on low carbon fuels, like E85, and encouraging production of vehicles that could also use high octane, low carbon fuel like 98 RON.
Next Generation Fuels Talking Points PDF
Section by Section Summary PDF