Exciting advancements are being made in the heavy-duty trucking industry. ClearFlame Engine Technologies recently demonstrated a heavy-duty truck running on 98% ethanol. This exciting milestone means that one of the hardest vehicle types to decarbonize just got easier.
We know that transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. We need to take major action now to decarbonize before it’s too late. However, switching to low and no emission heavy-duty vehicle types can be very expensive. 
According to a recent article, this new technology ClearFlame introduced works by using a Class 8 diesel truck, ‘running on a Cummins X15 500hp 15L heavy-duty engine, commonly used for long-haul truck and off-highway applications, and converting it to run on renewable E98 ethanol.’
Here at MNFuels we talk about the many benefits of ethanol blended fuels. One of those being the cost-effectiveness. By allowing conventional diesel engines like this example to run on clean, renewable ethanol, we would see an immediate reduction in emissions and fuel cost – a win-win in our book.
The Minnesota Corn Growers have supported the research and development behind ClearFlame. To learn more about the technology, check out this podcast.
Speaking of win-wins, most of us can use ethanol blends in our vehicles and reduce emissions now. Whether you use E85 in your Flex Fuel Vehicle or Unleaded 88 in your 2001 or newer car, you are helping our planet, economy and your pocketbook.