In Nebraska, the Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) announced the publication of the interim report for Phase II of the E30 Demonstration. The project is demonstrating the viability of E30 fuel (a blend of 30% ethanol and 70% gasoline) in non-flex fuel vehicles. Phase I was conducted in 2019, and the ongoing Phase II began in 2023. So far, the 94 State of Nebraska light-duty vehicles involved in Phase II have collectively driven more than 215,000 miles on E30 fuel. The research team, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has found further evidence of the conclusions from Phase I: E30 is safe and effective for non-flex fuel vehicles, and E30 is economically viable for broader consumption.
The interim report highlights the results drawn from data collected by the onboard diagnostic (OBD) tracker connected to each involved vehicle. The vehicles are split into two groups: one control group using E10, and an experimental group using E30, with both groups designed to maximize diversity in vehicle makes, models, years, and engine types. This expands the demonstration beyond the scope of Phase I, which studied a much more limited set of vehicles.
