Campaigns & Partnerships Archive
With support from several ethanol and corn grower organizations, RFA purchased a new 2022 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) to demonstrate that ethanol (E85) and electricity can jointly power our vehicles. Students at the University of Nebraska’s Husker Motorsports Team assisted RFA with the conversion to flex fuel, using a conversion kit from eFlexFuel. The process took under an hour to complete, enabling the vehicle to run on any blend from regular unleaded (E10 or E15) to E30 or E85. Click here for photos of this process. The vehicle was then transported to the University of California at Riverside for emissions testing on E10, E30 and E85. The emissions testing was completed at the Center of Environment Research & Technology. From there, the vehicle toured the countryside, logging data miles for cost comparisons, convenience analysis, and more. In the summer of 2023, a full lifecycle analysis was completed by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago and Life Cycle Associates that compared full-battery electric vehicles, regular internal combustion engines, and our new creation, the Flex Fuel EV.
In June 2024, RFA released its final study documenting how, after rigorous emissions testing, lifecycle greenhouse gas analysis, and nearly 34,000 miles of real-world driving, the PHEFFV concept offers distinct advantages over fully electric vehicles. When using E85, the PHEFFV delivered:
- Reductions in lifecycle GHG emissions that rival, or outperform, the GHG reductions achievable with many battery electric vehicles;
- Substantial reductions (when compared to gasoline-powered vehicles) in emissions of harmful tailpipe pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide (CO);
- Lower cost of ownership and operation (purchase price, fuel cost per mile) than a similar BEV; and
- No meaningful loss in fuel economy, with the Escape experiencing just a 1.5 percent reduction in miles-per-gallon compared to the EPA estimated rate using E10.
American Chopper
RFA worked with Paul Teutul, Jr. of the hit television show American Chopper to conceive and build a signature motorcycle to highlight how ethanol is a safe and cost-effective alternative to straight gasoline, and using ethanol helps secure America’s energy independence. Known for innovative designs that push creative limits, Paul Jr. and his talented team at Paul Jr. Designs dedicated their energies to develop a themed chopper that runs on E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. RFA’s signature, one-of-a-kind motorcycle was featured on Discovery Channel’s American Chopper on June 11, 2018 and can be watched here. Watch this video to hear from bikers who have used ethanol blended fuels.
Thousands of motorcyclists descend on Sturgis, South Dakota each summer to attend the largest motorcycle and music festival in the U.S. From 2009 to 2021, RFA partnered with the Buffalo Chip Campground to educate motorcyclists about the benefits of high-quality, low-cost ethanol. RFA sponsored the Legends Ride and hosted Free Fuel Happy Hours, providing a free tank of 93 octane E10 (10 percent ethanol) for motorcycles. The 93 octane fueling station was donated to the campground by RFA, and is open 24 hours a day to all vehicles, not just motorcycles, providing the highest octane available at the lowest price. View a video from the Buffalo Chip announcing the new station here.
RFA and Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs collaborated on a custom flex fuel Jeep Wrangler to highlight the many benefits of using ethanol fuels in high-performance off-road vehicles. Fans can watch the Hauk team design and build the nearly 1,200 horsepower RFA flex-fuel Jeep Wrangler JL on Season 2 of “Hauk Machines” on Amazon Prime. In “Hauk Machines,” Kenny Hauk and his crew built two one-of-a-kind vehicles for the popular annual SEMA Show that took place in November 2019 in Las Vegas, including the special Wrangler for RFA. “Our goal was to build the most powerful Jeep ever built that not only functions on road and off, but looks good while doing it,” Hauk said. “We have found E85 to be an outstanding fuel option that gives us the power and performance we have been looking for in an economical package.” The project was part of RFA’s ongoing work to stimulate positive discussions about ethanol and engage with groups who have historically expressed reservations about the use of higher ethanol blends.
For several years, RFA partnered with the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail to educate boaters, conservation enthusiasts, and the public about the successful use of ethanol in marine engines. For 30 years, 10 percent ethanol-blended fuel (E10) has been used in all types of marine engines, and is approved for use by all major marine engine manufacturers. E10 is safe to use, provides an octane boost, and dilutes the harmful ingredients in gasoline to help protect fishing habitats.
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