John Deere’s Ethanol Tractor Matches Diesel Performance with Lower Operating Costs.
With the current news of the extension of the lower-cost E15 fuel blend, and the positive attitudes towards biofuels -- in a recent poll 80 percent or respondents think renewable fuels like ethanol are important to American energy independence -- could we see farm equipment that one day runs on ethanol alone? The answer may be coming from John Deere.
John Deere is advancing its exploration of alternative fuels with a new ethanol-powered tractor, aiming to deliver both economic and operational benefits for farmers.
Buddy Kavalier, research strategist with John Deere, shared with Farms.com the recent developments of an 8R tractor equipped with an ethanol spark-ignition engine in the mid-300 horsepower range.
The project began in 2020, when John Deere started evaluating lower-cost fuel options that could also reduce carbon intensity. Ethanol quickly emerged as a promising candidate, offering advantages beyond emissions.
One of its key benefits is cleaner combustion compared to diesel, which significantly reduces particulate matter.
As a result, the tractor does not require complex aftertreatment systems typically found in diesel engines, such as particulate filters and regeneration processes.
Ethanol engines also produce fewer engine knocks under spark ignition.
This allows for more efficient control of nitrogen oxide emissions using a three-way catalyst combined with onboard engine technologies.
From a cost perspective, ethanol presents a favorable alternative despite requiring approximately 1.72 gallons to replace one gallon of diesel. Even so, the overall fuel expense can be 15% to 30% lower, depending on sourcing.
The tractor is being showcased in collaboration with the National Corn Growers Association and other partners, including Growmark and the National Farmers Union, to support fueling infrastructure and pilot programs.
Field trials conducted last fall across three farms yielded positive feedback.
While operators initially expected lower performance, many farmers were surprised by the tractor’s strong power output, particularly at higher RPMs.
Looking ahead, John Deere plans to expand testing into states such as Iowa and Illinois, with additional regions to follow. The company is also exploring ethanol supply opportunities beyond the Corn Belt.
Ultimately, the goal is to match diesel-level performance while ensuring reliability, durability, and customer satisfaction before moving toward production.