A Community Up to the Challenge
When a Watertown , South Dakota , ethanol producer created the E30 Challenge in the summer of 2016 , the goals were clear . “ We wanted to increase consumer awareness of E30 , use hard data to dispel myths about E30 use , and change consumer behavior ,” explained Marcy Kohl , director of communications and corporate affairs for Glacial Lakes Energy .
What followed was a multi-tiered approach that enlisted the participation of performance experts , local fuel retailers , auto repair shops and dealerships , and the driving public .
Watertown area drivers were enticed to try the fuel with a $ 0.30 per gallon discount during May and June , coupled with a Glacial Lakes pledge to donate another $ 0.30 per gallon to the Watertown Boys & Girls Clubs . The approach was effective . By the promotion ’ s end , E30 sales were up 600 percent — and they remain at that level more than one year later . Two retailers in town have added blender pumps offering E30 . “ We were also able to donate $ 50,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs ,” Kohl added .
By the numbers
“ As part of the challenge , we wanted to gather real , hard data on how E30 was performing in auto engines ,” Kohl stated . “ We equipped roughly 50 test vehicles of various ages , makes , and models with the same data loggers the EPA [ U . S . Environmental Protection Agency ] uses in their performance evaluations .”
The success of the E30 campaign enabled Glacial Lakes Energy to donate $ 50,000 to the Watertown Boys and Girls Club . It also made an E30 believer out of Cheryl Hohn . Her 2012 Camaro was one of the Challenge test vehicles .
“ We wanted to use hard data to dispel myths about E30 use .”
What did the data show ? “ We found that vehicles will adapt very well to E30 ,” noted Brad Brunner , Glacial Lakes Energy ethanol marketing manager . “ We put up to 2,000 miles on our vehicles , and we found that all injected vehicles can run safely on E30 , mileage will not be negatively impacted , torque and horsepower are generally improved , and there were no check engine lights or significant engine problems .” Brunner has since submitted to the EPA a white paper on the challenge results .
The E30 Challenge did have one more goal : To create a model that could be replicated throughout the industry . The first stage of that mission has also been accomplished . “ We ’ re working with another ethanol manufacturer , Redfield Energy , to help them launch an E30 Challenge in their community ,” Kohl said .
FALL 2017
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