The U.S. Grains Council hosted a six-week E85 pilot program in Monterrey, Mexico, as part of Mexico’s energy transition strategy. The program aimed to evaluate the performance, emissions and economic viability of E85 compared to conventional fuels like regular and premium gasoline, natural gas and liquified petroleum gas primarily used in the region.
During the six weeks, 10 taxis converted to Flex Fuel technology and traveled more than 43,000 miles, using more than 1,500 gallons of E85—gasoline blended with 85% bioethanol—cutting operating costs by more than $2 Mexican pesos (MXN) per mile and reducing between 4.9 and 6.4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually per taxi.
Projected savings per vehicle over its lifespan reached up to $19,230 MXN, with environmental benefits including significant reduction in air pollutants, according to data from the E85 Pilot Project, a study conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nuevo León State Ministry of the Environment and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).
Analyses conducted by the Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP) reinforced the Pilot Project’s results, indicating that E85 use in Tier 1 Flex Fuel vehicles reduces key emissions including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates and toxic compounds including benzene and 1,3-butadiene. These reductions far outweigh the recorded increases in methane, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
Estimates show that with just 5% adoption of E85 in the vehicle fleet, at the state level, Nuevo León could mitigate 148,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and generate savings of up to $375 million MXN. E85 is not only a viable alternative fuel but it also is a catalyst for developing a new national agroindustry based on sugarcane and sorghum for bioethanol production.
“I’m eager to see the Mexican energy and transportation sectors react to this study and how it will spur investments in a new agroindustry in the country,” said Heidi Bringenberg, USGC director in Mexico. “With U.S. agriculture already enjoying a close relationship with Mexico, its top export market, any increase in biofuel consumption translates to significant demand for U.S. producers to meet.”
This initiative builds on prior engagements, including the E85 taxi fleet trials and memorandum of understanding (MOU) follow-ups from Global Ethanol Summit 2023. This event marks a key milestone in promoting E85 adoption in Mexico, and there are future opportunities to leverage data from the pilot to inform policy recommendations and public perception.
USGC Ethanol Consultants Galo Galeana (leftmost) and Conrado Martínez (second from left) met with representatives from Clúster Energético de Nuevo León, an organization bringing together experts in industry, academia and government, to discuss the trial and how ethanol can reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.