Podcast covers plug-in hybrid FFV project by RFA
A new episode of the Minnesota Corn Podcast highlights a study by the Renewable Fuels Association showing the benefits of a plug-in hybrid flex fuel vehicle over fully electric vehicles.
In the episode, called “Flex fuel plug-in hybrids have advantages over full EVs,” RFA’s Senior Vice President, Industry Relations & Market Development, Robert White explains that RFA outfitted a 2022 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a kit that allowed it to run on flex fuels like E85. RFA conducted rigorous emissions testing and a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions analysis on the vehicle and put over 34,000 miles of real-world driving on it.
White explained to Minnesota Corn Podcast host Mark Dorenkamp that the study found the plug-in electric hybrid has distinct advantages over fully electric vehicles. Its lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions rivaled or, in some cases, outperformed those of fully battery electric vehicles, and the vehicle had no meaningful loss in fuel economy, White said. Meanwhile, the vehicle substantially reduced the emissions of harmful tailpipe pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter compared to gasoline-powered vehicles.
White said he plans to share the study with automakers and federal agencies, and that he’ll be spending time in Washington, D.C. this summer to highlight the results. He said the vehicle provides the EV-only crowd with a soft landing spot, showing that there’s more than one way to reach greenhouse gas emissions goals without sacrificing convenience or tailpipe emissions reductions. It also could be a steppingstone for those who have questions about EVs. “What this vehicle does is it’s the best of both worlds,” White told Dorenkamp.
The study was funded in part by Minnesota Corn along with other state corn grower associations. You can learn more about the plug-in electric hybrid flex fuel vehicle here.
Listen to past Minnesota Corn Podcast episodes here, and listen to portions of the podcast every other week on affiliates of Brownfield Ag News in Minnesota. An upcoming episode of the Minnesota Corn Podcast will feature MCGA board member Angela Guentzel and will cover county corn grower associations organizations and why growers might want to get involved.
