Javascript is required to use this website.

Cellulosic biofuels win for ground transportation

Lauren Quinn University of Illinois
Mar 28, 2024
Mar 28, 2024

Electric vehicle graphic — Electric vehicles are not the only option for sustainable transportation.
Contributed

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Lauren Quinn University of Illinois

Despite the fervor around electric vehicles and their potential to reduce the transportation sector’s carbon footprint, 2023 projections suggest electric vehicles won’t edge out gas-powered vehicles for decades to come. With conventional vehicles likely to dominate the ground fleet for the foreseeable future, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experts say cellulosic biofuels shouldn’t be discounted.

kAm#6D62C496CD :? E96 r@==686 @7 p8C:4F=EFC2=[ r@?DF>6C 2?5 t?G:C@?>6?E2= $4:6?46D 2?5 E96 x?DE:EFE6 7@C $FDE2:?23:=:EJ[ t?6C8J[ 2?5 t?G:C@?>6?E 2E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D ?@E6 E92E DFAA@CE 7@C 46==F=@D:4D 92D H2?65 :? A2CE 5F6 E@ F?46CE2:?EJ 2C@F?5 =2?5 2G2:=23:=:EJ[ 7665DE@4< J:6=5D[ 4@DED 2?5 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@? D2G:?8D] x? 2 C646?E DEF5J[ E96J BF2?E:7:65 E9@D6 F?46CE2:?E:6D 7@C >F=E:A=6 7665DE@4<D 2?5 A@=:4J D46?2C:@D[ 4@?4=F5:?8 E92E 46==F=@D:4 7665DE@4<D @FEA6C7@C> 4@C? 6E92?@= :? ?62C=J 2== 42D6D — 3FE H:== C6BF:C6 4@?D:56C23=6 A@=:4J DFAA@CE E@ 8C@H 2?5 DFDE2:? E96 :?5FDECJ]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 25G2?E286D 7@C A6C6??:2= 7665DE@4<D E@ 5642C3@?:K6 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[” D2:5 |259F z92??2[ r@==686 @7 p8C:4F=EFC2=[ r@?DF>6C 2?5 t?G:C@?>6?E2= $4:6?46D s:DE:?8F:D965 !C@76DD@C :? t?G:C@?>6?E2= t4@?@>:4D :? E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC2= 2?5 r@?DF>6C t4@?@>:4D[ E96 p=G:? w] q2F> u2>:=J uF?5 r92:C[ 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 x?DE:EFE6 7@C $FDE2:?23:=:EJ[ t?6C8J[ 2?5 t?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 2 D6?:@C 2FE9@C @? E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?6C8J\7F?565 DEF5J =65 3J E96 r6?E6C 7@C p5G2?465 q:@6?6C8J 2?5 q:@AC@5F4ED x??@G2E:@?] “(6 ?665 =@?8\E6C> A@=:4J 4@>>:E>6?ED H:E9 2DDFC65 56>2?5 7@C 46==F=@D:4 3:@7F6=D[ 2D H6== 2D D9@CE\E6C> A@=:4J DFAA@CE =:<6 E2I 4C65:ED[ H9:49 4@F=5 36 32D65 @? E96 42C3@? :?E6?D:EJ @7 3:@7F6=D]”k^Am

kAm%96 r6?E6C 7@C p5G2?465 q:@6?6C8J 2?5 q:@AC@5F4ED x??@G2E:@? E62> 56G6=@A65 2 4@>A=6I >@56= :?E68C2E:?8 64@?@>:4D[ 4C@A 8C@HE9 :?7@C>2E:@?[ =2?5 2G2:=23:=:EJ[ C67:?6CJ AC@46DD6D 2?5 42C3@? 36?67:ED E@ 4@>A2C6 >F=E:A=6 3:@7F6= 7665DE@4<D — 4@C?[ D@J362?D[ 4@C? DE@G6C[ >:D42?E9FD[ DH:E498C2DD 2?5 6?6C8J D@C89F>] %96 E62> AC@;64E65 @FE4@>6D 7@C a_`e E@ a_b_ F?56C G2C:@FD A@=:4J D46?2C:@D] %9@D6 :?4=F565 2 “?@ A@=:4J” @C 32D6=:?6 D46?2C:@ :? H9:49 4@C? 6E92?@= 96=5 DE625J 2E D:I 3:==:@? 82==@?D A6C J62Cj 2 4@C? 6E92?@= >2?52E6 @7 `d 3:==:@? 82==@?Dj 2?5 2 4@C? Z 46==F=@D:4 6E92?@= >2?52E6 255:?8 `e 3:==:@? 82==@?D @7 46==F=@D:4 6E92?@= \\ 2 E@E2= @7 b` 3:==:@? 82==@?D \\ 3J a_b_]k^Am

kAm%96 >@56= AC65:4E65 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> E96 67764E @7 6E92?@= >2?52E6D @? 4@C? 2?5 7665DE@4< AC:46D E@ H96C6 6249 7665DE@4< H@F=5 36 8C@H? >@DE AC@5F4E:G6=J[ E2<:?8 :?E@ 244@F?E =2?5 FD6 492?86[ 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D 2?5 D@4:6E2= 4@DED] x? E96 6?5[ E96 46==F=@D:4 >2?52E6 42>6 @FE @? E@A]k^Am

kAm“t=64EC:7:42E:@? 92D 42F89E 2 =@E @7 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 E96C6VD 2 =@E @7 A@=:4J DFAA@CE 7@C :E[ 3FE :EVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 D=@H AC@46DD E@ 492?86 E96 G69:4=6 7=66E] {:BF:5 3:@7F6=D @776C 2? 2=>@DE :>>65:2E6 36?67:E H:E9 6I:DE:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[” z92??2 D2:5] “r6==F=@D:4 3:@7F6=D 2C6 A2CE:4F=2C=J AC@>:D:?8 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 9:89 J:6=5:?8 A6C F?:E =2?5 2?5 42? 36 8C@H? 2E =62DE A2CE=J @? >2C8:?2= =2?5[ H9:49 :D =@H\AC@5F4E:G:EJ =2?5 E92E 42? DFAA@CE 4C@AD H:E9@FE 4@?G6CD:@?[ DF49 2D 72==@H 4C@A=2?5] w6?46 E96:C AC@5F4E:@? 4@?7=:4ED >F49 =6DD H:E9 7@@5 4C@AD 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 FD6 @7 4@C? 2?5 D@J362? 7@C 3:@7F6=]”k^Am

kAm%96 E62> H2D A2CE:4F=2C=J :?E6C6DE65 :? BF2?E:7J:?8 :?5:C64E =2?5 FD6 492?86] (96? 3:@7F6=D 2C6 AC@5F465[ z92??2 6IA=2:?D[ E96 AC:46 @7 =2?5 :?4C62D6D[ 7@C4:?8 2? :?4C62D6 :? E96 AC:46 @7 4@>>@5:E:6D] %92E 4C62E6D :?46?E:G6D 7@C ?@?\4C@A=2?5 E@ 36 4@?G6CE65 :?E@ 4C@A=2?5[ 3FE 4@?G6CD:@? C6=62D6D DE@C65 42C3@?]k^Am

kAm“%9:D 4C62E6D 2 ‘42C3@? 563E’ E92E 42? E2<6 >2?J J62CD E@ A2J 324<] %96 >@C6 4C@A AC:46D 8@ FA[ E96 9:896C E96 x{&r ,:?5:C64E =2?5 FD6 492?86. 67764E 2?5 E96 =@H6C E96 @G6C2== 42C3@? 36?67:ED[” z92??2 D2:5] “tG6? E9@F89 H6 D2J 46==F=@D:4 3:@7F6=D 2C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 4@?7=:4E H:E9 7@@5 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 92G6 =@H6C 42C3@? :?E6?D:EJ[ E96C6VD DE:== 2 =@E @7 F?46CE2:?EJ 23@FE E92E]”k^Am

People are also reading…

‘Tough to compete with feedlot for cost of gain’
New policies affect spread of alternative energy sites
Agriculture will play a major role in upcoming corner crossing discussions
Finding her niche on family farm: Newman Grove farm wife builds pork business
Morrell, Stockyards made a mark on Sioux Falls history
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Wildfires: Yearning to help, prompted to plan
Researchers experiment with agrivoltaics
‘Micro-dairy’ adds diversity to family business
Commitment core of Ralston FFA Chapter
Faith and trust: Small rural church members have faith in future of their congregation
Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus
Rebounding from stray voltage, farmer recharges
Evenson Angus 46th Annual Production Sale
Mitchell Tech students present research at Commodity Classic

kAmz92??2 D2JD 2 >2;@C D@FC46 @7 F?46CE2:?EJ :D E96 2>@F?E @7 >2C8:?2= =2?5 E92E 4@F=5 36 FD65 E@ AC@5F46 46==F=@D:4 3:@7F6= 4C@AD]k^Am

kAm“~FC 2?2=JD:D D9@H65 2 C6=2E:G6=J D>2== 2>@F?E @7 >2C8:?2= =2?5 \\ `]d >:==:@? 964E2C6D @C b]f >:==:@? 24C6D \\ H:== 36 4@?G6CE65 E@ 6?6C8J 4C@AD[” D96 D2:5] “%96 4@CC6DA@?5:?8 6DE:>2E6 @7 E96 2>@F?E @7 >2C8:?2= =2?5 =:<6=J E@ 4@?G6CE E@ 4C@A=2?5 F?56C E96 r@C? tE92?@= |2?52E6 D46?2C:@ H@F=5 36 >F49 =2C86C 2?5 >@C6 F?46CE2:? 2E a]a >:==:@? 964E2C6D]”k^Am

kAm%96 >@56= AC65:4E65 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D F?56C E96 32D6=:?6 D46?2C:@ H@F=5 8C25F2==J :?4C62D6 3J 2 4@FA=6 @7 A6C46?E286 A@:?ED @G6C E:>6[ 3FE E96 4@C? 6E92?@= 2?5 E96 4@C? Z 46==F=@D:4D >2?52E6D C65F465 6>:DD:@?D 3J E9C66 A6C46?E 2?5 `_]c A6C46?E[ C6DA64E:G6=J[ 3J a_b_]k^Am

kAmr@CC6DA@?5:?8=J[ E96 >@56= 6DE:>2E65 E96 4@C? Z 46==F=@D:4D A@=:4J H@F=5 4@DE DF3DE2?E:2==J =6DD 7@C 8C66?9@FD6 82D 232E6>6?E E92? 2 4@C? 6E92?@=\@?=J A@=:4J[ 2E 23@FE S`d_ 2?5 Sabb A6C >6828C2> @7 42C3@? 5:@I:56[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 7:8FC6D 724E@C :?E@ 2?@E96C >2;@C 7@4FD @7 E96 2?2=JD:D[ 2 4@?46AE <?@H? 2D E96 64@?@>:4 H6=72C6 4@DE 7@C 6249 A@=:4J]k^Am

kAm“(96? H6 7@C46 4@?DF>6CD E@ A2J 7@C AC@5F4ED E92E 2C6 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6[ E96:C H6=72C6 8@6D 5@H?] xE’D 2 ?6E 4@DE 7@C E96>] $@ :7 E96C6’D 2 >2?52E6 E92E H6 92G6 E@ 4@?DF>6 `e 3:==:@? 82==@?D[ E92E 7@C46D >F49 >@C6 4@DE=J 3:@7F6= :?E@ E96 >2C<6E[ 2?5 E96 H6=72C6 8@6D 5@H?] qFE 42C3@? 6>:DD:@?D 8@ 5@H? 2D H6==[” z92??2 D2:5] “(6 =@@<65 2E E96 492?86 :? E96 64@?@>:4 H6=72C6 H:E9 E96 :>A@D:E:@? @7 >@C6 DEC:?86?E >2?52E6D[ 2?5 4@>A2C65 :E E@ E96 C65F4E:@? :? 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D] %96? H6 42? D2J[ A6C E@??6 @7 C65F4E:@?[ H92E :D E96 4@DE E92E 92D 366? 3@C?6n”k^Am

kAm%96 >@56= AC65:4E65 E92E 2=E9@F89 46==F=@D:4 6E92?@= 72C 6I4665D E96 4@DE @7 4@C? 6E92?@=[ @G6C2== H6=72C6 4@DED @7 C65F4:?8 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D H@F=5 564C62D6 H:E9 2 46==F=@D:4 >2?52E6 E92?<D E@ 255:E:@?2= 42C3@? D2G:?8D]k^Am

kAm%96 DEF5J DF886DED A@=:4J DFAA@CE 7@C 46==F=@D:4D H@F=5 ?@E @?=J 36 8@@5 7@C E96 A=2?6E[ 3FE 2=D@ :E 4@F=5 36 8@@5 7@C D@4:6EJ]k^Am

kAm“tG6? :7 H6 249:6G6 4FCC6?E A@=:4J E2C86ED 7@C 2 d_T D92C6 @7 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6D :? ?6H D2=6D[ :E H:== E2<6 564256D 7@C E96 D92C6 @7 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6D :? E96 E@E2= DE@4< E@ 5@>:?2E6 5F6 E@ D=@H EFC?@G6C[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 2E 2 8=@32= =6G6=] p =2C86 D92C6 @7 E96 42CD 2C6 DE:== 8@:?8 E@ ?665 =:BF:5 7F6=] xEVD 36EE6C 5C:G:?8 E96> @? =@H\42C3@? 3:@7F6=D C2E96C E92? @? 82D@=:?6[” z92??2 D2:5] “xE 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ 36 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6D @C 3:@7F6=D] (6 92G6 E@ 92G6 2 32=2?465 2AAC@249 2?5 C6=J @? >F=E:A=6 A2E9D E@ C65F4:?8 6>:DD:@?D 7C@> E96 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? D64E@C]”k^Am

kAm%96 DEF5J[ “"F2?E:7J:?8 F?46CE2:?E:6D :? 8C66?9@FD6 82D D2G:?8D 2?5 232E6>6?E 4@DED H:E9 46==F=@D:4 3:@7F6=D[” :D AF3=:D965 :? E96 tFC@A62? #6G:6H @7 p8C:4F=EFC2= t4@?@>:4D] %96 C6D62C49 H2D DFAA@CE65 3J E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?6C8J]k^Am

Lauren Quinn is a media-communications specialist for the University of Illinois-College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The Department of Crop Sciences is in that college. Visit aces.illinois.edu for more information.

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Most Popular

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

Cellulosic biofuels win for ground transportation

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Related to this story

Most Popular

Listen to buzz around hydration

More effective treatment found for bee colonies

Researchers untangle drivers of nitrogen loss

Scientists launch groundbreaking project

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: