Deere's Ethanol-Powered Tractor Hits the Fields This Fall

John Deere's ethanol-powered tractor is making progress in development and will be put to the test in Nebraska and Illinois fields this fall. The company has been working on the project since 2020, with a goal of creating a large-scale market for corn ethanol.

The E98-powered tractor has already undergone testing in Kentucky farm fields and has performed well during harvest, according to Nate Green, John Deere's director of biofuels. The tractors are expected to have diesel-like power and torque, but will require more frequent fueling due to their smaller tank size.

Green noted that the technology is still four to five years away from commercial launch and that state corn grower groups have invested in the project alongside Deere to create a fuel supply chain. The company is also exploring the feasibility of using ethanol and biodiesel blends together, with a recent multi-year research project launching at Purdue University.