Deere E98 prototype tractor gets thumbs up from test drivers

Описание: Ethanol-powered equipment drew steady crowds at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, where John Deere showcased its E98 ethanol engine tractor prototype at the National Corn Growers Association booth.

RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin caught up with John Deere research strategist Harold (Buddy) Kavalier to discuss the project, which has been in development since 2020. Kavalier says the initiative began with a clear objective: identify a lower carbon intensity fuel that also delivers practical value on farm.

“We were looking for a lower carbon intensity fuel at the time, but we knew we needed a fuel that provided value to our customers’ operations,” says Kavalier. “We started working on ethanol… and we’ve had engines in labs for three and a half, probably four years now.”

The prototype tractor is powered by John Deere’s nine-litre engine platform, long recognized in large agriculture for durability and uptime, says Kavalier. Engineers retained the core diesel architecture and converted it to spark ignition, with modifications primarily from the cylinder head up.

The machine on display is rated in the mid-300 horsepower range, approaching the upper end of Deere’s 8R lineup. Grower feedback so far has exceeded expectations. Kavalier notes that some operators were initially skeptical, recalling the performance limitations of gas tractors decades ago.

“This engine is different. It performs. It does well,” says Kavalier. “Customers, when they stepped out of the cab after running it for a day, they were like, ‘Wow, that is not what I expected. This tractor performed phenomenal.’”

Beyond performance, the excitement ties directly to ethanol demand. With ongoing corn oversupply concerns, additional domestic corn grind for fuel represents opportunity for growers and the broader biofuels sector.

Looking ahead, Deere is expanding field validation for E98. Three additional tractors will operate in targeted U.S. states this season, moving into more regions by harvest. The goal is to gather real-world customer insights before determining whether to transition from technology assessment to full product development.

Support from the National Corn Growers Association and state corn groups has helped move the project forward. Reception at the show suggests strong interest, says Kavalier, as growers look for new ways to integrate biofuels into their operations.


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