Skip Navigation to main content U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center
About the AFDCFuelsVehiclesFleetsIncentives and LawsData, Analysis and TrendsInformation ResourcesHome
Ethanol

Ethanol Distribution

Ethanol producers face unique distribution challenges. Most ethanol plants are concentrated in the Midwestern United States, but gasoline consumption is highest along the East and West Coasts.

  • According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 90% of ethanol is transported by train or truck. The remaining 10% is transported by barge or pipeline.
  • A tanker truck can carry 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of ethanol.
  • One rail car can carry approximately 30,000 gallons of ethanol.
Schematic of the rail/truck ethanol distribution system. Grain is collected from farms and farm cooperatives and is trucked to an ethanol plant or biorefinery. From there, E95 goes by rail or truck to a terminal for fuel blending and storage. From the terminal, E10 or E85 is trucked to gasoline retail outlets.
Click to Enlarge

Schematic of Rail and Truck Ethanol Distribution System
Source: USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Ethanol Transportation Backgrounder (PDF 1.2 MB).

Ethanol Pipelines

Delivering ethanol by pipeline is the most desirable option, but ethanol's affinity for water and solvent properties require use of a dedicated pipeline or significant cleanup of existing pipelines.

  • Kinder Morgan ships batches of ethanol through its Central Florida Pipeline and is evaluating shipping ethanol on its Plantation Pipeline (see map). For details see the Central Florida Pipeline Ethanol Project (PDF 157 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

    Map showing the locations of Kinder Morgan Products pipelines and facilities throughout the United States. Most locations are in the upper Midwest, southeast, southwest, and west coast regions.
    Click to Enlarge

    Kinder Morgan Products Pipelines and Facilities
    Source: USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Ethanol Transportation Backgrounder (PDF 1.2 MB)

  • POET and Magellan Midstream Partners are assessing the feasibility of a dedicated ethanol pipeline linking the Midwest and Northeast United States (see the press release and map).

    Map shows proposed ethanol pipeline route starting in southern Minnesota and routing through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
    Click to Enlarge

    Proposed Dedicated Ethanol Pipeline Route
    Source: Source: POET

To learn more about the larger agricultural distribution system, see Ethanol Feedstock Logistics.