ClearFlame Engine Technologies develops patented technology that enables heavy-duty engines to run on a range of renewable liquid fuels. Its system is designed to deliver the same power, durability and performance as today’s diesel engines while integrating into existing manufacturing, fueling, maintenance and repair ecosystems. The company is targeting long-haul trucking and is piloting five trucks in collaboration with some of the largest fleet operators in North America. ClearFlame is pursuing penetration of the more than $200 billion global trucking market and is exploring partnerships and applications in mining, agriculture, and power generation. Led by CEO BJ Johnson and CTO Julie Blumreiter, the company intends to use funding to bring market-ready solutions that lower costs for manufacturers and reduce carbon and soot. ClearFlame is based in Chicago, IL. ClearFlame Engine Technologies develops net‑zero engine technology that allows low‑carbon renewable fuels like ethanol to be integrated into existing diesel engine platforms while meeting diesel performance and efficiency requirements. The company’s ClearFlame‑enabled engines aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter, offering a lower‑emission, lower‑cost alternative to diesel. ClearFlame plans to commercialize its technology for long‑haul trucking, agriculture and power generation sectors using the new funding. The company is led by CEO and co‑founder BJ Johnson and is based in Geneva, Illinois. Prior to this round, ClearFlame received $4M in non‑dilutive and grant funding from state corn growers associations, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and others, and completed a $3M Series Seed in early 2020 led by Clean Energy Ventures. ClearFlame Engine Technologies has developed a way to modify diesel engines so they can operate on decarbonized fuels such as ethanol (and, with injection tweaks, methanol, natural gas and ammonia) while retaining 80–90% of existing diesel parts. The technology enables replacing 100% of petroleum fuel with renewable fuels, which the company says reduces net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% and cuts particulate matter and NOx to near-zero levels. Their approach focuses on retrofitting existing engines or integrating the modifications into new engines, with a go-to-market strategy of partnering with OEMs to leverage supply chains and aftermarket channels. The core tech originated in a Stanford University lab where the co-founders earned their Ph.D.s; the founders are CEO BJ Johnson and CTO Julie Blumreiter. ClearFlame has completed proof-of-concept demonstrations on a Caterpillar engine at Argonne National Laboratory and is conducting a demonstration on a Cummins platform supported by DOE funding. On the financing side, the company announced a $3 million round led by CleanEnergy Ventures and has also received several million dollars in grant funding, including SBIR awards from NSF, DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Total raised

$50M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Mar 2023