Ethanol (E85) to power cars

[BeanoNYC]

I just read an interesting article in the times regarding this fuel. What I was suprised at was that so many cars out there can run on E85. Unfortunately, we can't get E85 in the Northeast.

Here's the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/business/10alternative.html?8hpib

Here's a website to find cars that run on it and stations that sell it:
http://www.e85fuel.com/index.php

 

[ctenidae]

E85 isin't much of a petroleum-reliance solution. It burns a bit cleaner, so that's good, but the amount of energy required to produce a gallon of ethanol is more than the amount of energy in that gallon. Depending on who you ask, by a significant margin. Of course, oil's getting close to that mark.

 

[Brettski]

http://www.e85fuel.com/index.php

 

[ctenidae]

Like I said, depends on who you ask. The study I saw that showed the highest energy loss added in the energy used to produce fertilizer, irrigate, etc as well, making hte energy used just in the production of corn pretty high. I like the ethanol idea, especially making it from waste, but I think everyone should be aware that there are significant problems that need to be solved (one of which, not entirely surprising, involves regulations on alcohol production left over from the repeal of Prohibition. Technically, ethanol fuel falls under the perview of the ATF). It can be done, and should be, as I think ethanol is, overall, a better solution than hydrogen, unless hydrogen is embraced as a multi-purpose fuel in an integrated system. But I won't get in to that right now.