Comments on: Ethanol: Helping to Reduce our Reliance on Foreign Oil (Opinion) http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/ What is the future of fuel? What's new? What's next? Since 2007, Gas 2 has covered a rapidly changing world coming to terms with its oil addiction. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:40:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: LonnieB http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-4805 LonnieB Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:59:46 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-4805 To answer the post about the inefficiency of E85, please note that FlexFuel engines are simply gasoline engines with a computer to retard or advance the ignition timing, in order to burn both fuels. The result is a vehicle that doesn't run well on either. To maximize it's potential, E85 requires an engine compression ratio of approx. 13 to 1. Most cars on the road don't even break 9 to 1 (My high performance Mach 1 has 10 to 1). It should also be noted that drag racing has been using alcohol blends for decades, because of the SUPERIOR horsepower potential. The Indy Racing League has mandated E85 useage, exclusively, and NASCAR is inder pressure to do the same. So much for poor performance, eh? As to corn as a main fermentation stock? It is a very inefficinet, but easily grown source. Sugar cane, sugar beets and Jerusalem artichoke produce far more ethanol per bushel, or acre, than corn, but the infrastructure for these crops (heavy machinery and transport) is not as widespread as that for corn. Farmers would need to "re-tool" significantly, to produce the same volume as corn. Cellulosic technology will make this far more attractive. Then all the corn could go to livestock, starving Ethernopians and booze. Government money should be spent on these cash crops and the technology to exploit them. Then the government needs to back off and let the American farmer and entrepenuer take over. To answer the post about the inefficiency of E85, please note that FlexFuel engines are simply gasoline engines with a computer to retard or advance the ignition timing, in order to burn both fuels. The result is a vehicle that doesn’t run well on either.

To maximize it’s potential, E85 requires an engine compression ratio of approx. 13 to 1. Most cars on the road don’t even break 9 to 1 (My high performance Mach 1 has 10 to 1).

It should also be noted that drag racing has been using alcohol blends for decades, because of the SUPERIOR horsepower potential. The Indy Racing League has mandated E85 useage, exclusively, and NASCAR is inder pressure to do the same. So much for poor performance, eh?

As to corn as a main fermentation stock? It is a very inefficinet, but easily grown source. Sugar cane, sugar beets and Jerusalem artichoke produce far more ethanol per bushel, or acre, than corn, but the infrastructure for these crops (heavy machinery and transport) is not as widespread as that for corn. Farmers would need to “re-tool” significantly, to produce the same volume as corn. Cellulosic technology will make this far more attractive.

Then all the corn could go to livestock, starving Ethernopians and booze.

Government money should be spent on these cash crops and the technology to exploit them. Then the government needs to back off and let the American farmer and entrepenuer take over.

]]> By: LonnieB http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-27172 LonnieB Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:59:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-27172 To answer the post about the inefficiency of E85, please note that FlexFuel engines are simply gasoline engines with a computer to retard or advance the ignition timing, in order to burn both fuels. The result is a vehicle that doesn't run well on either. To maximize it's potential, E85 requires an engine compression ratio of approx. 13 to 1. Most cars on the road don't even break 9 to 1 (My high performance Mach 1 has 10 to 1). It should also be noted that drag racing has been using alcohol blends for decades, because of the SUPERIOR horsepower potential. The Indy Racing League has mandated E85 useage, exclusively, and NASCAR is inder pressure to do the same. So much for poor performance, eh? As to corn as a main fermentation stock? It is a very inefficinet, but easily grown source. Sugar cane, sugar beets and Jerusalem artichoke produce far more ethanol per bushel, or acre, than corn, but the infrastructure for these crops (heavy machinery and transport) is not as widespread as that for corn. Farmers would need to "re-tool" significantly, to produce the same volume as corn. Cellulosic technology will make this far more attractive. Then all the corn could go to livestock, starving Ethernopians and booze. Government money should be spent on these cash crops and the technology to exploit them. Then the government needs to back off and let the American farmer and entrepenuer take over. To answer the post about the inefficiency of E85, please note that FlexFuel engines are simply gasoline engines with a computer to retard or advance the ignition timing, in order to burn both fuels. The result is a vehicle that doesn’t run well on either.

To maximize it’s potential, E85 requires an engine compression ratio of approx. 13 to 1. Most cars on the road don’t even break 9 to 1 (My high performance Mach 1 has 10 to 1).

It should also be noted that drag racing has been using alcohol blends for decades, because of the SUPERIOR horsepower potential. The Indy Racing League has mandated E85 useage, exclusively, and NASCAR is inder pressure to do the same. So much for poor performance, eh?

As to corn as a main fermentation stock? It is a very inefficinet, but easily grown source. Sugar cane, sugar beets and Jerusalem artichoke produce far more ethanol per bushel, or acre, than corn, but the infrastructure for these crops (heavy machinery and transport) is not as widespread as that for corn. Farmers would need to “re-tool” significantly, to produce the same volume as corn. Cellulosic technology will make this far more attractive.

Then all the corn could go to livestock, starving Ethernopians and booze.

Government money should be spent on these cash crops and the technology to exploit them. Then the government needs to back off and let the American farmer and entrepenuer take over.

]]> By: Martin K. http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-4804 Martin K. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:33:27 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-4804 I read the Iowa study and it didn't say one word about the energy it takes to produce the ethanol. Assuming the same amount of gas would be used if we weren't growing corn for ethanol then I would agree with their assessment. However, that cannot be true, so ethanol is actually making energy more expensive by using more efficient sources to produce a less efficient product. Furthermore, you forget that a lot of farmers are switching their crop of choice to corn because of the ethanol subsidies. This drives up the price of other agricultural products since they aren't being produced as much. I read the Iowa study and it didn’t say one word about the energy it takes to produce the ethanol. Assuming the same amount of gas would be used if we weren’t growing corn for ethanol then I would agree with their assessment. However, that cannot be true, so ethanol is actually making energy more expensive by using more efficient sources to produce a less efficient product.

Furthermore, you forget that a lot of farmers are switching their crop of choice to corn because of the ethanol subsidies. This drives up the price of other agricultural products since they aren’t being produced as much.

]]> By: Martin K. http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-27171 Martin K. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:33:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-27171 I read the Iowa study and it didn't say one word about the energy it takes to produce the ethanol. Assuming the same amount of gas would be used if we weren't growing corn for ethanol then I would agree with their assessment. However, that cannot be true, so ethanol is actually making energy more expensive by using more efficient sources to produce a less efficient product. Furthermore, you forget that a lot of farmers are switching their crop of choice to corn because of the ethanol subsidies. This drives up the price of other agricultural products since they aren't being produced as much. I read the Iowa study and it didn’t say one word about the energy it takes to produce the ethanol. Assuming the same amount of gas would be used if we weren’t growing corn for ethanol then I would agree with their assessment. However, that cannot be true, so ethanol is actually making energy more expensive by using more efficient sources to produce a less efficient product.

Furthermore, you forget that a lot of farmers are switching their crop of choice to corn because of the ethanol subsidies. This drives up the price of other agricultural products since they aren’t being produced as much.

]]> By: Pheeneweene http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-4803 Pheeneweene Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:36:58 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-4803 why do all the natural cars have to be so ugly? cant they make something cute yet natural is that to much to ask? why do all the natural cars have to be so ugly? cant they make something cute yet natural is that to much to ask?

]]> By: ChuckL http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-4802 ChuckL Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:26:09 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-4802 What is always glossed over or completely ignored is that adding ethanol to gasoline reduces the miles per gallon delivered by the fuel mix. Ethanol delivers fewer miles per gallon than gasoline. However if ethanol did deliver as the ethanol from corn organization states, corn would still be the worst possible feed stock. We obtain the lowest amount of ethanol per acre of crop from corn. Any of the other sources deliver better ethanol per acre than corn. It is time to save corn for fodder, food, and the local liquor store. What is always glossed over or completely ignored is that adding ethanol to gasoline reduces the miles per gallon delivered by the fuel mix. Ethanol delivers fewer miles per gallon than gasoline.

However if ethanol did deliver as the ethanol from corn organization states, corn would still be the worst possible feed stock. We obtain the lowest amount of ethanol per acre of crop from corn. Any of the other sources deliver better ethanol per acre than corn.

It is time to save corn for fodder, food, and the local liquor store.

]]> By: ChuckL http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-27170 ChuckL Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:26:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-27170 What is always glossed over or completely ignored is that adding ethanol to gasoline reduces the miles per gallon delivered by the fuel mix. Ethanol delivers fewer miles per gallon than gasoline. However if ethanol did deliver as the ethanol from corn organization states, corn would still be the worst possible feed stock. We obtain the lowest amount of ethanol per acre of crop from corn. Any of the other sources deliver better ethanol per acre than corn. It is time to save corn for fodder, food, and the local liquor store. What is always glossed over or completely ignored is that adding ethanol to gasoline reduces the miles per gallon delivered by the fuel mix. Ethanol delivers fewer miles per gallon than gasoline.

However if ethanol did deliver as the ethanol from corn organization states, corn would still be the worst possible feed stock. We obtain the lowest amount of ethanol per acre of crop from corn. Any of the other sources deliver better ethanol per acre than corn.

It is time to save corn for fodder, food, and the local liquor store.

]]> By: larry hagedon http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-4801 larry hagedon Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:10:48 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-4801 Any particular reason we used a pic of sweet corn to illustrate an ethanol article? To the best of my knowledge, we are not using any sweet corn to make any fuels. We will be, using the sweet corn cobs and shucks from the canning processors that is, but I dont believe we have started doing that as yet. larry hagedon Any particular reason we used a pic of sweet corn to illustrate an ethanol article?

To the best of my knowledge, we are not using any sweet corn to make any fuels.

We will be, using the sweet corn cobs and shucks from the canning processors that is, but I dont believe we have started doing that as yet.

larry hagedon

]]> By: larry hagedon http://gas2.org/2008/09/24/an-opinion-on-ethanol-helping-reduce-our-reliance-on-foreign-oil/#comment-27169 larry hagedon Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:10:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=986#comment-27169 Any particular reason we used a pic of sweet corn to illustrate an ethanol article? To the best of my knowledge, we are not using any sweet corn to make any fuels. We will be, using the sweet corn cobs and shucks from the canning processors that is, but I dont believe we have started doing that as yet. larry hagedon Any particular reason we used a pic of sweet corn to illustrate an ethanol article?

To the best of my knowledge, we are not using any sweet corn to make any fuels.

We will be, using the sweet corn cobs and shucks from the canning processors that is, but I dont believe we have started doing that as yet.

larry hagedon

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