[brainstem223]

Unanswered is does Brazil have any domestic oil to "prime the pump" of ethanol production?

Producing feul for a buck a gallon is a vague stat at best given the unknown cost of labor/capital in Brazil.

Someone can make a fortune buying it in Brazil and selling it here.

[kellynla]

"Producing feul for a buck a gallon is a vague stat at best given the unknown cost of labor/capital in Brazil."

vague?
what's vague!

THIS IS THE LAST TIME,
THE WORLD BANK ESTIMATES THAT IT COSTS BRAZIL A DOLLAR A GALLON TO PRODUCE ETHANOL!
that's about as DEFINITE as it gets!
gezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Designer]

"Someone can make a fortune buying it in Brazil and selling it here."

Hhmmm...Someone like ADM, for instance?

So THAT'S who's behind FTAA.

I didn't wonder.

[hinckley buzzard]

Brazil has a sizable domestic petroleum and natural gas industry, and their state-controlled corporation, PetroBras, is heavily involved in the ethanol business. Your friendly local oil conglomerate may be the ones buying their E-blend from Brazil and selling it to you some day soon.

[BobS]

"Producing feul for a buck a gallon is a vague stat at best given the unknown cost of labor/capital in Brazil."

It's a big country 14 hours away by air and has it together when it comes to education. Let's just say their middle class becomes upper middle class when they come here. And I taught a very nice lady how to speak English in a short period of time:)

The only problem with ethanol is the oxidation of steel and aluminum. Build everything that comes in contact with ethanol out of another alloy. Stainless would be just fine. Titanium steel also. Mass-produced the cost will come down. And the engine block can still be steel.

There is so much waste laying around that can be fermented into alcohol it would make Jack Daniels blush endlessly; because it can become 99.9% pure Anhydrous Ethyl Alcohol. It has the same high blue flame as Anhydrous Ethyl Ether. A little compressed air mixed in and you are there!