I keep whining about ethanol and gasoline blends reducing Miles Per Gallon, but no one listens. This is the real reason it's a big fraud. All oxygenates have a lower energy content than hydrocarbons.
I always record fuel economy every tank because it is an easy way to keep track of the car's condition. Prior to 10% EtOH additions, I got 30 MPG...I drive all highway. I now get 27. Where are the savings? Even if the 10% EtOH were cheaper, I would be buying more to go the same distance.
The is the dirty little secret.
It is no secret. it has just been media'd into extinction. It has been a racing fuel for years, and even there fuel economy plays a huge role in a teams ability to win races. I suspect the difference between economy with ethanol vs gasoline, would allow a team regardless of standing, to win every race given the advantage of gas in the tank over ethanol.
Here are three facts that make the case for me:
1. We can't grow enough ethanol to make a difference unless we want to turn our oil imports into food imports.
2. We have produced about 1 trillion barrels of oil up to this point, and there several trillion (at least 8) left in the ground.
3. If we really do need to replace oil with biofuels, we can make biodiesel out of anything from soybeans to municipal waste to dead cats. The AP even had a story a couple of weeks ago about a guy who has made diesel from hog manure, and he thinks he can make it economical enough to use on a wide scale. If so, he could make enough diesel to replace the gas that should be coming out of ANWR.
Of course, my favorite idea is lots of nuclear plants serving electric cars, but that would be a nightmare with current electric car technology.