[steelyourfaith]

"Now ethanol and other biofuels are being blamed for everything from global warming, to increased pollution, to the sharp rise in food prices that have triggered riots in parts of Asia and Africa."

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[Supercharged Merlin]

Oh, where to start? Where to start?

1. Alcohol is a LOUSY motor fuel. Low energy content to begin with, very high latent heat of vaporization, hygroscopic as hell, etc.

2. Production is an energy hog as well. I see all kinds of numbers about how much energy it takes to produce a gallon, and no-one can claim it’s cost-effective.

3. Corn production uses a lot of chemical fertilizers, which are significant contributors to river pollution.

4. High feed corn demand means higher meat, dairy and poultry prices, no doubt about it. We see it already - who has paid $4.00 for a gallon of milk lately?

5. Acetone is very aggressive toward the plastic seals and hoses in your fuel system. I would not add it to anything of mine, except my 1962 BSA which was made before plastic.

6. There are FAR more useful bio-fuel technologies coming along - let’s not waste our subsidies on grain alcohol, which is a dead end.