I read up on it. Apparently Butanol can be used as a one for one replacement for gasoline without problems and is nearly equal to gasoline in energy and can be produced from biomass or “fossil” fuels. My first and most obvious inference is that we should be making butanol from coal and or from KUDZU. KUDZU is the only known indestructible plant that will grow anywhere it is actively DIScouraged. Trying to kill KUDZU only results in more and stronger KUDZU so why not make it into fuel which will not require us to alter a vehicle in any way.
I only know what I read but it sounds good to me ;>)
My goodness, old posts actually do get read. Thanks. Regarding KUDZU, this is a fascinating and much neglected plant. In Japan they extract Kudzu starch from the very large roots, use it like arrowroot for thickening agent, but it is more nutritious, good for babies and convalescents. There are long fibers that can be used for cloth, rope, etc. After extracting the useful parts, there is a lot of waste that can be used for ethanol production or directly burned in power plants. I really hope they are making progress on cellulosic ethanol from waste like switch grass, straw, sawmill scraps, orange peels, etc. Also progress on biodiesel from algae. Several years back a lot of money was put out on experimental projects in these areas. Haven’t heard anything recently about outcomes.