[edger]

Isn't it true that more BTUs of energy are required to make ethanol than are gained in burning ethanol? And isn't it true that engines with computer controlled fuel mixture (all those manufactured since about 1987)are no cleaner when burning gasolines with MTBE or ethanol?

And we know it is true that when CAFEs go up, more gasoline is burned because driving is more economical than other means of transportation.

We must try to remember that it makes no difference how fast we are going if we are going down the wrong road.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Rats drive both ways on one way streets.

[roachie]

Isn't it true that more BTUs of energy are required to make ethanol than are gained in burning ethanol? And isn't it true that engines with computer controlled fuel mixture (all those manufactured since about 1987)are no cleaner when burning gasolines with MTBE or ethanol?

yeah, something like that. It requires twice as much alcohol than gasoline to produce the same amount of power. Therefore, what's the point, when fuel economy will suffer? The emissions problem is the biggest bunch of bunk ever devised, because the only polluters are cars with incorrect tune up- that's where "unburned hydrocarbons" come in. Methanol/ethanol is cleaner than gasoline, but not by much given the fact we now have individual cylinder injection and adaptive spark controls. Alcohol wrecks havoc with the fuel systems and is a public nuisance because the burning of alcohol creates an odor of unexplanable variety.

[Free the USA]

I also understand that adding Ethanol lowers the fuel economy so you end up buying more ethanol diluted gallons of gas to drive the same distance.

[John Jamieson]

You don't understand. Even though it takes more than a gallon of desiel fuel to make a gallon (Btu equivalent) of ethanol. Pollution is reduced because farm machinery has no pollution requirements. Clear?

[razorback-bert]

Theoretically, the maximum conversion efficiency of glucose to ethanol is 51 percent on a weight basis. However, some glucose is used by the yeast for the production of cell mass and for metabolic products other than ethanol. In practice, between 40 and 48 percent of glucose is converted to ethanol. With a 45-percent fermentation efficiency, 1,000 kilograms of fermentable sugar produce about 570 liters of pure ethanol. Conversely, about 1,800 kilograms of fermentable sugar are required to produce 1,000 liters of ethanol. Mash typically contains between 50 and 100 grams of ethanol per liter (5 to 10 percent weight per volume) when fermentation is complete

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