Posted on 02/20/2006 8:32:49 PM PST by kellynla
Our gasoline consumption in 2004 was around 121 billion gallons a year. E85 fuel uses 85% ethanol so we'd need at least 103 billion gallons of ethanol per year. There's a story that was just posted from CNN hailing a breakthrough that will turn 1000 pounds of oat hay into 35-40 gallons of gasoline. Let's assume the higher number. In order to replace our current gasoline consumption, we'd need roughly 2.6 billion pounds of oat hay. There are about 30 pound of hay in a bushel, so we only need 866 million bushels of oat hay to meet our gasoline demands. Last year's total oat production was 119 million bushels of oat grain (I don't know what the amount of the leftover hay weighed, but I don't imagine it could be more than double the grain weight.) We averaged 56.8 bushels per acre. That means we'd need to plant an additional 15.2 million acres of oats to meet our current usage.
Not true. The starch is taken out of the corn; leaving nearly the entire bulk of the corn to be used as feed.
My friend who grows corn for ethanol is the only guy around who can afford a new Corvette every year. Etc.
I highly doubt your friend is buying a new Corvette with income solely from a corn crop. He was probably smart enough to invest in the ethanol plant when it was built.
Here are some facts on the ethanol, among them this:
Q:Will we deplete human and animal food supplies by using corn and other grains for fuel production?
A: No, actually the production of ethanol from corn uses only the starch of the corn kernel. All of the valuable protein, minerals and nutrients remain. One bushel of corn produces about 2.7 gallons of ethanol AND 11.4 pounds of gluten feed (20% protein) AND 3 pounds of gluten meal (60% protein) AND 1.6 pounds of corn oil.
Source here, for more debunking of common myths with actual facts.
http://www.iowacorn.org/ethanol/ethanol_3b.html
I drive a hybrid. I get 60 mpg cruising down the highway. I am happy.
105 octane and half the price of race gas.
I'm there! (if I could just find it!)
It is expected, since E-85 is a cleaner burning fuel, that the life of a flexible fuel vehicle will be somewhat longer than a comparable gasoline vehicle. A gallon of E-85 ethanol fuel contains about 2/3 the energy of a gallon of gasoline. Based on ethanol's energy content (BTU), you might assume the mileage would be 2/3 less; but, fleet experience to date has found miles per gallon on ethanol have been around 10 percent higher than a direct BTU comparison. The E-85 Ford Taurus has been averaging around 20 miles per gallon and has experienced a 5 percent gain in horsepower. The price of E-85 ethanol fuel is about the same as the price of premium gasoline.
There is a gas station in Virginia that sells it. Just one. It's going for more then super unleaded right now.
Get the vehicle you can be satisfied driving for a LONG time, take care of it, pay it off and keep it...spend the money you would have paid in monthly payments for a new car on gasoline....
Amazing how this simple logic is lost on SO many people....
That isn't what I've read elsewhere.
I swore off Conoco gas years ago when I read the fine print on the pump and found out they were cutting their gasoline with ethanol, which will damage the fuel systems on most cars.
Can you get the power necessary to pull a 30 foot travel trailer??
*It takes about 30% more ethanol than gasoline to drive a mile*
Instead of 21 mpg in my Ford v-6 i will get 14.7mpg. If I am figuring it right.
Brazil was busy "doing" while everyone else was talking. Ethanol had been largely an endeavor of farmers; co-ops; and some private investors. While they were screaming to the rooftops that the process had finally become economically viable; they were largely ignored.
Until about two years ago. Suddenly, investor groups started buying up the public offerings for new ethanol plants. They knew it; it just took a little time for the politicos to let you in on it.
If you want to get in on the next round, buy into biodiesel plants; many are in the planning stages. You may have about 1/2 day to make a decision if what is going on around here is any indication. Usually a minimum 10-20K investment.
I stand corrected. So, you'll only have to approximately double the production of oats to meet the demand. Might be difficult to do since production has fallen 90% since 1920.
Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower - The Timing's Just Too Good
"Saab showed the 9-5 Aero BioPower concept today in LA. It's an ethanol-compatible vehicle, but differs from run-of-the-mill "flex-fuel" cars in that it actually provides better performance when running on ethanol. E85's 104 octane rating allowed engineers to advance the 2.3L engine's ignition timing and increase the turbo boost 20%. The result is 310 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque compared to 260 hp and 258 lb ft on premium unleaded."
Liquor Does It Quicker (Saab’s BioPower engine gives ethanol a kick in the pants)
"With all the buzz about hybrids, it’s easy to ignore our homegrown alternative fuel: ethanol. Clean-burning and infinitely renewable—we’re talking grain alcohol—ethanol is dear to environmentalists and economists alike. The standard 85/15-percent ethanol/gasoline blend (E85) is widely used in Sweden, but there are only 313 E85 fueling stations in the U.S. And motorheads aren’t clamoring for more, because E85 typically delivers inferior fuel economy; it has about 75 percent of the potential energy of gasoline, so it takes up to 20 percent more hooch to keep horsepower on par. But E85 also has a high octane rating (around 110), and Saab realized that a turbocharger could harness it. Turbos push extra air into the cylinder, and higher octane allows a fuel to better endure the increased pressure. So Saab cranked up its fans and created the BioPower engine, the first commercially available ethanol turbo. A computer samples the fuel mixture and adjusts boost pressure—from 5.8 psi for pure gasoline to 13.8 psi for E85. Running straight gasoline, the engine produces 148 horsepower, but E85 jacks it up to 184, with no penalty in fuel economy."
Isn't that funny? I can find race gas all over the place but no E85.
I'm waiting for a hybrid mini-van! Having a plug in option would be awesome, as well.
"Proof", when referring to alcohol, means the point at which it will sustain combustion (burn, or PROVE it's booze). This is about 57.5%, or 42.5% water. 100 proof is 42.5% water.
80 proof alcohol is about 54% water.
You'll get a nasty headache if you drink too much of it, but you sure ain't driving home if you put it in your tank.
Let me be direct. That's a lie if your car is less than 15 years old. It requires you change the float in the carb (if its plasitc or foam)if you have one and the fuel line if it's rubber. Period. If you have fuel injectors, no problemo! Got to Walley world and look at the labels on the fuel additives. Several will list METHANOL as an ingredient. It is far worse than ethanol and would make you sick just smelling it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.