More News on Ethanol Replacing Gasoline

Hi RetroGrade, The problem with using Ethanol for a fuel is that it ends up with a net increase in the overall energy consumed. When ALL the processes, materials and energy are factored in, it ends up taking more energy (and likely more pollution) than just burning, utilizing and consuming the PetroChemicals directly. This takes into account such things as the usage of fertilizers stemming from petrochemicals, manufacturing, distillation etc. One scientist spent 15 years researching this in detail, until he finally came up with the indisputable hard science and realization that this was the case. Sad, but true. However, I think there is still validity in pursuing alternative energy sources such as this one. For starters, it is a much more readily renewable energy source. If and when agricultural equipment starts utilizing more ethanol as fuel, they will not be burning PetroChemicals as fuel, this equation will change. Is it enough to tip the balance? I don't know. Other factors come into play as well. In China a liter of vodka (typically 40% ethanol) is cheaper than a liter of gasoline. I'm not sure what the cost of it would be for a much more concentrated solution required to utilize it as a fuel. Also there needs to be taken into account that this is the BEGINNING of an alternative development path that may ultimately prove to be beneficial.

An addendum: Oil has so many other valuable uses that I think that it is bordering on criminal to just 'burn it' as a fuel.

I have heard about the use of on-board hydrogen Generators To assist in firing Deisel fuel. This coupled with small diesel motors, over gasoline engines, Seems to make sence to me. Its a small step but easily adaptable for todays market. For three minutes each day, think of butterflies.

Hi, There is another recent posting on this. See - http://cr4.globalspec.com/article.pl?sid=05/11/16/ 0522256 - for details

Try this URL:

http://cr4.globalspec.com/article.pl?sid=05/11/16/ 0522256

I'm no expert, but just from my own experience and observations, I think the only real problems we have with regard to our energy challenges are political. Politics and their effect on economics are the main obstacles to our being able to utilize petroleum fuels far into the future. Federal regulations, generated by corrupt politicians and career bureaucrats whose only interest is reelection or justifying their position, cause undue expense to enterprises interested in developing existing resources, thereby making said development unfesible. This has effected not only the petroleum industry, but the nuclear power industry, and even coal mining. I don't have a solution because the solution involves changes in basic human nature and I don't think that's in the works. People haven't changed much since creation. Maybe our circumstaces and the technology we use have changed but we remain the same. The fact is, if you look at human history in light of scripture, it makes perfect sense and our currently known natural resources will probably outlast human civilization as it presently exists. Even at our current consumption rates. This is only my opinion, for what it's worth, and is not meant to antagonize, only offer an honest point of view. I would hope that it will at least be thought-provoking.

I think that diesel is going to be the next big thing. Indeed the diesel hybrid. There are many advances coming down the pipe that are making diesels cleaner. The milage from them is outstanding. Many cars in Europe are diesel. In fact, I don't know if anyone here watches Le Mans type racing but if a team is racing in prototype 1 (P1) then you must use a diesel powered car. Audi is running the R10 right now and doing quite well with it. A diesel powered race car that is doing 190+ and pulling 1.2 G on the skidpad. Sick.

Here is a good link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_additive

People are going to drink that stuff I know from experience use methanol or ethanol with benzine.