Top Ten Facts about Ethanol

CarlGlas · Mar 20, 2006

1. Ethanol is listed as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

2. The cost of Reformulated Gasoline with ethanol will increase 3-6 cents per gallons compared to RFG with MTBE.

3. Spills of pure ethanol or gasoline containing ethanol from leaking storage tanks can create a benzene plume up to 150% larger than a spill from a non-ethanol fuel.

4. Ethanol cannot be shipped by pipeline because of its high affinity for water posing significant distribution costs and hurdles for gasoline blenders.

5. According to a study by Cornell University, for every gallon of ethanol produced, 1.4 gallons of energy is consumed in the process, compared to 0.15 gallons used in the manufacture of gasoline.

6. It takes 1.5 gallons of ethanol (E-85) to drive as many miles as one gallon of gasoline.

7. Every gallon of ethanol removes 53 cents from the Federal Highway Trust Fund because of a special tax break for producers.

8. Ethanol increases the vapor pressure of gasoline by 1 psi. resulting in higher evaporative emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds, while tailpipe emissions of Acetaldehyde increase 150%.

9. Ethanol permeates the hoses and lines of automobile fuel systems resulting in a 50% increase in VOC emissions for pre 1995 cars.

10. Ethanol dissolves oxide scale from the walls of pipes and tanks, subjecting the systems to internal corrosion, which leads to leaks.

Source: http://www.calgasoline.com/facttopten.htm

cp1969 · Mar 21, 2006

I'm not sure that is an unbiased source. It looks to me like the site was created by an MTBE lobbyist.

Egon · Mar 21, 2006

Are we talking about 200 proof ethanol or a lesser version flavored with production byproducts?

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

CarlGlas · Mar 21, 2006

( I'm not sure that is an unbiased source. It looks to me like the site was created by an MTBE lobbyist. )

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol), according to the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is a "clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic, agreeable odour" -- and taste, some would add.

This is the drinkable alcohol, the active ingredient in beer, wine and spirits.....

....Ethanol is made by fermenting and then distilling starch and sugar crops -- maize, sorghum, potatoes, wheat, sugar-cane, even cornstalks, fruit and vegetable waste.

.....You need a still, and you need to learn how to ferment beer. You can build your own still, and there's good information available to help you learn what you need to know.

See where we're going with this? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ethanol, Journey To Forever

Spiffy · Mar 21, 2006

Actually, I'm not quite sure which way you're heading. The first link had a "anti-ethanol" bias; the second pro.

Anyway, as often is the case with statistics, the first one I do know uses some antiquated facts (like negative engergy prodution [this looks only at primative manufacturing techniques and doesn't calculate desirable secondary products] also, saying a 10% blend will destroy components has some truths, but is also pessimistic).

I like the blend in most vehicles; however, one of our cars does have a reduced efficiency (even beyond BTU ratings), so I don't run it in there. I don't use it in small engines either (it seems to gum things up over the winter worse than straight gas).

Is ethanol a "silver bullet"; I don't think so, but do think it has it's advantages too.

Bates · Mar 21, 2006

Look here.
http://www.energyjustice.net/ethanol/

I am neither anti or pro ethanol. The farm lobby is behind the ethanol push. If ethanol could be pumped straight from the ground, it would be worthwhile.

Farming ethanol is a waste of time. Reducing our current energy use by 30% would reap greater rewards.

HomeBrew2 · Mar 21, 2006

11. It is a sin to burn perfectly good 'shine!!!

Builder · Mar 21, 2006

What is the cost of maintaining a military presense in the Middle east in money spent and American lives lost? How much is one dead American soldier's life worth? How about dealing with shady, opressive oil shieks?

What is the cost of building drilling platforms in dangerous oceans? Building, maintaining & insuring fleets of supertankers? Cleaning up their oil spills in the ocean? Building & maintaining harbors to store fleets of ships and off-load them?

What does the gov't subsidies pay farmers NOT to farm their land? If corn could be planted on these fields to produce ethanol, what would the tax savings be since they'd no longer have to be paid not to farm?
What would building new refining plants for Ethanol and creating new jobs in these plants do in terms of new job creation and tax revenues?

There's plenty to think about, but i for one would like to see us have a lot lower dependence on foreign oil. Glad to see the prez at least says he feels the same way.

CarlGlas · Mar 21, 2006

( 11. It is a sin to burn perfectly good 'shine!!! )

BINGO! Give that man a cigar! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

With the introduction of Ethanol being a fuel of the future and endorsed by Uncle Sam, looks like moonshining...er, I mean making your own Ethanol will become a past time of many. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2006

Alright, folks. Lets keep the political comments to a minimum, please.

I live near South Bend, In. There is a large ethenal plant SW of town. Guess which way the wind blows around here? NE. The town stinks... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Besides ethenol, they also make CO2 for soda pop and animal feed from the mash. It is a three product plant. I'd rather have it in town than an oil refinery.