Comments on: Ethanol versus Fuel Economy: The False Debate

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:25:59 +0000

I run ethanol only when I can’t get the 100% gasoline. I get much better gas millage with 100% gasoline, so it more than makes up the difference in cost of the 10 cents per gallon I have been paying. Also, the lawnmowers and chain saws and weed eaters and motorcycle I use all ask for NO Ethanol. This Ethanol is just a way to pad the farmers pocketbook, and it is really driving up the cost of food from the cereal to the beef and pork we see on our tables. To me it is just another example of Government run amok. The EPA is totally out of control and needs to be shut down by congress until they (congress) can make some sensible guidelines and controls that you and I can control through our congress, not some uncontrolable agency who seems to be answering to NO-ONE.

By: bob

bob — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:24:12 +0000

seems to me big oil is controlling our govt and our lives. we pay way too much for gas , while the oil companies profits soar. meanwhile our oil baron president is spending billions of dollars on a phony war and keeping us hooked on oil @ any cost.
it’s time the american people spoke up . even if it means short term higher prices and sacrifice we need to get off the oil teat . we need some leadership with vision and not sleeping with big oil.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 22 May 2007 18:13:57 +0000

In a standard engine using E-85, yes there is less power due to the less explosive properties to E-85. On the other hand forced induced engines see a higher net power benefit to E-85 due to its higher octane rating. http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motoring/Saab/article-34128.html

I do agree with the posts a few above that the auto manufacturers are abusing the CAFE. Mainly GM. They are still to this very day using push rod engines. Push rod engines are not efficient and unless using a small block modified get poor performance. But since they can be modified out to retrofit E-85, they still get away with using it. A pushrod-propelled car will never see 40mpg.

Not to neglect that the domestic auto manufacturers thought nothing of hybrid vehicles, until recently now that Toyota is seeing quite a bit of profit in them. On the flip side, the import manufacturers laughed at E-85.
http://www.hybridcars.com/news2/toyota-100-percent-hybrid-051007.html

By: joe mama

joe mama — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:10:40 +0000

fossil fuels are bad for the invroment and they need to stop useing them. Alternative fuels are better becasue it will stop global warming.

By: will

will — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:09:16 +0000

I think that there should be more ehanol used becasue it will help the inviroment. We need to stop depending on the use of foregien oil. Even other alternative fules should start being used.

By: Ira

Ira — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:43:21 +0000

I run ethanol only because I can buy it fifty cents a gallon cheaper than mid grade gasoline. I have to burn a little more of it but my cost per mile is lower. that is the ONLY determining factor is the cost per mile.

By: Muffassa Pendalbrook

Muffassa Pendalbrook — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:28:44 +0000

Fossil fuels are wrecking our environment and one of the many weapons we have to fight back with is ethanol. Ethanol is the answer to our prayers in reducing emmisions.

By: Norfus Humperdink

Norfus Humperdink — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:19:15 +0000

I believe ethanol does is much better for the environment than gas. Using it may slim your wallet, but hey your helping the environment

By: Henry

Henry — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:19:44 +0000

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/symposium/presentations/brooks.pdf
On page 23 – the million dollar FCX fuel cell prototype doesn’t even match the CNG Prius in fuel efficiency.
It takes 3.5 KG of CNG per KG of Hydrogen.
For more info on this car go to http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/03/bifuel_prius_ii.html
For more info on Hydorgen’s energy loss calculation go to

http://www.hydrogenhighway.ca.gov/plan/reports/sbreport.pdf

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:33:09 +0000

First a disclaimer, I am a software guy, not hardware.

If I remember correctly E85 has a lower energy density then gasoline, but the mixture with air is so much richer, that E85 gets more energy to the engine. So if engines were optimized for E85 there size and weight would be less then a pure gasoline engine. With E85 much higher octane rating, more efficient higher compression engines could be used.

So please, Ford or GM, please make an engine that has a very long stroke and intake valves that can be held open during a lot of the compression stroke to make an engine with effective variable displacement, variable compression and the efficiency of an Atkinson cycle ICE.