Ethanol is Worse for the Environment Than Regular Gasoline?

[ClydeR]

Seems so. Presidential candidates, for the most part, try to outdo each other in their support for ethanol in the early Iowa caucuses. Only candidate Ted Cruz, who won the 2020 Iowa caucus, opposed the subsidy. It appears that Cruz was right and all of the other candidates were wrong. Cruz doesn't like ethanol. He doesn't want it on a boat or with a goat.


Feb 14 (Reuters) - Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at U.S. pumps, is likely a much bigger contributor to global warming than straight gasoline, according to a study published Monday.

More... (https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-corn-based-ethanol-worse-climate-than-gasoline-study-finds-2022-02-14/)

[Methais]

Pretty sure that anything you can chew up into mush and then it comes out whole again later is dangerous.

[Gelston]

The amount of space used for corn production isn't great though.

[Suppressed Poet]

Ethanol is totally inefficient.

On the plus side…I have a supercharged mustang and converted the fuel system to E85 to handle more boost. It has a much higher octane rating than 93 unleaded E10. Ethanol has its properties for racing applications, but as a fuel additive / substitute its wildly inefficient. It’s a feel good measure from the Obama era.

[Gelston]

Ethanol is totally inefficient.

On the plus side…I have a supercharged mustang and converted the fuel system to E85 to handle more boost. It has a much higher octane rating than 93 unleaded E10. Ethanol has its properties for racing applications, but as a fuel additive / substitute its wildly inefficient. It’s a feel good measure from the Obama era.

You'll be able to slam into crowds with so much efficiency.

My vehicle takes E85, it is quite a bit cheaper than regular unleaded.

[ClydeR]

It’s a feel good measure from the Obama era.

Really? Google seems to think it's because of the Renewable Fuel Standard that was part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 signed into law by George W. Bush. I guess Obama was President during most of the time it's been the law.

[~Rocktar~]

Ethanol in the US from corn is inefficient. In Brazil where they make it from sugar cane, it is much more plausible fuel source.

[Suppressed Poet]

Really? Google seems to think it's because of the Renewable Fuel Standard that was part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 signed into law by George W. Bush. I guess Obama was President during most of the time it's been the law.

Yeah I just remember the gas changed under Obama and (this time) wasn’t trying to start a political fight. I’m sure you are right and it happened under Bush. I still stand by that it’s mainly a feel good political measure.

[Suppressed Poet]

You'll be able to slam into crowds with so much efficiency.

My vehicle takes E85, it is quite a bit cheaper than regular unleaded.

LOL…I see you are a car guy and love the reference.

Ehhh…it’s cheaper but you get less MPGs than regular e10. I never really cared about fuel economy, but if I am not mistaken it’s actually more costly if you do all the math.

[Ardwen]

Biggest difference between ethanol production in the US and in Brazil is how the plants are powered, sugar cane ethanol is primarily powered using the parts of the cane that is "waste", Corn plants not so much.

[Gelston]

LOL…I see you are a car guy and love the reference.

Ehhh…it’s cheaper but you get less MPGs than regular e10. I never really cared about fuel economy, but if I am not mistaken it’s actually more costly if you do all the math.

I've managed to get E85 like, once, the place that has it is across the river so I don't really ever make it a point to go get it... It seemed to last about as long as normal, but I wasn't really recording mileage or anything.

[Suppressed Poet]

I've managed to get E85 like, once, the place that has it is across the river so I don't really ever make it a point to go get it... It seemed to last about as long as normal, but I wasn't really recording mileage or anything.

With 12lbs of boost it’s a necessary evil to fill it with e85. I’ve had it forever and sunk too much money in to ever sell. Gets driven maybe 100 miles a year these days. I’m in Texas and finding e85 gas stations is a serious pain in the ass. Might just be the only material thing I own which survived my first marriage…

9892

9893

[~Rocktar~]

Biggest difference between ethanol production in the US and in Brazil is how the plants are powered, sugar cane ethanol is primarily powered using the parts of the cane that is "waste", Corn plants not so much.

The fact that you get much more sugar from cane than corn and thus more alcohol per ton of cane over corn has more to do with it.

[Shaps]

This is nothing... wait until they finally figure out that Solar Panels are giving people cancer. Think about it!!!!

Sun - gives cancer from radiation.

People put panels on their homes to attract and collect that solar energy. They are basically living in a microwave!!!!! Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

It's going to happen. You watch. :P