Bio-ethanol now

How Ethanol Car Engines Work

2009-02-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

Ethanol cars work in a way very similar to normal gasoline cars, and are a great viable alternative fuel option because of current high gas prices. The only real difference is that ethanol car engines are able to utilize the biofuel ethanol instead of oil based gasoline.

Ethanol fuel itself is extracted from plants such as corn or sugarcane, and refined into an alcohol. This alcohol is suitable to be used as a biofuel in cars and other vehicles. Most hybrid automobile engines that use ethanol can also use gasoline, and are also called "flex-fuel" engines. The ethanol is injected into the engine in the same way as a non-hybrid automobile engine. Though ethanol gives slightly less miles per gallon than gasoline, it doesn't create as much air pollution when it is burned.

The similarities between ethanol "flex-fuel" engines and standard engines make ethanol cars cheaper than most alternative or hybrid vehicles, because they are built in much the same way as a regular engine. Ethanol is actually cheaper in some cases than gasoline, and thus a hybrid that runs on ethanol can be less expensive to operate than a gasoline based vehicle.

Most standard automobiles can even run on a 10% mixture of ethanol in gasoline. Many gas stations around the world offer ethanol as an alternative to gasoline, and in some countries cars are required to run on ethanol.

You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at ProHybrid.com along with video news, reviews, and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.

Article provided by ProHybrid.com

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Converting Your Vehicles To Use E85 - Ethanol Fuel

2008-11-03T07:19:00.003-08:00

I and many others have converted their gasoline car to run on E85 (ethanol fuel). This is a guide on how to do the same thing.

First of all, what is E85?:

E85 consists of 85% ethanol and 15% additives. The additives vary a lot depending on where you live and time of the year. But roughly, the 15% additives is mostly made up of gasoline, additives that helps the engine to make a complete burn, additives that helps the engine start when its cold and additives to color the fuel and the flame (so you know what substance it is, and also to help you see that it is really burning).

Facts about E85:

1. It is not corrosive to the fuel system or the engine. This is a myth and ethanol is often confused with methanol, which actually have corrosive properties. Some models before 1988 on the other hand may have some parts that is not ethanol resistant.

2. It is not as harmful to the environment as gasoline or any other petroleum products for that matter. Ethanol is made out of renewable energy resources such as crops and trees to name a few things. The carbon dioxide that an ethanol powered car emits is not contributing to the greenhouse effect, but is taken up by the plants and is being "re-used". The carbon dioxide then goes around in a closed loop. Gasoline on the other hand is made from oil that comes from old dinosaurs, plants and other stuff 100 000 of years ago, and it doesnt take part in the closed loop but only adds to the amount of greenhouse gasses. Ethanol is also easily bio-degradeable if it should leak into our environment.

3. E85 is 104-105 octane and therefore its more knock-resistent and can tolerate more boost or a higher CR.

4. E85 cools the intake charge more and therefore its more knock-resistent and can tolerate more boost or a higher CR. And it also makes the engine run cooler and to some degree, even safer.

5. E85 is in most cases at least 5% more effect than gasoline at the same lambda value (up to 25% more efficient on some cars optimized soley for E85).

6. Since E85 has very good cleaning properties as well as leaving behind a rest-product of water, it is cleaning the fuel system and it will keep the injectors nice and clean. The combustion chambers, valves, ports and the exhaust will also be clean(er), almost like the car had water injection.

7. In most cases it will cost less $/mile to run on E85.

2. Since cars running E85 requires roughly 30% more fuel, a tank of E85 will not get you as far as a tank of gasoline and you will have to refuel more often. This is often disregarded by E85 users who learn to live with it because of the economical gains.

And now: How to convert to E85

1. The advanced way, tuning and re-flashing the ECU to optimize it for E85.

Advantages:

* The car will be optimized for E85.

* It will be very fuel-efficient.

* More power at the same boost level.

2. An electronical device (piggyback device) that you plug in between the injector wires and the injectors. It will expand the injector pulsewidths by approximately 30% and it will have the possibility of both running on gasoline and E85 by flicking a switch.

Advantages:

* Easy to install and use.

* Has the capability of both gasoline and E85.

3. An adjustable fuel pressure regulator.

Advantages:

* The car ECU will adapt to the changes (if it is equipped with an O2-sensor).

* Can be used if you want to blend gasoline and E85. You will always have to keep track of the percentual blend of gas/E85 though. If you want to run a blend of gas/E85, for simplicity, decide a percentual blend and stick to it.

4. Bigger injectors.

Advantages:

* The car ECU will adapt to the changes (if it is equipped with an O2-sensor).

* Cheap (at least if you buy some used ones from a junk-yard or pick-n-pull).

Bioethanol: The Golden Fuel

2008-11-03T07:19:00.001-08:00

With governments like the U.S. backing the bioethanol industry, biomass crop productions are growing. If CO2 emissions can be cut in half by growing and manufacturing conventional farm crops like corn, then bioethanol stands a good chance of becoming the soup du jour from the alternative fuel menu. Yet there are other complications like food price inflation due to increased food scarcity resulting from food being diverted energy creation. Of course one must first decide if bioethanol is really worth it in terms of its "green claims."

What is it, and is it clean enough?

Bioethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is a non-fossil, high octane fuel with lower emissions than gasoline. Made from renewable agricultural sources, it is a clean fuel for internal combustion engines. Hydrous ethanol contains water and can be used as a gasoline substitute, but requires a modified engine. Dehydrated ethanol can be used in proportions of 5% (E5) to 85% (E85). Most cars today can use E5, and Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) use E85. Both can be blended with conventional fuel.

It does take energy to produce it, and there are concerns related to the large amount of land needed for crops. Another concern is whether such biofuels release more carbon dioxide into the air than can be absorbed by growing plants. A better solution might be a process currently being developed in the U.S., whereby trash like waste paper is broken down into sugar and then converted into ethanol. This would by pass many of the ethical, environmental, and financial issues connected to bioethanol production.

How do they make it?

Bioethanol is obtained through a manufacturing process of fermenting biomass, which contains sugar and starch. Sugar cane is used in tropical areas, primarily wheat in Europe, and corn is produced in the U.S. and Brazil. Rectification and distillation processes turn the biomass into a concentrated form and removes by-products that are no needed in the fuel itself. The negative side of bioethanol as mentioned above is it's use of fertile land for food, which drives the food prices up and locks up usable land to grow more foodstuffs. There has all been great concern amongst certain environmental groups about the waste products left over from manufacturing bioethanol as evidenced in bioethonal pollution finding it's way in to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. This of course provides a big argument from within the green fuel camp against bioethanol production and use. Despite it's negative aspects, when the issues have been worked like, which crop to use and where to grow it and of course what to do with the waste, bioethanol stands to be a very powerful clean fuel alternative. One hopes as the oil price continues to stay above 10 dollars that every means necessary is found to make bioethanol as efficient, clean, and financially attractive as possible.

Is your car a FFV?

Many FFV owners may not even know if their car is a FFV. Since most U.S. manufacturers, Japanese and European car manufacturers now produce FFVs, it may be worth checking to see if your car can use bioethanol - and where you can buy it.

Ethanol Power From Saab

2008-11-02T01:11:00.001-07:00

Saab is continuing its drive to produce vehicles that runs on cleaner burning fuels. They have already made to the public a 9-5 BioPower which run on E85 fuel which is a combination of 85 percent bio-ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. This is similar to Volvo models which run on the same fuel. This may seem not enough for the car manufacturer since at the forthcoming 2007 Geneva Motor Show; they will be showcasing a 9-5 wagon which is equipped with a 2.0-liter engine that runs on E100 or 100 percent bio-ethanol. The concept car will be shown to the public as a testament of the car maker’s dedication to developing cleaner engines. The use of 100 percent fuel in an engine is a great stride forward in the use of alternative fuels.

In connection with the unveiling of the concept car, GM Powertrain CEO Kjell ac Bergstrom has this to say: “Bio-ethanol is a potent, high quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us. As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run smaller engines that give relatively high power, with and without hybrid technology. This concept car shows that ethanol can play a key role in this ‘right-sizing’ process, while also minimizing fossil fuel emissions.”

The Saab 9-5 BioPower 100 concept car’s engine is the first of its kind to run on pure ethanol. The design of the car’s engine components optimizes the capacity of the engine. The 2.0-liter engine can produce as much as 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That torque is essential for acceleration, given that amount of pulling force; the concept car can be propelled to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in just 6.6 seconds. This acceleration is complemented by a high top speed; thanks to the 300 horsepower that the engine packs. Aside from this, aftermarket parts can be installed to decrease the drag and increase the traction of the wheels on road surfaces. Spoilers can be used to achieve this, just like those Volvos which use a Volvo spoiler to boost performance.

Using 100 percent ethanol or anhydrous ethanol as a fuel is a good alternative to gasoline. This is because ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, reducing emissions by as much as 85 percent. This is why flexi-fuel vehicles or those that runs on a combination of gasoline and ethanol has cleaner emission than those that runs on gasoline alone. Those engines that use ethanol as fuel, just like the Saab concept car uses looks just like a conventional gasoline engine with just a few modifications. Some of these modifications are done to combat the corrosive nature of ethanol. Some engine components need to be fortified to take on the corrosiveness of this alternative fuel. Another reason why ethanol is a good alternative to gasoline is that it is a renewable source of energy. Ethanol comes from starch or sugar from a wide variety of crops like corn and sugarcane.

The only problem facing the development of ethanol as an alternative fuel is that in its production, fossil fuels are still used. This poses a question if the good effects of using ethanol as fuel for vehicles can upset the emission produced on the production of the said fuel. The concept car also remains to be seen if it is feasible to be mass produced since no filling station has yet to offer 100 percent ethanol. The future of this technology still remains to be seen depending on the way the public will accept it.

Reducing Fuel Costs - Is Ethanol the Right Solution?

2008-10-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

There has been so much hype over ethanol. In the last year alone, there has been a 60% increase in the number of gas pumps offering this gasoline alternative. So, is ethanol the answer to ballooning fuel costs? Find a list of Ethanol Pros and Cons below and decide for yourself.

Pros

A SIZABLE PRICE DIFFERENCE - It is true, Ethanol mix is indeed much cheaper than pure gasoline. You can save around 20 - 30 cents when you use ethanol instead of gasoline. That can add up, especially if you are driving a 17 gallon SUV that eats fuel up like crazy.

A DECREASE IN CARBON MONOXIDE CAR EMISSIONS - Another good thing about using ethanol instead of pure gasoline is the fact that ethanol decreases carbon monoxide emissions. When you use ethanol mix instead of gasoline you are decreasing your car's greenhouse gas emissions by 30%.

LOCALLY MANUFACTURED - The biggest selling point of ethanol is the fact that it can be grown and manufactured within the country. Now, there is no need to buy staggering amounts of fuel from foreign countries just to keep your car running.

Cons

Mind you, ethanol isn't as pristine as their manufacturers would have you believe. Sure, it is much easier on the environment compared to gasoline. But, it still contributes to greenhouse gases in one way or another. For now, Ethanol seems like a great alternative to rising Fuel Costs, but dependence on it should not be developed. Some issues regarding the use of Ethanol to counter the rising Fuel Costs are found below.

WORLD HUNGER FOR WORLD FUEL - Most of today's ethanol is produced from farm raised corn. It means that more and more farmers are now growing corn for fuel instead for food. That presents a very real threat to world nutrition. In fact, the nightmare has already begun. Hispanic countries have rallied on their streets demanding a decrease in the price of the food staple. Is the world really willing to forgo feeding its people just so its cars can run? Hopefully, not!

INCONVENIENTLY TRANSPORTED - Unlike gasoline, Ethanol cannot be transported through pipe line. Its chemical composition makes iy Hydrophilic (attracts water to itself). And ethanol mixed with water is virtually useless. That is why ethanol has to be transported by trucks. That means more fuel is used even before ethanol gets to a pumping station.

CARS DON'T RUN ON ETHANOL ALONE - Ethanol alone doesn't have enough energy to be an efficient fuel source. It needs to be mixed with Gasoline. That means that Ethanol doesn't necessarily rid the world of her dependence on gasoline. It just decreases it. With the rising price of gasoline, soon even the angelic Ethanol will be too expensive.

Making Ethanol Gas - What Does it Contain?

2008-10-15T09:34:00.001-07:00

Ethanol gas is made through the same method of distillation and fermentation as beer is made today. Agricultural crops are used because they contain compounds of six-carbon sugars. When ethanol is made from grain, the starch is combined with water forming a mash. To separate the sugars that are fermented enzymes are added to the mash once it is heated.

Then next step to making ethanol gas involves adding yeast for conversion of the sugars to the ethanol and carbon dioxide, known as fermentation. This process actually produces beer, which contains 10% ethanol and 90% water. The beer needs to be boiled. Boiling allows for separation of the water, resulting in ethanol that is fuel-grade and almost 95% pure. When ethanol is made from grains, only the starch is used.

There are many different products which can be used in making ethanol gas which include feed for livestock, wood waste, cheese whey, potato waste, food and beverage waste, and more. California is planning to produce rice straw specifically for ethanol use. Louisiana will produce their ethanol from bagasse and rice hulls while New York and Alabama will use municipal solid waste.

The amazing thing about making ethanol gas is that it is a renewable fuel. Unlike other alternative fuel options that still require a little bit of gasoline to run, this fuel can be made from things that can be reproduced. Ethanol fuel is one of the best solutions for running a vehicle clean without emissions and all of the ingredients are natural. The ingredients for ethanol can vary because the importance is to extract the sugars and ferment them like beer.

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Making Ethanol Gas

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Dealing With Ethanol Fuel Boat Problems

2008-10-15T09:05:00.001-07:00

As the fuel crisis forces more boaters to switch to

ethanol fuel mixtures, there have been reported

problems that are linked to the gasoline blended with

ethanol. However, with a little work on your boat you

can avoid these ethanol fuel related boat problems.

Until now many of the new initiatives to help improve

the quality of the air have had no negative impact on

boaters. Recently the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency started requiring the use of an oxygenated

gasoline in order to help improve the quality of the

air. Most started use Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether or

MTBE, however this had its own environmental problems

so now ethanol is replacing it as the standard in

boating fuel. However, the recent use of ethanol fuel

in boats has led to many problems including fiberglass

fuel tank failure, blockage of the fuel system, damage

to the engine and an increase in fuel contamination.

So how does the problem happen? Basically ethanol fuel

is a mix of gasoline and ethyl alcohol. This ethyl

alcohol is a solvent that adsorbs water. This means

that if you have an older fiberglass fuel tank the

ethanol fuel can damage your sealants. After the

sealants are dissolved they are then ingested by the

engine, which can cause damage, not to mention that

when you have fuel leaking from the tank into the

bilge you have the added fire hazard.

Fuel tanks that aren't made of fiberglass still

have problems with ethanol fuel, but they aren’t

as complex. The ethanol fuel can release fine metallic

particles into the fuel system, which pass through the

filter. This causes the metal to clog fuel injector

nozzles or carburetors.

No matter what fuel tank you have if the ethanol fuel

mixes with any water that has contaminated the fuel

tank you will have expensive repairs to do. When the

ethyl alcohol and water combine they cause a

noncombustible layer to develop which will stop all

engines completely.

So how can you protect your boat and avoid these

complicated problems? While there still is no plan

available for ethanol fuel use you can do some things

to help protect your boat until a solution is found.

First if you boat was built before 1984 then you

should replace the fiberglass fuel tank with a modern

version before adding ethanol fuel. This can help

reduce some of the more difficult problems related

with older fuel tanks and their components.

With ethanol fuel it is important to completely empty

your fuel tanks in the winter and then clean them

thoroughly before you use them in the following

season. When it comes to fuel filters you should have

a good one that can separate the water and carry

several spare cartridges when you are out on the

water.

When it comes to the fuel itself you should avoid

mixing fuel types. Before adding ethanol be sure you

use up all your old gasoline and clean the tank

completely. Then when you add ethanol, be sure to

limit the fuel you have onboard to only what you need

for two weeks. This is because ethanol fuel has a very

short shelf life when compared to other fuels.

Securing Energy Independence for the Usa

2008-10-15T09:04:00.003-07:00

Crude oil prices have reached $140. The US dollar has lost hugely against the Euro and the Canadian dollar. Petroleum prices will continue their unstoppable surge, which is driven by steadily increasing demand, Wall Street speculation, and OPEC refusal to meet demand.

Present and previous US administrations have made no serious efforts to develop effective countermeasures. The attempt of the Bush administration to gain control of oil in the Middle East has failed. Highly subsidized US ethanol production from corn has not made a dent in petroleum demand, but has led to a huge rise in worldwide grain and food prices.

Instead, the administration and many politicians are demanding energy conservation and a failing "Cap and Trade" permit system. Drilling for oil in Alaska and offshore is another request by oil lobbyists.

Countermeasures have not contributed anything to produce supplies. However, ill conceived solutions have made many politically connected people very rich. Greed has trumped patriotism!

For more than twenty years, politicians, industry, media, and citizens are discussing the issue of oil imports and their pernicious effects on the US economy. In May 2008 the US imported 14.2 million barrels of crude oil per day. At $140 per barrel the USA gives away roughly $2 billion every single day to foreign nations! In addition, a substantial amount of refined fuels is imported. This means that the US is approaching a shameful threshold, when it pays $1 trillion dollars for foreign fuel imports annually. These huge funds could do wonders for the US economy, if they would be spent on energy supplies produced by our own industry, inside the US.

The US has a severe energy problem. It possesses huge reserves of coal and oil shale. However, coal, oil, and natural gas emit large amounts of greenhouse gases when burned. Fossil fuel combustion is the cause of global warming. We cannot dare to continue the continuing the use of fossil fuels for more than a couple of decades. Otherwise, too much carbon dioxide will accumulate in the Earth's atmosphere and will lead to an acceleration of global warming. Global warming is responsible for climate change and for mounting damages to nature, worldwide assets, and people. Melting of glaciers and ice in the Polar Regions is already a growing and unstoppable threat.

Electricity and liquid transportation fuels are the lifeblood of our economies. Economic growth is not possible without plentiful, affordable, and secure energy supplies. Economies will fail when supplies of petroleum become scarce, when global warming keeps inflicting damages, and when petroleum prices keep continuing their skyward move.

Are there any solutions that can be developed and implemented before petroleum is depleted and before global warming exceeds the 3 to 4 degree Celsius global warming threshold?

Fortunately, there are many alternate approaches for generating electricity that will not emit greenhouse gases.

Surprisingly, there seems to be only one single concept, which has the potential to produce sufficient substitute supplies of liquid transportation fuels. This concept is the conversion of biomass into liquid petroleum substitutes. Unfortunately, early in 2008, this concept has been discredited by the ill conceived production of fuel ethanol from food crops.

Conversion of biomass into fuel is the one and only option, which we may be able to develop to maturity in the next thirty years. We must learn how to use sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and fertilizer and convert them into biomass. Categorically, food crops are not suited for conversion into fuels. Food crops have been selected, domesticated, and bred to provide storable, tasty, and nutritious foods. Energy crops must be selected based on entirely different properties. Energy crops must have very high energy content, must provide very high crop yields, and must grow very fast. This means that we must find and further breed plants with very high energy yields; i.e. plants with the highest production of energy per acre per year.

Nature has been converting sunlight into biomass for millions of years. In fact, the Earth's generous fossil fuel reserves are nothing else but biomass converted into coal, petroleum, and natural gas. All we have to do is to imitate nature's example. Obviously, there must be a major obstacle. We do not know exactly which processes nature used to make petroleum. And we have a major handicap to overcome. We are allowed only hours for conversion. Nature may have taken her time and may have used thousands or even millions of years for the same conversion.

We have learned the hard way that the conversion of food crops into liquid fuels creates market forces, which cannot be controlled unless the world installs huge regulatory bureaucracies. Instead, we must use a concept for producing petroleum substitutes that cannot be manipulated.

Most sunshine reaches Earth near the equator in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Numerous arid regions, without sufficient precipitation, are located in these lands, too. By placing large, industrial scale biomass plantations into these areas, we prevent the abuse of fertile lands for food production. We can also prevent the further deforestation of rain forests and the abuse of other, primeval lands.

Water is the commodity that is missing in these areas. Lack of water is the reason these lands are arid. Therefore, we must use seawater and use heat from the sun to produce desalinated freshwater.

Finally, the US must establish an autonomous agency with the mission, program, and budget to make the US independent of foreign oil imports! The energy industry does not have the means and incentives.

The Unexpected Expansion of Alternative Fuels

2008-10-15T09:04:00.001-07:00

The expansion of the alternative fuel business has exploded these days as people are looking more and more toward improving the environment and perhaps even saving some money in the process. As gas prices continue to skyrocket, gasoline companies know that they must start considering an expansion of their companies to compete in the alternative fuel race if they want to stay afloat.

Alternative fuels are simply those that are not made with any oil products. They are manufactured using products such as corn, vegetable oil, and even garbage! The expansion of the alternative fuel business has its advantages as alternative fuels burn cleaner and have less of an effect on the environment.

As people start to take notice of the issue of global warming, it sparks their interest in alternative fuels as a way to help the environment and keep our world from imploding. That is why oil companies and refineries are finding that they have to keep up with this public interest through an expansion of their alternative fuel divisions.

Another area of expansion in the alternative fuel market is with big car companies. They are starting to make more and more vehicles that are able to run on E85 fuel, ethanol, electricity, and propane. In fact, beginning in 1998, the Ford Motor Company committed 1 billion USD toward the expansion of their alternative fuel vehicle production lines.

In addition, the proliferation of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles is driving demand for new kinds of technician training. Considerable market expansion has occurred in CNG, propane, ethanol, and biodiesel, with more modest advances in battery-electric power. The expansion in this area of alternative fuel requires new training when it comes to making repairs to vehicles that run on alternative fuels.

Even gas stations are starting to find out that they also have to take part in the expansion of the market when it comes to alternative fuels. As more people start to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, they are also demanding easy accessibility to the fuels that run them. In order to meet the demand for alternative fuels, expansion of gas station facilities is nearly a requirement these days.

There is no doubt about it that the expansion of the alternative fuel market affects all kinds of people and businesses. The good news is that it is affecting them in a GOOD way! Expansion is always good for business, and when it comes to alternative fuels, it is good for the environment and the consumer as well. I say, let the expansion continue!

Every Home An Energy Producer

2008-10-15T09:03:00.011-07:00

Imagine this, every home in the US with solar panels on the roof. Each one feeding power into the national power grid. Or, industrious individuals producing biodiesel out on their suburban or rural homesteads. How about wind generators on buildings in cities making power and sending it all into the grid.

Historically energy has been produced by big enterprises that build big facilities to generate power and then sell the power to the consumer. Maybe it made sense at one time but it no longer does. Please do not think I am implying we should scrap our

current infrastructure and start tearing down generating plants, although that might be a worthy goal in the future. But with the technology we have now we should be looking at a differnet model.

Decentralization makes sense. It is far more secure than a big power generating facility because it is safe from terrorist attack or sabotage. Decentralized power generation is also more resistant to weather disruptions. Last winter a transmission line went down in our area during a storm and we were without any power for nine hours while the temperature was below freezing with a blizzard going on.

Local fuel production seems to be worthwhile also. Can you imagine who will work at shooting down this idea. But, why not produce some of your own fuel for your vehicle. I live in the country and could produce my own biodiesel. Interestingly enough, a man in Central Illinois was fined by the Department of Revenue for producing biodiesel. They said he had not paid fuel taxes on his production. Now they want him to fill out a monthly multipage form just like a major refinery.

This idea is not for everyone. Most people do not have the space to make a fuel like biodiesel or ethanol. Especially if you live in a town or city. But, most everyone has a roof of some sort, or, at least their apartment building has a roof. The electric generation would be good for what I think of as the "helpless" members of society. That is those who either think it is too much bother to do something for themselves or they just are too fuzzy brained to understand how to do it.

The power companies could provide the solar panels themselves. They could also do the installation and maintenance. I know there are some utilities that will let you interconnect to the grid with the proper equipment. And the price of that equipment is coming down all the time. The homeowner really would not have to do much of anything which seems to be the standard for too many Americans.

The greatest thing about implementing these approaches to energy production is the reduced need for new massive coal or nuclear power plants. Did you know there are people trying to revive the nuclear power industry on the grounds that it produces no green house gases? They fail to point out that it produces radioactive waste that no one knows what to do with. There have been no new nuclear power plants built for decades and it should stay that way.

What this will all take is individual intitative. Government does not seem to have the will to do much of anything except get re-elected. Industry just seems to have its head in the sand and wants to preserve the staus quo. Do a Google search on some of these ideas or technologies. You can buy cheap solar panels on Ebay. I bought six of them this year to power small fans to blow heat into the house from heat collectors. They make a small contribution to our heating needs in the winter. I will continue to expand this idea to cut down on my heating energy needs.

Verasun, General Motors Bring 1st E85 Fueling Location to Washington

2008-10-15T09:03:00.009-07:00

VeraSun Energy Corporation announced in June 28 the opening of the first E85 retail fueling location in Washington, D.C. The inauguration was the result of an ongoing joint effort of VeraSun and General Motors, maker of quality GMC exhaust system, to expand the availability and consumer awareness of E85.

A blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that is now available at the Georgetown Chevron, VeraSun's branded VE85(TM) is situated at 2450 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., and in Arlington, Va., at the Navy Exchange station near the Pentagon. The addition of two retail fueling locations augments the number of stations selling VE85(TM) to more than 90 in nine states and the District of Columbia.

Don Endres, VeraSun's Chairman and CEO, said their partnership shows the efforts being made to improve the availability of E85 in the nation. He explains E85 has been available throughout the Midwest for years, and several Americans have used it almost exclusively to fuel their vehicles. He extends his gratitude to have worked jointly with their partners to bring VE85(TM) to the D.C. metro zone so that drivers in Washington, D.C. may experience the clean, high-octane product which strengthens the country’s energy independence and helps the environment by minimizing both greenhouse gas and tailpipe emissions.

Since the companies began working together to expand availability and increase the awareness of VE85(TM), the announcement marks the fifth collaboration VeraSun and GM have entered with a third-party retailer. The first initiative was launched in May 2005 with pilot stations in Sioux Falls, S.D. It has widened to include locations in Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Pittsburgh.

Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president of environment, energy and safety policy, said they believe renewable fuels like E85 give US the greatest near-term potential to actually minimize gasoline consumption and vehicle emissions.

On this initiative, Enterprise Rent-A-Car joined VeraSun and GM by announcing that it is designating its premier rental location in Washington, D.C., as an official "E85/FlexFuel branch". Owning the world's largest fleet of FlexFuel Vehicles, with over 41,000 cars and trucks, Enterprise committed to fuel 50 GM FlexFuel vehicles from its location at 1029 Vermont Ave. N.W., at the Georgetown Chevron. Moreover, the vehicles will be stocked with materials about VE85(TM) and directions to the fueling location.

Matthew G. Darrah, Enterprise Rent-A-Car senior vice president of North American operations, said they are privileged to work with VeraSun Energy to make it easier for their customers to make sustainable choices.

Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee Sen. Jeff Bingaman said a title that promotes the production, distribution and use of clean, renewable, made-in-America transportation fuels like E85 is an important part of the energy bill the Senate just passed.

The Georgetown Chevron location, owned by Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Properties, marks a vital accomplishment for the fuel retailer in offering E85 at the first of its 23 company- operated locations in the Washington, D.C. metro zone.

Carlos Horcasitas, Chairman and CEO of Mid-Atlantic, said Mid-Atlantic is proud to be the first retail chain in Washington D.C. to offer its customers E85 and, in particular, VeraSun's branded E85, VE85(TM).

Also backed up during the June 28 announcement were the representatives from the District, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

VeraSun Energy Corporation is headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota, and a leading producer of renewable fuel.

Goodbye Trips To The Gas Station

2008-10-15T09:03:00.007-07:00

The Chevrolet Volt is a battery-powered, four-passenger electric vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity to extend its range. The Volt draws from GM previous experience in starting the modern electric vehicle market when it launched the EV1 in 1996, according to GM Vice Chairman Robert A. Lutz.

"The EV1 was the benchmark in battery technology and was a tremendous achievement," Lutz said. "Even so, electric vehicles, in general, had limitations. They had limited range, limited room for passengers or luggage, couldnt climb a hill or run the air conditioning without depleting the battery, and had no device to get you home when the batterys charge ran low.

"The Chevrolet Volt is a new type of electric vehicle. It addresses the range problem and has room for passengers and their stuff. You can climb a hill or turn on the air conditioning and not worry about it."

The Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a 1L, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, or revolutions per minute (rpm), to create electricity and replenish the battery. According to Lutz, this increases the fuel economy and range.

"If you lived within 30 miles from work (60 miles round trip) and charged your vehicle every night when you came home or during the day at work, you would get 150 miles per gallon," Lutz said. "More than half of all Americans live within 20 miles of where they work (40 miles round trip). In that case, you might never burn a drop of gas during the life of the car."

In addition, the Chevrolet Volt is designed to run on E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Using E85, fuel economy of 150 mpg would translate into more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon.

General Motors has also announced it has awarded advanced battery development contracts to two suppliers to design and test lithium-ion batteries for use in the Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV.

One contract has been awarded to Johnson Controls Saft Advanced Power Solutions, LLC, a joint venture between Tier 1 automotive supplier Johnson Controls and Saft. Another agreement was signed with Cobasys, in partnership with A123Systems. Cobasys, based in Orion, Mich., is a joint venture between Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corp., and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. A123Systems, based in Watertown, Mass., is a leading manufacturer of high power lithium-ion batteries.

The two test batteries, one from Cobasys A123Systems and the other from Johnson Controls Saft , will be evaluated in prototype Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrids beginning later this year. While both are lithium-ion batteries, the chemistry differs significantly. The suppliers also use unique methods in the design and assembling of the battery packs.

Gm Encourages Use of Renewable Fuels

2008-10-15T09:03:00.005-07:00

Brent Dewar, General Motors’ Vice-President of field sales, service and parts while working for General Motors in Brazil in the 1990s got to experience the country’s successful switch from oil-based economy to ethanol. Dewar hopes to see the same changes to happen in the United States and he believes that NASCAR can help. He is urging officials to consider ethanol as an alternative fuel solution.

According to Dewar, “We would embrace it. We think it would be great on a lot of fronts, because obviously it would send a signal to the public. A lot of people don’t understand the benefits of ethanol.”

The use of renewable fuels are already employed by other racing series like for instance the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series will race on 100 percent ethanol similarly the American LeMans Series will race on a 10 percent ethanol blend.

And today NASCAR has also expressed its desire to give ethanol a try. Driver Kyle Petty said that NASCAR’s marketing power might drive alternative fuels into the mainstream to help consumers forget the image of hippies terrorizing them by putting vegetable oil in their 1980s Mercedes. “I think once you start seeing alternative fuels show up in places like racing and places where you least expects them, then you think about that guy with the Volkswagen van that runs off of whatever,” added Petty.

NASCAR is once again taking the first step towards the direction of environmental responsibility by taking the lead in utilizing ethanol similar to what it did in the 1980s when it switches from using leaded to unleaded fuel.

Proponents of ethanol are very honest in saying that despite numerous advantages that the ethanol fuel can offer it is not a magic wand saying that it is not as efficient as gasoline. But with the ever increasing danger of global warming caused by harmful car emissions, efficiency has become a trivial issue. The important thing is to save the environment. However, continuous study and research are conducted to make the ethanol as efficient as gasoline.

“I think the global-warming thing, and all the things that are written about that, a lot more people are aware of the fact that we do need to do something,” said Petty.

Most American cars run on 90 percent fuel and 10 percent ethanol blends, in order to function on heavier blends of ethanol, cars have to be specially equipped for it. According to Dewar, technological innovations can help in decreasing the price of ethanol. At present, the ethanol used in the US is derived from corn while the ethanol used in Brazil came from sugar cane. There are some research findings that show certain kinds of grass and even wood chips proving a much better source for ethanol. Researchers are also working to develop enzymes that would break down waste products into ethanol. Dewar said that in five years time we should expect cars to literally run on recycled garbage fuel.

It is inspiring to see that the world’s largest automaker and maker of popular car accessories like GM car covers, General Motors--- is so passionate in its goal to help the environment. Does this mean that we will be seeing more green GM cars in the future?

Toyota Introduces Flex-fuel Corollas in Brazil

2008-10-15T09:03:00.003-07:00

With car manufacturers looking for ways to help the environment, new clean car technologies have been developed. These technologies are used by the roving green cars of today. There are various technologies from which to choose from. Car manufacturers have already come up with the gas-electric hybrid, flex fuel vehicles, and those clean diesel vehicles.

The popularity of these types of clean technologies varies from region to region. In the United States, hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius are the most popular of all clean car technologies. In Europe, on the other hand, diesel engines designed to be clean, fuel efficient and of high performance are popular. In Brazil, it is flex-fuel vehicles which are popular due to the abundance of bio-ethanol in the said country. This is the reason why Toyota will be marketing two Corolla variants at the said country - both of which are designed to run on both bio-ethanol and conventional gasoline.

The Japanese company’s Brazilian subsidiary reported that the two Corolla variants will outperform the existing gasoline engine powered Toyota Corolla. The first of the two Corollas is the Corolla Flex which the company hopes to have an initial monthly sale of 2,500 units. The second Corolla model is the Corolla Fielder Flex. For the Fielder Flex, Toyota aims for an initial monthly sale of 750 units. These vehicles are equipped with an engine similar in principle and construction to that of a gasoline engine.

The only difference is that several parts of the engines which run on ethanol need to be fortified still. This is because ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline and to combat this corrosive nature of the alternative fuel, different parts such as fuel lines, valves, cylinder walls, and other parts which comes in contact with the fuel and its emission needs to be reinforced. Other parts such as Airaid cold air intake systems are not affected directly by the corrosive nature of the fuel.

The two Corolla variants according to the company are the first for-market vehicles that can run on pure ethanol that Toyota produces. While there are already many flex-fuel vehicles in the market, the majority of them are not designed to run on pure ethanol. Most of them are configured to run on E10 or E85. The number (10 and 85) pertains to the percentage of bio-ethanol on the fuel. For example, an E85 fuel is 85 percent bio-ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

One problem though with using pure ethanol as fuel is that a car will be hard to start during the cold weather. To solve this problem some car manufacturers includes a small gasoline reservoir in the car so that gasoline can be sued to start the engine. After the engine is started, it automatically shifts to bio-ethanol. The use of bio-ethanol reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emission which contributes heavily to global warming.

The popularity of ethanol as fuel in Brazil is due to the fact that it is currently largest importer of ethanol in the world. The abundance of sugarcane in the country means that it is suited to producing the alternative fuel. For the past couple of yeas, car companies have been taking advantage of this abundance of ethanol by introducing flex-fuel vehicles in the Brazilian auto market. Given the fact that ethanol is cheaper than gasoline in the country, Brazilian car buyers are quick to shift from pure gasoline cars to flex-fuel cars. Flex-fuel vehicles are so popular in fact that it is reported that eight out of ten new cars sold in the country are flex-fuel vehicles.

With the introduction of the Toyota Corollas to the market, and the fact that the new vehicles are said to be better than the gasoline Corolla, the number of flex-fuel cars on Brazil’s roads will surely increase in the near future.

Vehicles Running on E85 Available in the United States

2008-10-15T09:03:00.001-07:00

Due to the increased threat of global warming and the Bush administration’s goal to reduce gasoline consumption, the alternative fuel industry has been booming. There are already pumps in the United States which supplies alternative fuels like biodiesel and bio-ethanol for owners of vehicles which run on such fuels. These alternative fuels are serving a host of flex fuel vehicles already being sold in the U.S.

Vehicles which run on E85, a combination of bio-ethanol and conventional gasoline, are already making their appearances in showrooms and roads across the United States. These vehicles burn cleaner fuel and therefore produce less greenhouse gases which contribute to the protection of the environment.

Vehicles running on E85 are increasing in number. Bio-ethanol powered vehicles which are available in the United States include the Buick Terraza; the Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Impala, Monte Carlo, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, and Uplander; the Chrysler Aspen, Sebring, and Town & Country; for Dodge, the Caravan/ Grand Caravan, Durango, Dakota, and the Ram. Two Ford vehicles are also available in E85 fuel configuration - the Ford Crown Victoria and the Ford F-150 Pickup Truck. GMC offers four flex fuel vehicles - the GMC Savana, Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL. Other flex fuel vehicles are the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Lincoln Town Car, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mercury Grand Marquis, Nissan Armada and the Nissan Titan and the latter two can be fitted with a Nissan cold air intake system for a better performance.

The use of bio-ethanol on engines is unlike biodiesel which does not need modification. Since ethanol is corrosive in nature, different parts of the engine and other auto parts needs to be fortified to withstand the corrosive nature of the fuel. The price of bio-ethanol is lower than that of gasoline but it contains less energy per gallon which means that consumers will consume more fuel to travel a given distance compared when using gasoline.

But the positive thing about the use of bio-ethanol is that it produces 80 percent less greenhouse gas when burned compared to petroleum gasoline. This means that vehicles running on E85 contribute less to global warming. Another advantage that bio-ethanol has over gasoline is that it comes from a renewable source. Bio-ethanol is produced from starch or sugar which is present on a wide variety of crops.

Currently, bio-ethanol as fuel is just entering its development phase and although E85 is already available and vehicles are already being manufactured to run on the fuel, there is still a lot of development that the fuel needs to go through. President Bush recently urged the U.S. Congress to approve the requested fund for the development of ethanol as fuel.

Today, the main source of ethanol is corn although there are also other sources of the said alternative fuel like wood chips. Further development of ethanol will bring the cost of the fuel even lower to make it really practical for consumers.

Automakers Urge Nascar to Switch to Renewable Fuels

2008-10-15T09:02:00.011-07:00

Brent Dewar, General Motors’ vice president of field sales, along with other automakers, is urging the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to switch from gasoline to ethanol and other renewable fuels.

Dewar, while working for GM in Brazil in the 1990s, has witnessed a successful transformation of an oil-reliant economy to ethanol. As such, he intends to see the same transformation happen in the United States. With that in mind, Dewar thinks that NASCAR can give a big hand hence he is lobbying the officials of the racing giant to shift from gasoline to ethanol.

“We would embrace it,” said Dewar, GM’s vice president of field sales, service and parts. “We think it would be great on a lot of fronts, because obviously it would send a signal to the public. A lot of people don’t understand the benefits of ethanol.” Dewar added, “Some research indicates certain kinds of grass and even wood chips might be better suited to making ethanol. Researchers also are working to develop enzymes that break down waste products into ethanol.”

A number of racing series have already shifted to renewable fuels. As a fact, the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series will race on 100 percent ethanol starting this season. Also, the LeMans Series confirmed that it will race on a 10 percent ethanol blend. Now, Dewar and other environmentalists in the industry believe that the NASCAR should also shift to alternative fuels to make the commitment more forceful.

Gasoline is about 20 percent more proficient than ethanol. Hence, if ethanol is more than 20 percent cheaper than gasoline, ethanol could be a good alternative, environment and economic-wise. Dewar was in Brazil in December and said that ethanol was 50 percent cheaper than gasoline in the said territory. In five years time, Dewar expects cars to literally run on renewable fuels. As auto parts like the Eagle cold air intake become more advanced, they should also not compromise environmental concerns.

“Without a doubt, I think we should look into it,” driver Jeff Burton said. “Although our impact on environmental issues is probably very, very small from an actual use standpoint, from a marketing standpoint, we could have a major impact.”

Driver Kyle Petty said NASCAR’s marketing horsepower might drive alternative fuels into the mainstream for it is also helping consumers get over the image of hippies tinkering with their 1980s Mercedes to make them run on vegetable oil. “I think once you start seeing alternative fuels show up in places like racing and places where you least expect them, then you don’t think about that guy with the Volkswagen van that runs off of whatever,” Petty said.

NASCAR is taking one step in the direction of environmental responsibility by getting the lead out and catching up with a change most consumers made in the 1980s by switching from leaded to unleaded fuel. Ramsey Poston, the spokesman of the racing giant, said their officials are willing to consider renewable fuels, too. “In terms of looking at the next step, obviously we’re open to options,” Poston said.

NASCAR teams also would have to adjust their cars to run on ethanol, but Dewar said the switch would not be a “major investment.” Dewar added it ultimately would be worth the hassle.

Petty believes the whole country will switch to renewable fuels at some point, so it makes sense for NASCAR and Sunoco, its official fuel supplier, to lead the way. “You would like to think that they would take a leading role in it, especially through Sunoco’s involvement,” Petty added. “Because I know Sunoco’s taken a huge step in that direction.”

Critics and enthusiasts alike believe that it is high time for NASCAR to think about going green. “I think the global-warming thing, and all the things that are written about that, a lot more people are aware of the fact that we do need to do something,” Petty concluded.

Alternative Fuel for Volvo Cars

2008-10-15T09:02:00.009-07:00

The increasing harmful effects of greenhouse gases from car emissions are being felt by almost every country in the world. Due to this, effort has been put to the development of cars that will use alternative fuels for it has been proven that such vehicles would be actually able to help produce less or no harmful emissions at all.

The choice of alternative fuels is great but the efficiency of these possible energy sources is still in question. Problems still arise from the use of alternative fuels to which dedicated companies are investing time, effort, and money to find solutions to. One of the first mass produced cars to address the problem is the Toyota Prius which uses an electric motor to drive the car though in a very limited capacity only. Other companies are also developing cars which will not only provide good performance but, at the same time, help in the campaign to protect the environment.

One such company is Volvo - the Ford Motor Company subsidiary based in Sweden which is known for their safety-first attitude towards the production of their cars. The company has developed a Flexi-Fuel system that allows the car’s engine to work on a combination of ethanol and gasoline. This technology is already being employed by some of their car models available in selected European market. These models are the newly unveiled Volvo C30, the S40 sedan and the V50 wagon. Their fuel of choice is the E85 - the 85 denotes the percentage of bio-ethanol in the engine’s fuel with the other 15 per cent being gasoline. The combination reduces the cars’ emission of harmful greenhouse gases by as much as 80 per cent without endangering the cars’ performance level.

The engine of the cars which employs the FlexiFuel technology has been modified slightly to accommodate the corrosive nature of ethanol. The different components which come in direct contact with the fuel have been fortified to increase their resistance to the corrosive effect of the biomass-derived fuel. Parts such as the Volvo valve cover gasket, fuel hoses and different seals have been also modified for use with the ethanol based fuel. The injection valves are likewise reinforced and increased in size due to the fact that E85 has lower energy content than gasoline. Hence a larger amount of fuel needs to be burned to give the engine the same power produced by gasoline-only engines.

The use of ethanol as fuel is a good step towards harnessing alternative renewable sources of energy but it has its drawbacks. Problems experienced by ethanol powered vehicles includes, but is not limited to, the negative effect it has on electric fuel pumps by increasing internal wear due to the fuel’s corrosive nature. E85 is also not compatible with capacitance fuel level gauging indicators which may result on erroneous fuel quantity indications. Another question on the ethanol’s use as fuel is the manner by which it is produced. While cars which use this kind of fuel decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, the process to produce ethanol actually means having to use fossil fuels.

Whether the decrease in the emission of car is greater than the release of harmful greenhouse gases from the process of producing ethanol remains to be seen. While ethanol is priced lower than gasoline, the ethanol’s energy content is lower than that of petrol which means that the engine will need larger amount of fuel in every intake stroke. This fact poses a question whether using E85 will increase the cost incurred by the consumer on their fuel consumption.

The use of ethanol on a mass produced car is just a small step in harnessing alternative sources of energy. This technology alone cannot single-handedly resolve the global community’s dependence on the fast-depleting reserve of fossil fuels but it is a significant step forward.

Nanotechnology May Help Improving Fuel Ability

2008-10-15T09:02:00.007-07:00

As we are facing the uncertainly in supply of crude oil, as well as affluent prices, other fuel source is a happening and hot topic. An interesting option could be ethanol, now made out of plants like corn and sugar cane. Companies and universities are eagerly working to grow this process of making ethanol from many other kinds of plant substance; that might considerably augment the amount of ethanol accessible as fuel. Nanotechnology might be to assist this important effort.

Presently ethanol that is used in fuel in the United States is made out of corn especially. The starch in the corn kernels is rehabilitated to sugar using enzymes. This starch is further fermented to shape up ethanol. Any how, in order to make a necessary reduction in the United States consummation of crude oil, we require up that production by a long way. The goal prepared recently by the United States government is to make 35 billion gallons of ethanol a year within the next ten years.

Researchers at Michigan State University are trying nanotechnology in a neat trick. They are heritably engineering corn to comprise the required enzyme. The plan is to make the enzyme unmoving until activated by high temperatures. When the cellulous part of the corn, like stalk, is procedures, the high giving out temperatures might set in motion the enzyme and change the cellulous to starch. This would avoid the added cost of creation the enzyme separately.

Researchers at the University of Rochester are as well studying how bacteria select an exacting enzyme, or enzymes, to break at specific kind of plant or other bio mass. They expect to make enzymes, which could change cellulous to ethanol in one step, other than the two steps used by the accessible processes. The advantage of cars that could be filled up with either fuel or ethanol has been verified in Brazil, they use much of its sugar cane crop to make ethanol. Using nanotechnology / genetic engineering to make ethanol from cellulous has the latent to make a serious dent in our use of crude oil. However we do require keeping an eye on some safety issues.

Cleaner Cars From Volvo

2008-10-15T09:02:00.005-07:00

Environment consciousness in the global community is growing as a result of unrelenting campaign of environmentalist for the people to protect Mother Earth. In connection with this, car manufactures are in a position to help alleviate the problem with pollution, one of the primary reasons of which is the emission from vehicles.

Different companies have been developing ways to decrease the emission of their cars and at the same time lower fuel consumption. Lowering the amount of fossil fuel based products consumed by automobiles will greatly help in preserving the world’s fossil fuel reserve. Car manufacturers, most notably Toyota and Honda, have come up with hybrid vehicles which use electricity to power their car but the fuel savings is not nearly enough to protect our natural reserves of fossil fuel.

Volvo has come up with a way to help in the protection of the environment by using alternative fuel on some of their car models. FlexiFuel models are now being produced by the Sweden-based car manufacturer. These are the Volvo C30, S40, and the V50 models. These cars use an alternative fuel called E85 which is a combination of ethanol and petrol. The combination of which is 85 per cent bio-ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline. Use of the E85 alternative fuel reduces emissions of fossil carbon dioxide which is harmful to the environment by as much as 80 per cent compared to cars using gasoline only.

The models equipped with the FlexiFuel technology are equipped with a four-cylinder engine which can produce 125 horsepower. The usage of the alternative fuel does no harm to the engines’ performance. The bio-ethanol and gasoline combination is stored on the models’ 55 liter tank. To accommodate the corrosive properties of ethanol, changes have to be made to the engine’s construction. Fuel hoses, valves, and gaskets have been modified and fortified to take on the corrosive nature of ethanol. Injection valves have also been modified and made larger since a larger amount of fuel needs to be injected to the combustion chamber. This is due to the fact that ethanol has a lower energy content compared to pure gasoline. Aside from these changes, the engine is basically the same just like the Volvo spark plug wires which will not be affected by the corrosive nature of the fuel.

The development of the technology is just a small step but a significant one in terms of protecting our environment for future generations. Since ethanol is a renewable source of energy, the use of it as a fuel will decrease the world’s dependency on the fossil fuel reserves all over the world. Ethanol can be produced from a wide range of biomass source such as corn, wheat, sugar-beet and cellulose among others. And with increasing number of facilities that produce ethanol, the technology developed by Volvo may soon be used all over the world. Aside from using ethanol as fuel, there are also a range of renewable energy resources that are waiting to be enhanced for possible use as duel for automobiles.

Do you own a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)?

2008-10-15T09:02:00.003-07:00

Do you own a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)?

What in the world is a Flexible Fuel Vehicle? It's a car or
truck that is capable of burning certain alternative fuels. Now
we're not talking gasoline vs. diesel engines here, we're
talking about gasoline engines that can also burn ethanol,
natural gas, propane, hydrogen, methanol, and p-series fuels.
According to some chemist at the U.S. Department of Energy,
p-series fuels are "a unique blend of natural gas liquids
(pentanes plus), ethanol, and the biomass-derived co-solvent
methyltetrahydrofuran" just in case you were wondering.

Anyway, if you own one of these flexible fuel vehicles, and you
could own one without realizing it, then you might be able to
save yourself a whopping amount of money now that gas is nearing
the price of gold.

Although some of the more exotic alternative fuels may not be
flowing out of the pumps at your neighborhood service station,
there is a good chance that ethanol is.

Ethanol is alcohol-based and it's made by fermenting and
distilling corn, barley, or wheat. It can also be made from
"cellulosic biomass", which is just a fancy phrase for "chunks
of trees and grass", except that this version is called
"Bioethanol" instead of plain "Ethanol".

E85 is an Ethanol/Gasoline product that's being sold at a lot of
gas stations. It's a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E95
is a 95/5 blend of ethanol and gasoline. Both blends are capable
of being burned by most Flexible Fuel Vehicles.

Some service stations are selling an E10 (10/90 ethanol/gasoline
blend), that doesn't really qualify as an alternative fuel. Its
primary purpose is to reduce carbon monoxide levels, and it can
be burned by most any engine that burns gasoline.

Unlike Hybrid Vehicles, flexible fuel vehicles are not
necessarily more expensive because of the alternative fuel
option, and they aren't anywhere near as rare. In fact, there's
a chance that you're driving one right now. If the salesperson
didn't tell you, and you're not the kind that reads owner's
manuals, and you're ignoring the sticker that's probably on the
inside of your gas tank cover, you could be in for a cash-saving
surprise.

If you're not sure if you own an FFV, or you're planning on
buying a new car soon, then visit the U.S. Department of
Energy's Flexible Fuel Vehicle
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/models.html) list.

If there isn't a FFV in your life, there's still hope. You can
have an aftermarket conversion done. When you do a conversion,
your gasoline-only engine ends up being able to burn some
particular alternative fuel such as compressed natural gas (CNG)
or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane), or Ethanol. You
have three conversion choices; "dedicated", "dual-fuel", and
"bi-fuel". Dedicated means that your engine only burns one fuel
after the conversion. Dual-fuel engines can burn two different
fuels, and with a bi-fuel conversion, your engine burns two
different fuels at the same time. So, if you think that you have
no choice but to continue paying through the nose when you're
paying at the pump, look into getting a Flexible Fuel Vehicle or
an aftermarket conversion

Biofuels, Hybrids or Herbivores

2008-10-15T09:02:00.001-07:00

South Park parodied hybrid car owners creating clouds of ‘smug’, but do they really have anything to be smug about? In the battle against man-made global warming and reducing pollution ethanol powered cars, not hybrids, are touted the way to go and politicians and the environmentally conscious alike are jumping on the bandwagon.

There is no doubt that ethanol burns far more cleanly than diesel or petrol – we could radically reduce the pollutants in our atmosphere by switching. Or can we? You see, to create ethanol, crops need to be grown. Because ethanol is not as potent as petrol, more ethanol is burned per kilometre. It takes between 75-90% of the energy yielded from ethanol to actually grow it – ploughing, harvesting, processing and shipping all add up – and ethanol still releases a lot of carbon dioxide. Then there’s the environmental destruction caused by the conversion of land to biofuel production. This either takes forests or fallow land, or removes land from the general agriculture pool which pushes up food prices. Both of these reduce biodiversity. Add to that the increased erosion, fertiliser pollution and waterway silting and the argument for ethanol is fizzling rapidly.

Even if we manage to eek out a saving using hybrids as opposed to ethanol, at best these cars get only marginally better fuel economy than, for example, a diesel VW Polo, and they take as much if not more toxic metals and fossil fuels to produce. The most we can hope for is a fraction of a percent reduction.

There is one radical change we can make, though. Cows, sheep, pigs and chickens account for a whopping 9% of GHG emissions, but 18% of the GHG effect (methane from farts is over 20 times more damaging than carbon dioxide in terms of its global warming potential). So, would a better solution to reduce greenhouse gases be to change to a diet of lentils and beans? Our own emissions might then match those of the livestock! It’s a no-win situation, then, so where’s my chicken sandwich.

To see more motoring articles and new car reviews visit Car and SUV

An Introduction Into Biomass Energy

2008-10-15T09:01:00.005-07:00

As fuel prices propel upward around the world and further concerns mount over global warming, many researchers and policy makers are looking toward renewable energy sources. For the most part, power made from natural sources is low-impact because biological material can be quickly restored through natural processes.

Large markets are starting to shy away from fossil fuels and embrace more responsible biomass alternatives. The field is gaining momentum and there are thousands of newly viable ways to create planet-friendly energy.

What is biomass energy?

Even though it is only now gaining credibility and market share, biofuel is not new. In fact, early humans created biomass energy by burning wood. Biomass is any biological material that can be used for industrial purposes. Coal and petroleum are not considered biomass because they were transformed from organic material into fossils by geological means. When something organic, like wood, is used as fuel, the heat it generates is biomass energy.

The State of Biomass Energy

Continuing instability in global oil markets and the predicted depletion of fossil fuels has created a new interest in biomass energy in recent years. The concept of biofuel is not a new one, but it has always been dismissed in the past as less than cost effective. The rising cost of gasoline and heating fuel has narrowed the price gap. In light of these record prices, adding biomass infrastructure has become more attractive. Proponents of biofuel argue that wider distribution will eventually lead to lower prices.

One of the ripest areas for biomass energy development is the personal vehicle market. The United States is facing record gas prices, and many citizens are having to change their travel habits. Biofuels such of bioethanol, biodiesel, and vegetable oil can all be used to power specially outfitted vehicles.

The Popularity of Bioethanol

Ethanol, in particular, is now used throughout the world to supplemental gasoline usage. Ethyl alcohol can be synthesized from a number of common crops like sugar or corn. Most consumer cars in the United States can use fuel that is 10% ethanol. Flexible-fuel vehicles have engine modifications that allow them to use much high concentrations of the fuel.

Brazil, the second largest producer of ethanol in the world, is said to be the first sustainable ethanol economy. The country is well-known for its sugarcane production and uses its large reserves to produce fuel. E20 (20% ethanol and 80% gasoline) gas mixtures are mandated throughout the country. This system has allowed Brazilians to grow, process, buy fuel, and improve their economy while slowly reducing their dependence on other countries.

The United States uses its significant corn crops to secure its place as the largest worldwide ethanol producer. Most state governments require the usage of E10 in order to reduce pollution and replace the need for MTBE in gasoline.

The use of ethanol is still controversial. Some argue that it raised the cost of fuel mixtures and that extra harvest and production energy negate any environmental benefit. They also cite the tendency of ethanol speculation to increase the price of staple crops and thus taking food away from lower classes priced out of the market.

Producing Heat and Electricity

Biomass fuels are not only in use on the highway. One of the most popular remedies for the rising cost of heating fuel over the past few years have been pellet stoves. These units provide heat to spaces by burning pellets made from compressed sawdust. They are highly efficient and provide a cheap alternative to furnaces and electric systems. Other renewable byproducts from industrial processes can also be burned off. This biomass and other biofuels can be used to produce electricity, but no large scale proof-of-concept has yet been implemented.

The Future of Biomass Energy

As fossil fuels rapidly deplete, governments around the world have recognized the need to harness biomass energy. Since it can be used in existing car engines without minimal changes, biofuels are currently a popular option to replace gasoline and diesel. Solar, hydroelectric, wind, nuclear, and geothermal energy options still outpace biomass with regard to producing electricity, but researchers hope that improved infrastructure will close the gap.

In the rush to find a new way to power the world, scientists are reviewing all available options. Biomass is attractive because it is completely renewable and collection is easy. As research continues, the ways to produce and use biomass energy continue to grow. It is unlikely that it will be the ultimate solution to current energy problems, but it will certainly play a part in the coming transition from fossil fuels.

Forestry Wastes to Fuel Up our Cars in the Future

2008-10-15T09:01:00.003-07:00

In the rural part of Georgia, a man named Devon Dartnell is paving a way for world fuel economy. Devon Dartnell, Biomass program manager for the Georgia Forestry Commission is leading a construction of a plant that will work on converting forestry wastes to the car fuel, ethanol.

The facility will test the economic viability of lumber and agricultural by-products rather than corn or sugar cane to be used in ethanol production.

The plant will be financed by prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist, Vinod Khosla and Range Fuels headed by a former Apple executive.

Dartnell is aspiring for a $76 million Department of Energy grant that will eventually lead to more plants and a new industry in the state.

"This gives us energy security and it keeps all the money in-state," said Dartnell, "Today, if we buy a tank of gasoline, a lot of money ends up with the oil reserve owners and refiners, and it's spread all around the world."

The plant to be built is about to generate cellulosic ethanol, a modern biofuel that the investors expect to meet the oil demands of the federal state and consequently lessen the reliance of oil exports.

On the other hand, like any advanced biofuel tested and introduced, there are also expected pitfalls of this biofuel like long-standing technology hurdles and other environmental concerns.

"Just because the technology can be done right doesn't mean we will use it right or develop it in a smart way; that's the real challenge," said Nathanael Greene, senior policy analyst at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

"Biofuels, in particular, can be anywhere from very good for the environment to very bad."

According to the cellulosic ethanol promoters, it will not undergo the same intensive farming and labor of corn ethanol. It also offers more advantage than the latter.

Cellulosic ethanol will be generated from the wood of the trees. Even the wood from natural disasters and fires can be used. The wood will undergo a multi-step thermochemical process.

The Range plant will be completed sometime next year and it claims the possibility of producing 20 million gallons of the cellulosic ethanol per year, intending to expand the production to 100 million gallons annually. According to Darnell, the United States has enough wood residues from milling and farming that they can even produce 2 billion gallons of ethanol each year.

What effect will this fuel bring to our internal combustion engines and emission control systems? We just have to wait and see. They have to test the compatibility of this fuel to engines of different car models and its parts, for example parts like Lincoln oxygen Sensor and converter.

Volvo Expands Green Model Range

2008-10-15T09:01:00.001-07:00

Volvo is delivering FlexiFuel cars powered by renewable bioethanol on some European markets this coming autumn. Also, Volvo's green model range will be extended to include the new C30. The latter will also be offered with FlexiFuel power.

"Interest in ethanol as a vehicle fuel is growing in Europe," said Gerry Keaney, senior vice president market, sales and customer service of Volvo Cars. "We are therefore expanding our range with additional models on a total of 9 markets. First to get Volvo's FlexiFuel cars outside Sweden will be Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway. It's very encouraging that the market is expanding and that political initiatives are being taken."

France announced that it will put up 500 fuel stations for E85 next year. E85 is a combination of 85 percent renewable ethanol and 15 percent petrol. Said fuel will be generated from local agricultural products. So far, there are 23 plants that are producing ethanol in Europe. This number is anticipated to increase to more than 60 plants by 2008. In Europe, about 1.8 million liters of ethanol are produced every year. The ethanol produced came primarily from sugar-beet and other grains in Europe. The produce is also expected to soar threefold in the year 2008.

The expanded green model range includes 3 Volvo models C30, S40 and V50. They are all available with optimized FlexiFuel alternative. The C30 is marketed as a groundbreaking hatchback that is especially designed for the new generation of drivers. S40 and V50 are both compact luxury cars. They belong to the second generation of Volvo compact cars. Volvo S40 upgrade parts are built on the Volvo P1 platform. Last year, the car was nominated for the World Car of the Year. V50 is a station wagon version of S40. Its interior highlights soft 'theatre' lighting.

Now, C30, S40 and V50 are powered by a 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine generating 125 horsepower. They are also equipped with modified fuel hoses, valves and gaskets to withstand ethanol's more corrosive properties. They also use an updated version of the software calibration, which is specifically designed for ethanol. Also, the engine management system accurately supervises the mix of bioethanol and petrol in the fuel tank and suits ignition and injection automatically.

"A renewable fuel will not on its own be able to replace today's fossil fuels, and the range of alternative fuels will probably be far wider in the future. Many different fuels and technologies will therefore be developed in parallel. Ethanol reduces dependency on fossil fuels and Volvo's FlexiFuel programme thus makes a vital contribution to our strategy of environmental sustainability," concluded Gerry Keaney.

Ethanol And Hybrid Cars

2008-06-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hybrid cars are starting to gain a modicum of popularity in the world market and this popularity seems to be growing. Current fears regarding climate change combined with rising costs of gasoline have led to great public interest in hybrid cars although this interest has not entirely yielded huge sales at present. This has led to many people wonder about the future of hybrid cars and this future is based on a variety of factors.

The future of hybrid cars will always center on the state of ethanol as ethanol remains the active component within the internal combustion engine process that makes hybrid cars possible. Since ethanol derives from corn, the status of corn farming will always have an impact of the future of hybrid cars. This can be a somewhat curious status to predict because corn is also an important food source for many people and if corn supplies are directed towards fuel production there is a possibility that an unexpected negative impact can result from reduced food supplies. For example, in Latin America civil unrest almost developed when the production in ethanol threatened to cause food shortages. Because of this, ethanol production was slowed down. This is not to say increased production of ethanol will always cause food shortages because a process can always be set in motion to correct any potential hazards.

Ultimately, the future of hybrid cars will be based on marketplace demand. In other words, if there is adequate demand in the market place for increased production of hybrid cars and these cars sell and continue to sell strong, then the future of hybrid cars will be strong. Of course, there will always be a number of factors that will contribute to the success or failure of hybrid cars in the marketplace. One of the factors will be cost. This includes the cost of the car itself and the fuel costs associated with the car. At present, a hybrid car would save people a great deal of money in both those areas so this is a huge positive for the potential of the cars. The other area that will contribute to the success or failure of hybrid cars is sales and promotions. In other words, a solid advertising campaign would need to be set in place in order to stimulate public interest in the cars. Considering the skill of many ad companies, this should not be a problem and the future of these cars will look bright.

For information on buying and selling new and second hand cars and bikes visit http://www.bharathautomobiles.com/index.php

About the Author

James Gunaseelan writes for India's Leading Automobile Portal to buy and sell second hand and new automobiles

Ethanol Still - Discover How to Make an Ethanol Still

2008-06-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

Many people want to learn more and more about how they can make their own ethanol.

Basically, you will only need two very important things. Corn and an ethanol still. Of course there are other grains that you can use aside from corn but corn just happens to be grown in more places and so is a little easier to access. With gasoline prices reaching all time highs once a month it seems, the thought of having your own ethanol still to make ethanol just seems like good logic.

People have been making ethanol for centuries in ethanol stills that they constructed out of what they had. The ethanol that we know today was actually created way back in 1796 by filtering distilled ethanol through charcoal. Johann Tobias Lowitz discovered this process and if he knew what he would be doing for so many people two hundred years later, I bet he would be thrilled. Actually he probably would have celebrated by drinking a little of his creation after it went through his ethanol still. Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, has been made in backyard ethanol stills for decades. But it had a different name then. Then it was referred to as moonshine, or by some, white lightening. Moonshine was illegal in the days of prohibition but that didn't stop those who loved their brew. They would make an ethanol still and hide it in the woods so that it wouldn't be discovered. Some were lucky and never got caught while others had to face jail time. Men of all ages would make moonshine runs with cars that had to be fast so that they could outrun the law if need be. How times have changed. And people always said that you could run a car on moonshine, I just thought they were joking. Who's laughing now?

An ethanol still is a very important part in the making of ethanol. In days gone by people would put together any type of contraption they could so that they could make their homemade ethanol. Now ethanol stills have been perfected so that they do just what is needed. There is still some disagreements as to which material is better to use. A lot of people prefer to use copper for the ability it has to heat evenly all over. Others like to use stainless steel for its corrosion resistance with each party assured that their way is the best. A lot of commercial stills are made out of copper as they want the uniform heating ability that is necessary to make it the same each and every time.

The ethanol still is necessary to heat the corn mash mixture but once its job is complete the mixture will then be transferred to a fermenter that will allow the mash to ferment. This is the place that the ethanol is made. Fermentation is necessary for proper ethanol production.

Having an ethanol still is going to be something that more and more people will see necessary. Many are starting to feel the crunch of the high gas prices and soon will have to do something different in order to live like they have been accustomed to.

About the Author:
Allen Walker is a hard working american man who decided to do something about the high costs of gasoline that was affecting his life and family. He constructed his own ethanol still and now manufactures his own fuel from his backyard. You too can save money on gas by visiting his website http://www.ethanol-earth.com\">www.ethanol-earth.com" target="_blank">www.ethanol-earth.com">http://www.ethanol-earth.com\">www.ethanol-earth.com to learn how to make ethanol fuel.

Home Ethanol Production And What Is Involved

2008-06-05T04:48:00.000-07:00

The words home ethanol production is creating a buzz all of the USA, because of fears of fuel shortages and price increases, plus global warming and pollution, people are getting more interested in home ethanol production. One thing to take into consideration with the production of ethanol, is safety, so it would be a good idea to get as much information as you can before starting. If your intention is to run your car on it you will probably need to check ethanol conversion kits. Relating to

Home Ethanol Production:

Home ethanol production is considered essential a major deal in the renewable energy debate, and in regards to the issue of homespun ethanol production, there are some facts that should really be known relative to an acre of US corn yielding approximately 7,100 pounds of grain for processing into 328 gallons of ethanol; the energy economics get worse at the processing plants, where the grain is crushed and fermented, as many as three distillation steps are needed in order to separate the 8% ethanol from the 92% water. When adding up the energy costs of grain production and its following conversion to ethanol, it has been found that 131,000 BTUs are needed in order to be able to make just 1 gallon of ethanol; one gallon of ethanol only has an energy value of 77,000 BTU, which is considered as being clearly not good.

Possible negatives with ethanol production:

Figures show that US grain production today erodes the top soil about 12 times faster than it can be reformed or replaced, with irrigated grain using groundwater 25% quicker than it can be naturally be replaced by rain etc. If you add to these figures that corn ethanol costs approximately $1.74 a gallon to produced, in comparison to the 94 cents per gallon that gasoline costs, its clear that more investigation is required before committing more and more remorses to ethanol production.

Therefore, there are so many questions with regards to the production of ethanol and the environment and with regards to life in general, as to whether or not ethanol is the proper choice as renewable energy source; there are actually so many positive factors that stem from it, and yet many negative ones as well, and so this is a matter which is almost certainly going to take some serious time and consideration to accurately figure out. However, there are some top-notch brilliant people in the world who are looking closely into the ethanol situation at this moment, this will also include home ethanol production, and so we can rest assured in knowing that the problem will be taken care of properly.

EcoHolistic.com for articles and tips about environmental and holistic issues.

For more information about Home Ethanol Production go to
http://www.ecoholistic.com/ethanol/ethanol-fuel/home-ethanol-production.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Malc_Moore

Is it Possible to Build a Cellulose Ethanol Plant Using Hemp?

2008-06-05T04:44:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, a gentleman noted that hemp would be an excellent source for an ethanol plant. If it could be grown in large quantities and harvested, then it could assist the US in her addiction to Middle Eastern Oil. The man who came up with this scheme from Santa Barbara, CA stated:

My Dream is to Build a Hemp Ethanol Plant"

Indeed, hemp is extremely high in cellulose, perhaps four or five times higher than what they are using now. It might be nice to use the sage brush along the coastal mountain range where you are, by harvesting some of it, you could prevent fires, if you did not take too much you would hurt the erosion problems there. Hemp makes sense of course but in Santa Barbara there is a water situation too, so it might be tough to build a plant there.

Ethanol Plants use lots of water at ratios of 8:1 or 8 gallons of water for one gallon of Ethanol in the refining process. This does not include growing the crop itself, however in the case of Hemp, it can grow in the wild like the "Switch Grass" scheme that a University in Texas came up with not long ago.

Therefore the Online Think Tank asked the individual;

Do you have any preliminary studies, information, drawings of the plant design?
Do you have investors, backing, supporters for this concept?

Using the highest cellulose plants to make cellulose ethanol makes the most sense and for those plants that grow in the wild, helping them along a little bit, means we are not sacrificing farm land for food in trade for fuel. So, perhaps it is worthy of more inquiry?

"Lance Winslow" - Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance Winslow's Bio

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Can we Fly an Aircraft on Ethanol?!

2008-05-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

Ethanol has been available for nearly a century. But we are now finding ways to use it for more things and to help us on our reliance on foreign oil. Baylor University has done numerous tests on ethanol in acrobatic general aviation aircraft as well as passenger high and low performance aircraft.

The Bellanca Decathlon a symmetrical winged Citabria for aerobatics was tested with 100% hydrous ethanol, which was gotten from an M & M Mars Candy Manufacturing plant. Ethanol was thought to be dangerous when it was 10-15% mixed with water due to the condensation aspects of water in aircraft engines another good reason for preflight inspections.

It was found that with a 100% hydrous ethanol there was no decrease in performance and to the contrary a slight increase in less knocking under demand for power. When put into a Pitts Special S1S where the compression ratios were 10:1 the ethanol had a higher performance when temperatures were over 100 degrees. The 50/50 blended fuel had a decrease slightly of up to 15-20%. But did comparable under hotter temperatures of air intake or ambient air. Eleven aircraft were tested at Baylor University the larger the engines the better the ethanol did.

Ethanol also increased the TBO, total time to recommended or predicted overhaul by 50% meaning less wear on the engine, probably due to less knock. The FAA certified the IO-540 a very popular general aviation engine in March of 1990. So much of this is nothing new. The FAA even stating that it exceeded the tests. Aviation fuel is the last fuel available with lead in it. This has taken some 22 years to develop and now it appears aircraft with piston engines can use ethanol and perform better in many instances. This is especially good for those states, which grow corn such as Nebraska, ND, SD, Iowa and others.

The push for this type of fuel is coming predominantly from the areas in the US where corn grows which elevates the price of corn for farmers. Corn, a commodity can also be used to eat obviously and of course like oil can be used to make plastics and other important materials for a myriad of uses. Next time you think of corn, think of more than just food. The Navajo Indians made it into food by pounding the crap out of it, they were on to something there. Corn is a big deal to many states where it can be grown in abundance.

It appears that if ethanol provides better performance in hotter climates then perhaps we may wish to sell ethanol for aircraft in those markets unless the pilots will fly much above 12,000 feet where the air is cooler. The average of 2 degrees per thousand feet decrease in ambient temperature, flying over mountains could be an issue. But these are most interesting facts for military vehicles in the middle east, cars in hot climates and of course for aviation also.

If you have any ideas on alternative fuel for aircraft please let's explore and discuss these issues.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Is Ethanol The Alternative Fuel?

2008-05-10T02:41:00.000-07:00

Industrial alcohol produced from sugarcane molasses has a significant role to play in the world's economy. Alcohol is a by-product of sugar industry which is linked to agriculture. Sugarcane crop is a renewable source of energy. Therefore alcohol produced from molasses deserves a preferential place as a substitute feed stock for chemicals industry to bridge the gap in any country’s energy needs for increasing requirement for potable purpose. Sugarcane can also be directly used to produce ethanol.

Alcohol Based Chemicals

Ethyl Alcohol is an important feed stock for the manufacture of chemicals. These chemicals are Acetic Acid, Acetone, Butanol, Butadiene, Acetic Anhydride, Vinyl acetate, styrene, MEG PVC etc. Synthetic rubber industry also requires large quantity Of Alcohol. The main product INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL is used in the manufacturing of the following Alcohol based chemicals, the uses of which are also given below.

a) Acetaldehyde : Can be used for industrial use as Chemicals derivatives Pharmaceutical applications and synthetic resins and for manufacture of Acetic Acid.

b) Acetic Acid : Used in Pharmaceuticals applications, Textiles, Dyestuffs, Ethyl Acetate, and is the basic chemical for Alcohol based chemicals via Acetaldehyde route...

c) Acetic Anhydride : Used in Bulk Drug manufacturing

d) Ethyl Acetate : Used in manufacturing of Paints, Dyestuffs and Pharmaceuticals .

e) Substitute to : Used in manufacture of HDPE, LDPE etc. and Chemicals other Petroleum based petroleum based chemicals such as Ethylene Glycol.

Potable Alcohol

Manufacture of alcoholic beverages from alcohol is also an attractive diversification. There is large demand for alcoholic beverages i.e. Brandy, Whisky, Rum, gin , Vodka and Wine. The need for alcohol for potable purpose is as high as the alcohol being used for industrial purposes.

Alcohol as fuel/Ethanol Blended petrol

The trend in the world (particularly Brazil and USA) is towards the use of alcohol as an alternative fuel. During World war II, alcohol in the form of power alcohol was used for blending with petrol in the proportion of 80% petrol and 20% power alcohol. Brazil has developed a technology which has made possible large scale substitution of petroleum derived fuel. Now Anhydrous Alcohol is exclusive fuel for automobiles. Alcohol powered vehicles have taken the first position in Brazil & accounting for 80% of overall sales of about 500,000 alcohol powered vehicles every year.

Anhydrous Alcohol (99.5% v/v) is being used as fuelPsychology Articles, by mixing it with Petrol. The blend of Anhydrous Alcohol and petrol is called Gasohol. In Brazil 4 million Vehicles are running on Gasohol. The content of alcohol in Gasohol varies from 10% to 85%. Alcohol works as Oxygenate in petrol combustion and superior to other oxygenate MTBE and ETBE. Alcohol reduces CO (Carbon Monoxide) emission and cause less pollution compared to petrol.

It can be seen that demand for alcohol will be ever increasing & there would not be any problem in marketing alcohol (either for Industrial or for potable purpose ) produced by distilleries.

It is debatable whether corn should be used for producing ethanol or for that matter any food grain.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is a professional chemical engineer having expertise in neutral spirits distillation. He is a free-lance web developer and has a flair for writing articles on a diverse range of subjects including the occult. http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/distillery http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/computer http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/chemupdate

Biofuel moves away from food - from wisconsin tribune

2008-05-04T04:41:00.001-07:00

Karen Madden, Central Wisconsin Sunday wrote today:
"
While gas prices continue to rise, scientists are attempting to develop the next generation of ethanol from nonfood sources.

Although the reasons for increasing food costs are not as simple as an increased demand for ethanol-bound corn, scientists are looking for other sources for fuel, said Gary Radloff, director of policy and communications for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The cost of energy has increased from between 18 percent and 19 percent during the past year, while the cost of food has risen 4.5 percent.

"There's no question that, since 2000, we've been growing more corn for ethanol and more soybeans for biodiesel," Radloff said.

The technology for turning corn into ethanol and soybeans into biodiesel is from the 1970s and 1980s, Radloff said. The field for producing fuels from renewable resources is in a transitional phase.

The first generation of biofuels involved things such as burning wood, said Eric Singsaas, associate professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The second generation is corn to ethanol, and the third is plant matter to ethanol. The fourth generation, the one currently being worked on by Singsaas and his associate, assistant professor Don Guay, involves converting plant material to nonethanol fuel.

Ethanol has two-thirds the energy of gasoline, Guay said. The type of fuel he and Singsaas are trying to develop has more than 90 percent of the energy of gasoline. The two men are developing a process to convert wood into liquid fuel.

"We think it's realistic that we can make a better fuel and do it from plant matter that doesn't come from agricultural fields," Singsaas said.

The basis for the technology is already in place in the paper industry, Guay said. With mills closing in Brokaw, Peshtigo and Port Edwards, the infrastructure is in place, and it would make sense to reopen a mill to make the new fuel, he said.

Singsaas hopes to have the first pilot plant started with the new technology within three to five years.

Coskata Turns Waste to Ethanol

2008-04-10T23:15:00.000-07:00

Coskata, Inc. is a biology-based renewable energy company, with technology for the production of liquid fuels. Using proprietary microorganisms and transformative bioreactor designs, the company expects to produce ethanol for under US$1.00 per gallon anywhere in the world, from almost any input material (feedstock).

Tubes packed with bundles of white fibers are the core of a bioreactor, which is the heart of their technology that combines thermochemical and biological approaches to make ethanol out of wood chips, household garbage, grass, and old tires--indeed, just about any organic material.

A partnership with GM has given muscle to the company's emergence, now entering the commercialization stage.

How it Works

Carbon-based material (e.g. biomass) goes in the front end, and is converated to syngas through gassification. At that point, non genetic modified bacteria (anaerobic) convert syngas to ethanol. The bacteria are found in nature and are not dangerous if released.

The whole process, from input to output is only about two minutes.

Coy about Corn Commodities

2008-04-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Jesse Greenwald
Corn grown in the USA has traditionally been used to feed livestock or has been converted into corn syrup and used as a sweetener. No longer solely for eating, corn is increasingly being used in the production of ethanol and it is now considered an "energy commodity."

The price of corn commodities rallied earlier this year, due to many bullish factors. One of the most significant factors is the fact that the global dependence on energy from fossil fuels is continually being challenged. Geopolitical risks in oil-producing countries, conflicting estimates on the sizes of oil reserves, the environmental movement and the farm lobby in the United States have put biofuels in the spotlight-benefiting the grain commodity markets.

Whether you agree with the economics of corn-based ethanol or not, production capacity is being expanded in the United States. Ethanol is heavily promoted by the powerful farm lobby, and is now subsidized by the US Congress. The 2008 re-election campaign figures into this equation heavily as this lobby group represents significant votes in the US.

The growing demand for agricultural commodities, including corn, in the coming years will create an upward pressure on corn prices. In response, farmers this spring have planted the largest corn crop in the US since World War II. This phenomenon has depressed corn prices through much of the spring, as a bumper crop on this much acreage was thought by many traders to be more than enough to meet the "feed and fuel" demand.

The grain markets were very volatile over the recent growing season. As traders try to determine farmers' planting intentions for the coming season, prices could remain jumpy. A further decline in the US Dollar could also inflate prices, as US grains will be less expensive to customers around the world.

Long-term threats to corn prices do exist, despite the increase of demand due to the production of ethanol. Should food inflation get any worse, the cries of consumers may gain the ear of politicians now in the farm lobby's pocket. Subsidies for the ethanol industry could be cut in the future. In addition, tariffs currently preventing sugar or cheaper Brazilian ethanol from entering American markets could be lowered or removed altogether. Many experts agree that sugar-based ethanol is cheaper and more efficient than its corn-based counterpart. Finally, biomass ethanol technology could be perfected, allowing cheaper ethanol production from corn stalks, switch grass or organic waste.

These factors however do not threaten corn in the near-term and in the short-term even a bumper crop will only depress prices so far. Corn commodities may be one drought away from another bull run and remains an interesting commodity to watch over the next few months. Look out for good trading opportunities that may develop for this commodity in the future.

The data and comments provided above are for information purposes only and must not be construed as an indication or guarantee of any kind of what the future performance of the concerned markets will be. While the information in this publication cannot be guaranteed, it was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Futures and Forex trading involves a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Please carefully consider your financial condition prior to making any investments. MF Global Canada Co. is a member of the CIPF.

About the Author: Jesse Greenwald is an account executive at the Saskatoon office of MF Global. He focuses much of his analysis on the grain and energy commodity markets. In addition, Jesse watches the forex futures, livestock commodities and soft commodities such as sugar, cotton and coffee.

Making ethanol work! - watch this video

2008-04-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

This video shows the places where ethanol work! - Brazil ans Sweden.
The movie present the advantages of ethanol to developing countries, and to the world.

Great movie.

Bio-Ethanol - a scum?

2008-04-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

This video suggest that the all ethanol idea is just a scum! but is it?

Well - although ethanol have many problems, it still hold a great premise to the green energy future. The two main problems: mass production and transporting ethanol, ther are going to be technology development that will solve these problems.

Flex-Fuel Vehicles: is E85 Ethanol Based Fuel the First Step to Beating “Oil Addiction”?

2008-02-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

by: Dana Buttenhoff

During the State of the Union Address on January 31,2006 President George W. Bush presented a plan to the people of the United States and to the U.S. Congress to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.He spoke of hybrid cars, hydrogen based fuel cell cars and the expansion of ethanol fueled vehicles. The ethanol-based technology is already here, there are already somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 million Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) already on the road in the USA.FFV can run on regular unleaded gasoline or a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent regular unleaded gasoline (known as E85) or any percentage of ethanol and gasoline blend in between.

The expansion of FFV is, in my opinion, an opportunity for General Motors and Ford to step forward and show the American people that they can compete by building vehicles that are friendlier to the environment and not dependent on products imported to us from the politically volatile Middle East.

Ford showed off an ethanol-hybrid SUV this past January at the Washington, D.C. auto show, as reported by USA Today writer James R. Healy. This E85-burning hybrid Ford Escape is part of “a development program, not a research program”, according to Ford Executive Vice President Anne Stevens. This means that the American consumer will find these vehicles in showrooms sooner rather than later.

USA Today writer James R. Healy did a cover story on Thursday February 2,2006 highlighting the message from the States of the Union Address indicating that E85 is not the answer because among other things the infrastructure is not in place, except for the Midwest, and, if you do not own one of the 5 million FFV currently on the road you would need to buy a new car that can use E85. I understand these very valid points but I also must say that it is February 2006 as I write this article and 2025 is still 19 years away. The technology is here; we just need to get on board with the new technology now in order to cut the dependency on foreign oil imports in the future.

In his USA Today feature article Mr. Healy noted that Ford CEO Bill Ford states his company will boost FFV production 25% this year to 250,000. Also noted was that General Motors has pledged to build more than 400,000 FFV annually, starting this year. Noting that a barrel of oil is saved for every 37 gallons of E85 that is used.

Mr. Healy’s feature article raised an interesting point: most cars on the road today in the USA require no modifications at all to run on Gasohol, which is a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. By taking the first step of using the 10 percent ethanol blend we, as the American driving public, can accomplish a couple of things. First we can help the environment by burning a cleaner fuel in our current cars. Second we can give the automakers the acknowledgement that the American consumer is serious about alternative renewable fuel. This perhaps would spur other manufacturers to join General Motors and Ford in offering expanded choices in the FFV line-up. Third this would give production facilities time to tool up as well as a ready and willing market to expand into. Fourth this should help American farmers by boosting the price of corn that is widely used in ethanol production. Fifth this would also give more fuel stations the time to begin making the necessary additions to their storage facilities to accommodate E85 fuel. This will not happen over night but instead slowly over time. The next time you are in the market for a new vehicle a FFV may be a viable choice for you.

The manufacturers will build the vehicles that are demanded by the public. If you feel that an E85 fuel vehicle may fit your needs the next time you purchase a vehicle do your research and do what is right for you. Remember that the flexibility of an E85 fueled vehicle does not restrict your travel to only areas that have E85, because it will also run on regular unleaded fuel. To get additional information you can visit www.e85fuel.com for the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.

About The Author
Dana Buttenhoff has over 20 years experience in the automotive industry. The past 12 years as an automotive service consultant for a European luxury car dealership in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ethanol - The True Green Alternative?

2008-02-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

By Peter Towler
With rising oil costs and environmental concerns has come increased pressure on the motor industry to develop an alternative and greener fuel to power the world's vehicles. But would ethanol be a viable alternative to petrol (gas)?
Ethanol is largely seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to petrol. It is made from crops such as sugarcane in Brazil and soyabean in the US, and it is significantly less polluting than petrol because it doesn't produce sulphur dioxide or lead emissions and, importantly, any carbon dioxide produced can be offset by growing more sugarcane. Cars in the UK, for instance, can currently run on about 10 per cent of ethanol in petrol, but the corrosive effect of ethanol means increasing levels above this can damage the engine if the necessary changes have not been made. Recent moves by Brazil to export biofuels to the European market on a bigger scale have increased interest in ethanol as a possible replacement for petrol. Since signing agreements with Sweden and Japan, Brazil is now interested in developing partnerships with British and European companies. In Brazil ethanol is widely available and it makes up around 40 per cent of fuel consumption and powers over 50 per cent of vehicles. Having spent the last 30 years refining the production of ethanol from sugarcane, Brazil has now become the largest producer and exporter of ethanol in the world.
The technology for creating ethanol has been around since the 1920s, but production only took off in Brazil in the 1980s when the government looked around for alternative sources in the wake of the 1970s oil crisis and rising oil prices. During the 1980s more than 75 per cent of all motor vehicles and around 90 per cent of cars were run on ethanol. But a drop in oil prices and an end to government subsidies meant that ethanol lost it's popularity for a while. However, rising oil prices caused the popularity of ethanol to rise again a couple of years ago, and now over 50 per cent of new cars in Brazil are FFVs (Flexible Fuel Vehicles) that can be run on either pure petrol, pure ethanol or a mixture of the two.
Brazilian production of ethanol is set to rise over the next few years. In 2005 they produced 282,000 barrels of ethanol per day and the expectations are for production to rise to 442,000 barrels per day by 2010. Brazil currently exports 7,200 barrels per day to the US (who also produce their own ethanol from soyabeans). This, of course, is still a drop in the ocean compared to overall US gasoline consumption. And the question is whether or not Europe and, particularly, the UK will become a new customer for Brazil's growing biofuels industry.
We wait to see if becomes the true green alternative and, of course, how much governments - particularly in the UK - squeeze out of us by way of tax!!

Xlcr (Peter Towler) is the publisher of the blog SaveFuel-SaveMoney with hints, tips and articles about how to save fuel, save money, and save the planet
Ethanol - The True Green Alternative

Ethanol - Its Significance In The Stock Market Investing Realm

2008-02-09T02:28:00.001-08:00

In the bid for the world's search for alternative sources of energy as time is currently running out given the current scarcity of crude oil, there have been numerous initiatives by companies to develop the potential of different alternatives to crude oil such as natural gas and ethanol.

Ethanol is a colorless, clear liquid with an agreeable odor. This is the natural component of ethyl alcohol. Corn, wheat, potatoes and other plants can produce starch that is made into ethanol by the process of fermentation. It can be used as fuel by mixing it with the regular gasoline and this becomes gasohol.

These sources of alternative fuels are currently one of the faces of future technologies that are being developed and researched on by many technology energy companies listed in the stock market. These technology companies have been popular picks of long-term technology savvy investors for more than 5 years.

The potential of ethanol has been the focus of a lot of technology companies in stock exchanges most commonly those listed in the NASDAQ stock exchange. The popularity of this resource as a future alternative to fossil fuels has been recognized in the stock market and numerous initiatives for research and development to make this a renewable source of energy has been ongoing for quite some time.

Although investment performance returns from these alternative energy companies may not yet be as competitive as the established companies that are currently in the business of the popular fossil fuels, the technology for these alternative fuel companies may still be a long way of waiting as the issue of having the necessary infrastructure to produce and distribute alternative sources of fuel like ethanol will take quite some time.

Investors that are optimistic on the future of these alternative energy companies believe that the technology will still require longer waiting. Aside from the waiting of new discoveries, the infrastructure and distribution of energy products produced from alternative energy sources like ethanol will still be more costly.

It will also not necessarily be competitive at its initial stages of introduction to the stock market investors as compared to the established production and distribution processes of companies producing fossil fuel energy products.

While the wait for the availability of alternative energy sources to the public may still be long and initially costly, the world will still have to push forward the developments of alternative energy sources as the world reserves of fossil fuels are already depleting and sooner or later the alternative sources of energy will have to be much more of a priority not only of companies engaged in its development but also of the general public as well.

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Ethanol In Brazil: Is it the New Global Energy Brand?

2008-02-09T02:21:00.000-08:00

By Daniel Yargin

When it comes to energy, Brazil is on its way to becoming a "global brand." Although the United States recently outpaced Brazil in ethanol production, Brazil is by far the leader in sugar-based ethanol. Its exports are growing, and it could become a major energy supplier to the world. But what Brazil is particularly known for is its grand conversion-moving almost 40 percent of its automotive fuel from gasoline to ethanol.

Ethanol in Brazil is used in two ways: either blended, in a mix of 75 percent gasoline and 25 percent ethanol, or as pure ethanol pumped directly into a car's fuel tank. On any given day, motorists across Brazil can stand in front of a pump and decide, based on price, whether they want to put ethanol or gasoline into their "flex fuel" car engine or whether they want to blend them.

Brazil has now achieved energy self-sufficiency. Ethanol is a part of the explanation, but it would be an error to think that it is the only one. There has been great success from drilling in Brazil's offshore waters, and domestic oil output has increased by 40 percent since 2000-from 1.2 million barrels per day (mbd) to 1.7 mbd in 2006. This 500,000 barrel per day increase compares to 240,000 barrels per day of ethanol consumption.

How did ethanol achieve its prominent role in Brazil? It has been made possible by a series of factors: strong government support, especially after the 1973 oil shock; continual adoption of new technologies over more than a quarter century; and the cheapest production costs in the world.

The Brazilian government made a strong commitment to ethanol in the mid-1970s, in response to the first oil crisis. At that time, Brazil was importing more than 80 percent of its oil. The first oil shock had a highly detrimental effect on Brazil's economy, influencing a significant drop in the country's GDP growth, from almost 14 percent in 1973 to five percent in 1975. A program to stimulate domestic production of ethanol as a transport fuel was embraced as the way to reduce the country's exposure to the world oil market.

This Brazilian effort began in 1975. It was championed as the Pro-Alcohol Program, since ethanol is known as alcohol in Brazil. The program consisted of both public and heavily subsidized private investment in ethanol production, together with governmental mandates to blend the fuel with gasoline and incentives to stimulate the sales of cars that ran on pure ethanol.

With government incentives, pure ethanol vehicles comprised 95 percent per cent of domestic auto production in 1984. By 1988, Brazil was consuming 1.7 gallons of ethanol for each gallon of gasoline.
In the mid-1980s, however, ethanol got caught in a vise. Oil prices fell sharply and, at the same time, international sugar prices rose. Ethanol was no longer as attractive as it had been for Brazilian producers and motorists.

By the end of the 1980s, a sharp fall in ethanol production, together with a prevalence of pure ethanol vehicles, led to a shortage, enraging motorists and damaging the credibility of Brazil's ethanol industry. As consequence, ethanol cars fell from 92 percent of total vehicle sales in 1985 to less than 20 percent in 1990. At the end of the 1990s, ethanol production was back to same level that it had been in the mid-1980s. Today, almost no pure alcohol vehicles are being produced, in large part because of an innovation that has recently helped ethanol enjoy a new boom in Brazil. This is the "flex-fuel vehicle."

The flexible fuel vehicle is a simple technological innovation that has dramatically enhanced the attractiveness of ethanol in Brazil by giving consumers choice of the fuel they can use in their cars.

After 2000, stimulated by rising oil prices and a new initiative by the government to encourage consumption of renewable fuels, the Brazilian automotive industry began to produce vehicles that could run on either ethanol or gasoline in any proportion. The previous experience with the Pro-Alcohol Program had left behind a strongly developed ethanol infrastructure, with more than 90 percent of the country's filling stations capable of offering the fuel in its pure form.

Thanks to competitive pricing for the vehicles and for ethanol, flex-fuel vehicles have been widely adopted in Brazil. They represented 80 percent of all light cars sales in 2006, a number even more impressive considering that they only started to be marketed by the end of 2003.

Today, many Brazilian motorists make their fuel choice based on the relative price of gasoline and ethanol. And ethanol is able to compete without any subsidies against gasoline. This partly is because the government taxes gasoline at a higher rate-the gasoline tax burden is 45 percent of the final price, while the tax on ethanol is only 28 percent. But the main reason behind ethanol's competitiveness is that Brazil's sugar-based ethanol has the lowest production costs in the world-estimated at $1.10 per gallon.

Good weather and high land quality are certainly important factors in keeping down the costs of ethanol in Brazil, but they are not the only ones. Sugarcane has been grown in the country since the Portuguese colonization in the early 16th century, and industrial production of ethanol as a fuel goes back to the 1930s.

The 70-year old ethanol industry has invested heavily in new technologies and processes, and biotechnology is now employed to improve the quality and productivity of the sugarcane species. Integration of ethanol production with sugarcane processing has led to significant gains in efficiency and scale. For example, the cane fiber (called bagasse) is burned to generate electricity, which powers the sugar and ethanol production plant, with surplus power sold to the central grid.

The oil input in Brazilian's ethanol production is minimal, restricted to the transporting of the sugarcane to the processing plant and moving ethanol from there to filling stations. The combination of these advantages provides Brazilian ethanol with a comfortable competitive position against oil.

The success of Brazil's domestic industry poses an important question: Can Brazil go global with its ethanol? Brazil is already the largest ethanol exporter in the world, shipping 20 percent of it annual production abroad.

International demand for ethanol is expected to keep growing in the years to come. The main ethanol consumers outside Brazil are the United States and Europe, which are seeking to increase their domestic sources of ethanol supply. But, at least with current technology, their prospects are constrained.

High volume ethanol exports from Brazil to both the U.S. and Europe are also currently impeded by import duties, though some believe that growing demand for bio-fuels could lead to loosening of these barriers. But what happens to those barriers will be highly political, both in terms of domestic politics and trade negotiations.

If trade barriers fall, Brazil's industry has much room to grow. Even excluding the rain forest and other protected areas, Brazil still has large areas that could be used to grow cane. Only two percent of the country's total endowment of arable land-and ten percent of currently cultivated land-are now under sugarcane cultivation with half of that dedicated to ethanol production.

Advances in bio-technology have substantially enhanced plant types, improving their ability to thrive in a wider range of soils and climates. All this means that there is potential to expand Brazil's ethanol production substantially and make it a major global energy supplier.

Furthermore, expansion of ethanol production in Brazil is unlikely to create the kind of food versus fuel conflicts that can be expected in other developing countries with agricultural potential.

How large a role Brazil will play in global markets will depend on many factors-the ability of the Brazilian industry to expand; the nature of fuel mandates and domestic industries of the large industrial countries; and international trade rules. Brazil's ethanol industry will continue to play a large role in meeting Brazil's domestic energy needs. It also has the potential to grow beyond the domestic market and to create large scale exports-and definitely make Brazil an energy brand around the world.

About the Author:
Daniel Yergin, chairman of CERA, received the Pulitzer Prize for "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power" and the United States Energy Award for lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding. Vist CERA at cera.ecnext.com.

read this! - Unique Fuel Conversion System For Ethanol Power Cars

2008-02-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

It is a product of sugar metabolism in certain species of yeast in the absence of oxygen. The process of culturing yeast under conditions to produce alcohol is referred to as brewing. Yeasts can grow in the presence of up to only about 14% alcohol, but the concentration of alcohol in the final product can be increased by distillation.

Ethanol contains oxygen that provides a cleaner and more efficient burn of the fuel. When used in ethanol power cars, it reduces carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming. Although burning ethanol still releases carbon dioxide during production and combustion.

The use of ethanol blended fuel is very popular in the United States. One of the most popular is e85 fuel a mixture of conventional gasoline and ethanol. The result is a much cleaner burning fuel that is just as efficient as standard fuels. This mixture is optimized for a combination of clean exhaust and efficiency and will function properly in almost any non-diesel car or truck.

So, what is ethanol? Ethanol is ethyl alcohol which needs to be 100% pure. Ethanol is the highest performance fuel on the market and keeps today's high-compression engines running smoothly. Ethanol-blended fuel (such as e85) keeps your fuel system clean, cause it does not leave gummy exhausts.

And because ethanol burns cleaner, it produces fewer emissions. Today, all ethanol cars manufacturers approve the use of ethanol blended fuels and even recommend to use ethanol for its positive environmental impacts.

The use of an ethanol will allow to increase the performance of ethanol cars in general. Initial tests showed that ethanol may also extend from 20 to 80% the engine's maintenance. The conversion of existing engines is not only feasible, but also cost effective.

One of the most convenient ethanol-gasoline mixtures is called e85 and consists of 85% ethanol to 15% gasoline. Ethanol fueled cars are specially designed to run well as on the mixture of ethanol to gas as on alcohol fuel, moreover, they are able to detect the specific ratio of ethanol to gas and adjust themselves accordingly to run as efficiently as possible. Ethanol cars that run on ethanol can also run on regular gas, too, that's how flexible they really are!

Using flex-fuel converter system AutoFFV, will allow you to refuel your ethanol cars with alcohol, gasoline or a mixture of both E85.

From now you don't need to use only gasoline to run your car as there are a lot of different alternative fuels. The choice of alternative fuel sources is larger today than it has ever been before. Take advantage of flex-fuel conversion system and run your ethanol cars on economic alcohol or ethanol fuels instead of traditional gasoline

Vidar Lura write articles about to operate with ethanol-based fuels, which reduces our dependency as a nation on foreign oil, improves our environment. More info visit website http://www.abcesso.com

Ethanol Distillation Facts

2008-01-26T03:03:00.000-08:00

Simon Oldmann

Due to the crazy rise of fuel price and the instability of the fuel market more and more people and trying all kind of alternative fuels, some people are just fed up with spending all their hard earned money to some countries that change the fuel price, usually with reasons that have almost nothing to do with fuel production cost. During the last 3 years there has been a constant and very sharp rise in the price of fuel, some of it was because of the “Katrina” disaster but most of it because of the fuel producing countries controlling this market.
People started understanding that in time the yearly spending on fuel is going to grow to a monster like sum and that it would be nice to cut down these prices as soon as possible, some business saw this trend getting stronger and stronger. Today thee are a lot of solutions for alternative fuel use and production, most of the kits and solution found on the market are definitely working, safe and cut an incredible cost of fuel consumption.
This move to alternative fuel has got some big businesses thinking and suddenly we get a lot of advertisement for self making ethanol and ethanol distillation at home to sell to ethanol users. Since ethanol use is actually being promoted by official the production of the ethanol and ethanol distillation for the public may prove a little more complicated than the privet manufacturing and selling of ethanol, you have to remember that these are still dangerous materials you are working with and that bigger production will ultimately result in bigger machines and much more of these materials use.
There is no wonder that some fear that individuals will experiment with ethanol distillation, imagine someone storing gallons of dangerous explosive materials on their property and the unprofessional way of dealing with these materials. The quality of the final product is also in question, with no formal body governing and regulating the quality this may prove a dangerous product to use, and certainly to try and manipulate. The individual trying to produce ethanol will also need to go through the American Society of Testing and Materials that will show they way to make the right kind of product safely and how to use and keep the materials involved in the proper and safe way.
The self manufacturing and production of ethanol and the process of making ethanol from an ethanol distillation is not something a reasonable person will do, it involves getting permits and going through many check and regulation testing that it is simply not worth the time and effort by an individual, the making of ethanol will eventually result in some find of problem that will probably leave a very bad taste in the mouth of the person who gave this a shot.
For the individual this is a true revolution in the fuel market, you can just get a kit, study the making or buying ethanol basics and you will soon be a part of this revolution, you will probably discover that it is very possible to cut the raging fuel costs and spend it on nicer things, and that in a short time you will be completely independent of gas stations and gas use. The idea of making this a home business is not a very smart move, the licenses and taxes, permits and checks of your distillation station alone leaves you with a low chance of actually making it as an individual.
In any case a person considering to go into the ethanol distillation business would do good to first try and live with ethanol in the first place, so join the alternative fuel revolution and start using ethanol today.

About the Author:Simon Oldmann is an avid writer and a green activist, he has been writing about Ethanol use since the growing popularity of Ethanol these last years.

Ethanol Fuel - Mother Nature Needs a Rest, Give Ethanol Fuel a Try

2008-01-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

By Chad Brosius

With all of the talk about fast depleting fossil fuels and the ever climbing global temperature, it can be difficult to catch up with the various environmental issues that are coming to the forefront of things at this point in time. Science is finding a way to make up for many of the things that are becoming issues as related to the environment, but with many of these things it is a literal race against time to find a substitute for that which we have become dependent upon. Ethanol fuel serves just that purpose.
As you may know, ethanol is an alternative to traditional gasoline. Ethanol and gasoline can be mixed together in any ratio on up to complete, 100 percent ethanol. It works just the same as gasoline does, yet it is created differently and does not depend on depleting earthly resources for existence as petroleum does. What is needed to produce ethanol fuel? It is a complicated formula that most people wouldn't understand, but it is easily said that sunlight, farmland, and helping hands are all important in the production of ethanol as it is a substance derived from the starch in produce. There is much debate about whether or not the United States is equipped to handle a transition to using ethanol fuel but the fact remains that after a while, there will be no choice about it and ethanol will be one of those things that are required, along with other types of alternative fuel that are up and coming.
International Ethanol Use
Contrary to what you may have heard, the United States is not the only country out there exploring the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel for vehicles. The United Kingdom is also exploring this issue, as are countries in South America and even some Asian countries. In 2004 there were more than 40 billion liters of ethanol fuel produced, and Brazil produced about 16 billion of those liters alone. The main use for this ethanol fuel? Powering domestic vehicles.
As technology advances and the issue become more and more urgent, the issue of ethanol will be pushed even further; the same goes with other alternative fuels. In the mean time there is much to be debated and figured, such as the amount of land and manpower needed to create the crops that are necessary for this fuel, not to mention the funding to start up such an endeavor. The future of ethanol fuel is not a bleak one at all, and as time progresses you will hear more about and see more of ethanol. Stay tuned!
Chad Brosius is an Earth/Space High School Science teacher who has been involved in the alternative energy field for over 1 year.

Articles such as this can be seen at http://alternative-energy-resources.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_Brosius

The Corn And Ethanol Debate May Help Farmers

2008-01-22T00:08:00.000-08:00

By: Malc Moore

The US government, have for some time now being giving a subsidy to corn and ethanol production. The reasoning behind helping in the production of corn and ethanol is that it can be used as a alternative to fossil fuels. In turn it is hoped that because ethanol burn more cleanly than petrol that it will help the environment and reduce US dependence on oil from other countries.

With most ethanol that is produced in the U.S being made from corn, although other grains and biomass can be used, there as been a economic stimulation to U.S. agriculture, therefore creating a new market for corn and maize. Estimates have also shown that as many as 10 million acres of land are required to grow corn or maize to produce ethanol.By increasing production in the ethanol industry it may be a means of increasing farmers income as well as reducing farm subsidy payments and also as said before, lessen the dependence on imported fuels.

Furthermore, there is more energy efficiency achieved through use of corn and ethanol and it also achieves a net gain in a better form of energy since converting corn to ethanol means using abundant domestic supplies of coal and natural gas. Some possible negative aspects with using corn and ethanol:There seems to be a problem around the facts and figures balancing in the corn and ethanol arena. Since its requires fuel usage in the first place to grow corn and 1 acre of corn will produce about 328 gallons of ethanol. However, the amount of fossil fuel needed to plant, grow and harvest this amount of corn is about 140 gallons which adds up to $347 per acre. This in turn breaks down to one gallon of ethanol costing $1.05, before the corn leaves the farm.This may be further compounded by the crushing and fermentation of corn at processing plants, all of which consumes energy.

It seems that the end cost of producing ethanol and using corn works out to be more expensive than that of petrol.On a positive note there are a lot of people who state that figures show that corn and ethanol give up to thirty percent more energy than is taken to make it. Also some other figures show the net energy values for corn and ethanol are going up, and the reason for this is that technology relating to corn and ethanol production is getting better.
For more information about ethanol issues go to www.ecoholistic.com

Biomass: The Old Daddy of Renewable Energy Sources

2008-01-21T23:26:00.000-08:00

Autor: rsbombard

You have heard of your ancestors using wood to burn, cook or to light camp fires to keep themselves warm during cold days. You would have done it at one point of the other. Maybe you did not know, but you have been using one of the grandest and oldest forms of biomass for your purposes. Wood apart, there are a lot more forms of biomass, all capable into tapping into to unleash energy capable of being utilized for our residential or commercial uses.

"Biomass", "bio energy" all refers to the energy derived from organic matter, mostly plants, other vegetation and plant derived materials. Food crops, organic residue, grasses, woody plants, wood, agricultural waste, plant residue and even the organic component of the residential or industrial wastes, all classify as biomass.

Biofuels include biodiesel, biobutanol, biogas & bioethanol and are all renewable sources of energy. However, they do contribute to the global warming. A good thing about biomass is that the same equipment which is now burning the fossil fuels can be used for generating electricity out of biomass.

It has evolved as a very important source of energy and ranks in importance next only to coal, fossil fuels and natural gas.Although Biomass is still used more for its traditional purposes, it is indeed gaining prominence for its modern usage as in generating heat and providing for power in industries and residences.

It might be interesting to note the per capita usage of Biomass is more in Sweden than in India or China. Just to give you an inkling, California on an average produces about 60 million tones of dry biomass each year, out of which about 5 million tones are being used to generate electricity to the tune of about 2000 megawatts just enough to light about a million homes.

The usage of biomass can reduce global warming which is actually contributed by burning of fossil fuels. While growing plants use and store carbon monoxide and release it back when dead or when decaying. By replanting, the newly planting saplings can make use of the carbon monoxide emitted by the decaying plants. In this way, the carbon monoxide cycle is contained. However, if the replanting is not done adequately enough, the usage of biomass can indeed contribute to the global warming.

Biomass has emerged as quite a formidable contender to replace of fossil fuels in applicability and the fact that it is a clean, cheap and renewable fuel can only insist on its likely popularity as a fuel and as a reliable and abundant source of power and energy

Jason Uvios writes about "Biomass: The Old Daddy of Renewable Energy Sources" to visit: http://www.generator-always.info, http://www.generator-always.info and http://www.crispgenerator.info