Startup Says It Can Make Ethanol for $1 a Gallon, and Without Corn, page 2

reply to post by Oldtimer2

---

I wonder what long term effect it would have on a gasoline motor,I'm thinking it may tend to cause major problems,I'm thinking best bet would be converted diesel motor

The "ethanol causes problems to your engine" meme is a powerful and prolific one but it just doesn't stand up in practice. Driving dual fuel ethanol and Liquid Petroleum Gas, many 1000s of kilometres a month. There is something of a different maintainence regime in that you must keep a close eye on the cooling system (condition of radiator and connections) As far as engine wear goes, I would say ethanol causes slightly less engine wear than unleaded petrol, i.e. it is cheaper to maintain and service a car running on ethanol. This idea that ethanol didn't like your engine I have hardly heard for a long time.

Ethanol isn't as "efficiant" as regular gasoline:

It burns twice as fast. So if we're going to convert to Ethanol as a standard fuel source, we'd better re-evaluate the mileage of a gasoline combustion engine running on an ethanol running gasoline internal combustion engine.

I think you'll find that it's not so cost effective after all.

mustangforums.com...

reply to post by Quantum_Squirrel

---

Yes! The Human cost of high petroleum dependence.
Also, as an American, I must factor the cost of Iraq invasion into every gallon I use.

I rather like this technology. Could also help decrease need for more landfills.

while I do agree that we need an alternative to fossil fuel.
I still think we're barking up the wrong tree with ethanol.

Ther are vehicles out there that run on

1) compressed air - free
2) water (HHO gas, hydrogen) - free
3) magnet engine - free
4) solar - free

there are at least 4 kinds of free energy available
to run vehicles. That means you never have to pay
for a fill-up.

If the car companies want to really help me,
let them make a car that runs off
one of these type fuels and mass produce it.
They'd sell millions of them. I myself would buy 1
for me and 1 for my wife.

Prolly won't never happen in my lifetime
cuz uncle sam can't make a buck off of it.

geez, quit trying to make a buck off the consumer
there's free energy out there and it's NOT 10 years away.
It's here NOW !!! They just turn a blind eye.


[edit on 27-1-2008 by SimonSays]

[edit on 27-1-2008 by SimonSays]

Originally posted by SimonSays

Ther are vehicles out there that run on

1) compressed air - free
2) water (HHO gas, hydrogen) - free
3) magnet engine - free
4) solar - free

1) It takes energy to compress the air.
2) It takes energy to split the hydrogen and oxygen.
3) A lot of controversy here, but I personally think it might can be made to work.
4) Not been looked at near enough, but should be. (Best bet)

The biggest problem with using ethanol in an engine is that some of the older engines had a problem with the materials that were used in the fuel pumps, the ethanol would dissolve the material.

Ethanol fueled engines do not get the same fuel mileage as gasoline because the engines are optimized for gasoline not ethanol. Ethanol fueled engines would run more efficient at higher compression ratios, but that would create problems if gasoline was used as a fuel.

reply to post by LAUGHING-CAT

---

Unfortunately the "oil extortionists" have mucho power over the government. Talk about lobbyists with $$$$!

We can complain till the cows come home but until we stop buying oil dependent machines nothing will change. Admittedly most of us are very or at least somewhat dependent on oil burners such as automobiles, oil furnaces, and a whole lot of machinery that either runs on gas and/or oil.

Did anyone see that announcement today about the buyouts of the union auto workers? Just about every car company is doing these buyouts. This is so they can hire nonunion at a fraction of the wages and continue on making gasoline engine automobiles rather than take the sign of the times and retool for the future.

For those of you that have yet to see "Who Killed the Electric Car", do yourself a favor and go to the link and watch. You will be amazed, outraged, mortified and probably yell a few expletives as well. It is a bit long but well worth it, I guarantee you will be glad you watched it (available in both RP and WMP):

www.pbs.org...

On Edit: Sorry guys, only clips are available from PBS but I'm sure it's out there somewhere to watch. I'll hunt it down and post it tomorrow. I also requested that it be added as premium video content and maybe something can be worked out with that. I just got a little excited and didn't look well enough over there. Again my apologies.

[edit on 29-1-2008 by jbondo]

Speaking of hydrogen, apparently I'm not the only one who look forward to the age of hydrogen.

Officials Look Forward to Era of Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles

The ministerial meeting will culminate with the signing of a charter pledging each member nation's commitment to the ultimate goal of IPHE -- which is to give consumers around the world, within the next two decades, the option of purchasing competitively priced, hydrogen-powered vehicles that can be refueled near their homes and workplaces.

And you know what, there is a way to 'convert' ethanol to hydrogen.

Direct-ethanol fuel cell

Cutting Edge Technology: Electricity From Sugar Cane Using Fuel Cell Technology

The ethanol-based fuel cell system is one of a number of solutions for production of clean electricity using Intelligent Energy's proprietary MesoChannel(TM) Fuel Processor and Fuel Cell System. These solutions convert various fuels into hydrogen, from which electricity is produced. The fuels which may be used include light and heavy hydrocarbons (natural gas through to diesel), renewable fuels (such as ethanol, soy diesel and others) and decarbonized fuels (such as ammonia).

Before long, they'll be able to fire up these puppies.


GM skateboard platform



Ford Hyseries Drive

reply to post by SimonSays

---

The only conversion I know of that can be done quickly and cheaply is LP Gas. There are many garages offering conversion for less than $300 US.

As for the film I promised, it seems the only copy that I could find was removed by Google.

My apologies....

Here is a good link to educate on our wonderful car and oil companies:

www.ev1.org...

[edit on 30-1-2008 by jbondo]

Russian scientists reach buried Antarctic Lake Vostok
  Posted 7 days ago with 83 member flags

BREAKING: Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran\'s nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC
  Posted 4 days ago with 74 member flags

Monsanto quits as GM results announced (EUROPE)
  Posted 8 days ago with 72 member flags

Renowned Geophysicist Says Strange Sky Sounds Are Real
  Posted 1 days ago with 72 member flags

Strange noises reported around North Battleford
  Posted 19 days ago with 67 member flags

FDA\'s New Claim: "Your Body Is a Drug—and We Have the Authority to Regulate It"
  Posted 11 days ago with 53 member flags

Ayatollah: Kill all Jews, annihilate Israel
  Posted 7 days ago with 49 member flags

Bill Gates Backs Climate Scientists Lobbying For Large-Scale Geoengineering
  Posted 6 days ago with 41 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time: