Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - has any one ever tried this? how hard is it? Make your own ethanol

RH77 · 09-02-2008, 01:18 PM

If the home-made alcohol is similar to Ethanol, you could essentially mix it with 15% gasoline to make E85.

BUT...

Flashback to the 20's/30's -- homemade alcohol is banned despite the lift of prohibition. Meanwhile, backwoods "stills" operated, until the "revenuers" (IRS-Agents) found them, charged the owners, taxed the consumption, and destroyed/confiscated the apparatus.

In this day and age, the same would likely apply + the expectation in many States to pay road taxes per gallon (similar to the homebrew Bio-Diesel problem).

Denaturing the alcohol (by mixing it with gas) might get you out of the "personal consumption / intent to sell" charges and taxes, but the road taxes might still come back to get you. Uncle Sam wants his $$$.

(In other words, check local laws)

How much corn would that require, by the way?

RH77

09-02-2008, 01:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
RH77 Hybrid Student Driver Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kansas City Area Posts: 1,715 Teggy - '98 Integra LS 90 day: 33.02 mpg (US) IMA - '010 Insight EX Team Honda 90 day: 45.43 mpg (US) Tessie - '06 TSX Base 90 day: 28.83 mpg (US) Thanks: 22 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	If the home-made alcohol is similar to Ethanol, you could essentially mix it with 15% gasoline to make E85. BUT... Flashback to the 20's/30's -- homemade alcohol is banned despite the lift of prohibition. Meanwhile, backwoods "stills" operated, until the "revenuers" (IRS-Agents) found them, charged the owners, taxed the consumption, and destroyed/confiscated the apparatus. In this day and age, the same would likely apply + the expectation in many States to pay road taxes per gallon (similar to the homebrew Bio-Diesel problem). Denaturing the alcohol (by mixing it with gas) might get you out of the "personal consumption / intent to sell" charges and taxes, but the road taxes might still come back to get you. Uncle Sam wants his $$$. (In other words, check local laws) How much corn would that require, by the way? RH77 __________________ Supporting those devastated by the Joplin Tornado EF5 / 22-May-2011 _ _