Ethanol is taking over the world!

[SVOboy]

Or at least brazil and the US: http://gas2.org/2008/05/22/ethanol-u...rises-sharply/

[ankit]

I was watching something on tv about Brazil's ethanol and they have it made. Apparently they don't have to import any oil. In addition to that, the ethanol they produce is from by-product/waste of sugar canes so they aren't replacing food with it (unlike in the U.S).

[DifferentPointofView]

Ya, we just don't have the amount of rescources to produce the Millions of barrels we use consistantly. It's just not possible for the US to produce enough for the amount we use.

[trikkonceptz]

True, switching back to oil a sec I think Alaska is capable of producing only 16% of the oil we need. We a hungry bunch ..

[ihatejoefitz]

I hope corn ethanol producers don't drag this effort under.

[Bror Jace]

"I hope corn ethanol producers don't drag this effort under."

They are a powerful bunch ... and it looks like they are going to get their way with that ridiculous farm bill, too.

Isn't switchgrass a more efficient way to make ethanol?

I'm not exactly looking forward to more ethanol. I currently use a 10-15% blend and it's dropped my fuel economy at least 4-5%

[johnpr]

thats what i heard, i dont know why they dont start using that more

[diesel_john]

Originally Posted by Bror Jace

"I hope corn ethanol producers don't drag this effort under."

They are a powerful bunch ... and it looks like they are going to get their way with that ridiculous farm bill, too.

Isn't switchgrass a more efficient way to make ethanol?

I'm not exactly looking forward to more ethanol. I currently use a 10-15% blend and it's dropped my fuel economy at least 4-5%

Corn producers or ethanol producers, to whom are you referring?

In what way is that farm bill ridiculous?

Switchgrass grows well in a tropical climate, not so tall up north.

Fuel economy in what units? Btu's per mile? $ per mile?

[Bror Jace]

"Corn producers or ethanol producers, to whom are you referring?"

I was referring to corn farmers that sell their crop to produce ethanol.

"In what way is that farm bill ridiculous?"

Farmers are having a record year. Taxing citizens to pay farmers subsidies when they are doing better than they ever have is ridiculous (subsidies in general are economically inefficient ... should be used as a last resort to keep producers afloat, etc ...).

"Switchgrass grows well in a tropical climate?"

I have no idea. I thought I'd toss it out there for discussion. Maybe it could use its own thread? Maybe I should have searched here for "switchgrass" first?

"Fuel economy in what units? Btu's per mile? $ per mile?"

I was calculating MPGs. I suppose $ per mile is just another conversion factor from that figure. No idea how to arrive at BTUs per mile without doing some research first. ... just hadn't occurred to me.

[Duffman]

Originally Posted by diesel_john

Switchgrass grows well in a tropical climate?

Switchgrass will grow in Canada and the U.S. from what I know of it. It is suppose to have a much better energy return than corn when turned into ethanol.