"Daniel J. Stern" wrote:
> On Thu, 15 Dec 2005, Pooh Bear wrote:
>
> > Alcohol does *not* require more energy to 'manufacture' compared to
> > gasoline. It's an 'old wives tale' that one.
>
> You're just as wrong. Whether it does or doesn't depends on the
processes
> used, the feedstock, the grade and type of alcohol produced, and other
> factors.
The latest high efficiency plants can produce ethanol for less than the
cost
of extracting oil and refining it to gasoline.
In any event the fuel's going to be available on account of 'green'
pressures.
Might as wel use it ! It's also 'carbon neutral'.
> > Check out the FFV Saab 9-5 Biopower. Its power is significantly
greater
> > on E85 compared to gasoline and provides similar mpg.
>
> Fine and well, but a disappearingly small percentage of cars on the road
> are Saab 9-5 Biopower FFVs. Cars not specifically engineered for E85 (or
> any other alcohol blend, for that matter) produce less power and get
lower
> fuel mileage on such fuels than on gasoline.
That's because it's just been released.
Therefore the percentage is going to be continually increasing for some
time.
The point is *exactly* that a car engineered to use E85 will outperform
the
same vehicle on gasoline at a similar mpg ( may even be a better mpg under
some driving conditions ). In short, engineering innovation has provided a
superior product.
The FFV can also run on ordinary gasoline or any mix of gasoline and E85
so it
truly is flexible.
Graham
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