Ethanol Fuel & Biodiesel - How Effective Is Ethanol Fuel As An Alternative For Gas-Dependent Cars?

Question

Ethanol Fuel & Biodiesel - How Effective Is Ethanol Fuel As An Alternative For Gas-Dependent Cars?

Answer 1

Truthfully, ethanol is a good start in trying to curb our dependence on oil.  However, ethanol will decrease a vehicles range by 10-15% since there is not as much energy in corn as there is in oil.  It is also good to think about the amount of energy goes into planting, watering, fertilizing, harvesting corn, and processing that into ethanol.  Ethanol at that point has a very small advantage to the environment.

Things like sugar can and sugar beets as well as switchgrass have a much greater future in helping to power our vehicles.

Answer 2

Plant-based combustion fuels are NOT a long term solution. Ethanol and biodiesel are expensive, contribute to global warming, and increase the cost of food. They also take huge amounts of fuel to produce. They are inefficient and short sighted.

It is time to look beyond the internal combustion engine. It is an old technology. Battery driven electric vehicles are the future. Only they can be operated from 100% sustainable and local sources like solar or wind power.