In Brazil, ethanol made from sugar cane has replaced about 40 percent of the country's need for gasoline?

Question

Is that true?

Answer 1

Yes.  They cut down the rainforest to grow sugar cane because it is cheaper than importing gasoline.

Answer 2

Yeah, and it is also a stupid argument for corn booze in the US.  Sugarcane= RUM, Corn=Whiskey.  And sugar is readily converted to ethanol by yeast, is ultra efficient, and doesnt tax the land as bad... plus corn is used for feed and is driving up the prices of pretty much all meats.

Answer 3

Your 40 % may actually be on the low side, sugar cane is an excellent source of energy and is much more efficient than corn for the production of bio fuel. Brazil is ahead of the curve on bio fuel.

Answer 4

Dude you need to wake up. Using food crops to fuel cars is just plain dumb. Would you rather have $4 gasoline or $10 loafs of bread?

Answer 5

I don't know the exact numbers, but that is about right.

Bear in mind, however, that the reason this is affordable in Brazil is because most of the ethanol plant workers are basically slaves.

Answer 6

i could believe it. but i don't know. i could believe it even more if it was cuba not brazil, cause isn't cuba known for their sugar? and cigars of course.

Answer 7

They get the rest of their oil from drilling offshore.

Sugar cane gas is a supplement.

Answer 8

Well when you cut down and burn all the forests and jungle -------- so you can grow sugar cane-- is that a good plan? And interesting article:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/desousa...

and another

http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4049

and National Geographic

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/...

Answer 9

yup, brazil gets much of its fuel from sugar cane since 100lbs of sugar can produce 11 gallons of ethanol, compared to 2.56 gallons of ethanol from 50lbs of corn or other grains. add to the fact that brazil has found two large pools of oil off their coast and are now drilling for it, makes that country energy independent. we need to do the same thing.

Answer 10

yes it is Brazil is making the move the reason it hasent happened here is because the oil companies don't want to lose there money so there paying car makers big time not to make car like that in the U.S.A.

Answer 11

Yes, Brazil is now reaping the rewards of its 30 year plan to move off imported oil.

But it's not 40%, it's total independence at this point.

The US, after 1972 and 1978 oil embargos, just went on its merry way, and OMG!!!, gas is expensive again.