Is Ethanol a viable alternative to petrol in terms of automobile technology?

Question

I would like to ind out about this so please tell me all you can, and correct me here if need be:

As far as I understand it Ethanol is kind of the petrol equivalent of bio-diesel. It's made from plant life and not only offers better MPG but also boosts performance, and is cheaper.

Can any petrol car, regardless of age or engine configuration, be modified to run on Ethanol instead of petrol? If so, how much (UK) would this cost, roughly, and how common are Ethanol-stocked filling stations?

Any sesible information welcome. I'd love to buy a 1980s Porsche 911 powered by Ethanol!

Answer 1

I think the biggest problem with ethanol is the fact that it costs a lot to make and it uses too much energy to make than it produces, but I think that's only because it's not widespread.

Also, I was reading something about how it could increase green house gases and cause food prices to go up.  

I don't know....I think we're just going to have to get away from burning our fuels and just to to something completely cleaner.

Answer 2

There is no nationwide distribution channel for ethanol even if you neglect the other problems such as cost and corrosive effect on the engine.  While it is understandable that concerned people may feel a desire to abandon petroleum as the primary energy source for motor vehicles, the practical problems makes the transition to a substitute fuel unreasonable in the next several years.  I think if the Greens want these changes, that they should step back and select their "gold standard"  fuel.  Then build out a distribution system.  Then come back to the public with a positive, concrete product for use in place of traditional sources.  It may be bio fuels of some form.  But, central to moving from thinking to action is to develop a reasonable alternative with a phase in clause in their plan.  Most people lack the funds to just toss their car aside or the ability to reconfigure the engine to suit a new fuel.  Please, Greens, think in terms of phase in vs. just popping the debate with a flood of ideas that have not withstood the test of long term use.  In fact, Greens, meet and come up with your "one best idea."  In the interval, it would be appreciated if drilling would be supported as a necessary evil.  If you can possibly accommodate the rest of the public for at least another 12 to 15 years.  We don't  have to like one another but even adversaries reach compromise.

Answer 3

Ethanol is no long-term solution.  The problem with Ethanol is it relies on America's corn production, which should be reserved for fueling humans... not wasted away to fuel our addiction to our automobiles.  

The true solution will be to explore alternative fuels, not additives to oil.  The sooner we can eliminate oil in our fuels, the sooner we can all experience an environment with less carbon emissions.  

We all need to realize this, because the more we spend on oil as a fuel, the farther we are from finding a true solution. 8D

On a side note, I saw a special last night on CNBC about Alternative Energy and a guy who was powering a number of Porsche 911s on electricity - without any loss of acceleration, speed, or consistency.  The car still ran like a stock model 911 from the 1980s.

Answer 4

Ethanol has a lower octane rating than gasoline / petrol.  Its biggest problem is it takes a gallon of petrol to make slightly more than a gallon of ethanol.  Plus ethanol cannot be moved through pipelines, it has to be trucked.

Ethanol is a big reason food is so expensive because corn is used to feed the animals for our chicken and beef, and now we've been mandated to use a major food staple for fuel.  In the USA with a population of 300 million, there is no way this can be sustainable for very long.  

Auto mechanics are also finding that ethanol is corrosive to a car's fuel system.  Not worth it.  A 1980's Porsche would squeal and die before it ran on ethanol.  Gasoline is what it needs and it would suffer many problems leading to thousands in repair bills.

Answer 5

Ethanol is a viable fuel source, but modifying a car to run on it can be VERY expensive (especially a Porsche). It can cost $10,000 USD easily. Also, because Ethanol burns at a hotter temperature that gasoline, it wears out engines pretty easily.

If you feel up for it, then you can buy a "how to" book and modify the engine yourself (it would make a good hobby, and would probably get you on the news). But, yes, you can modify any engine, although some would be more expensive than others. Try locating local experts for advice (try the internet) and look up Ethanol fueling stations in your area. Here in the U.S. ethanol is hard to come by in many areas.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, ethanol is not a viable alternative.  It has a place in a reconfigured energy industry--but not for large scale use powering cars.  Its not the technology--you have your facts right (and yes, its possible to modify a gas (petrol) engine, though it would cost more thanit would be worth.

The problem is one of scale.  To produce really large amounts of ethanol would require agricultural land on a massive scale. We are already seeing upward pressue on food prices due to the demand for ethanol--and what is being produced now is miniscule compared to what would be needed.

In addition, we would need to develop hundreds of thousands of square miles of current wildlands to meet the demand. Our ecological systems worledwide are already oveerstressed--we simply can't do it without disruption so severe tha t*t would make maintaining our own agricultural enterprises impossible.

It does have potential if used appropriately.  There are a number of activities where the qualities of an internal combustion engine are especially valuable--in off-road vehicles, farm equipment, shipping.  Using biofuels in whole or in part for these activities makes sense.

It doesen't make sense for automobiles. Most of the driving we do is short range--you don't need the rane of a gas-powered engine.  And electric cars can alreaedy outperform even the best sports cars---the new Tessla can run circles around a Ferrari or Porsche.  That's where the future in automobiles lies. The technology is here--NOW, not in soe distant future. All we need to do is insist that the automobile manufacurers start uing that technology.

Answer 7

Biodiesel rocks.  It just works in every diesel.  Dr. Rudolf Diesel invented the engine to run on plant oils.  If you want a greener car, go biodiesel.

Ethanol is a problem. First it takes so much energy to make it (distilling and all) that it takes nearly its weight in petroleum just to make.   Second, it's chemically different from gasoline. It's more corrosive, it seeks to absorb water (bad), and it has less energy than gasoline. So the car's fuel system needs to be retooled to handle a corrosive fuel, and then it must be rejetted/reprogrammed to use ethanol, then it can use ONLY ethanol.  No switching back and forth.  

Some American cars can switch back and forth because they are computer controlled and the software is able to use engine diagnostics to detect and cope with any blend of ethanol and gas that might be in the tank.  I suppose you could put a 300hp American Vortec V8 in your Porsche, but it would just break the transaxle from too much torque.

Muscles - fuel vs. food is a myth.  The real reason food (particularly corn derived food) is going up is that modern agriculture uses shocking amounts of petroleum to grow it.  When the petroleum went up, the food price had to go up.  Read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" for the real story of corn.

Answer 8

My understanding is that as far as performance goes ethanol is basically equivalent to petrol. However, I also understand that ethanol is slightly less efficient. Converting a gas engine into an ethanol engine is actually more difficult than some would have you think. Ethanol is slightly more abrasive than gas thus it can cause certain parts in a gas powered car to break down. You will most likely have to replace all of your fuel system (including the tank) and some other engine parts in order to make the change.

Answer 9

Do not use in a diesel as the explosion is too Violante and can harm the engine. Its mileage in a gasoline engine is down about 7% from gasoline.