Realistic chances that Cellulosic Ethanol takes off?

Question

Alright, I think that it would have to be price competitive with gasoline, which I believe won't go above $5.50 a gallon in the U.S. because if the oil companies/ futures traders/ opec/etc. price us out of gas guzzlers, they will see profits shrink IMMENSELY. I think they hate CAFE and hybrids and do not want us to trade in our trucks for cars. So they will try and monopolize the Ethanol market to. So, is there a realistic chance that Cellulosic Ethanol replaces 85% (E85) of our gasoline use?

Answer 1

If you look at your premise again, I think you will find that the CAFE standards are the laws that gave us SUV's and actually reduced overall fuel mileage.

I doubt there is any chance E85 will replace gas usage, as E85 will always be far more expensive than gas.

Answer 2

I don't believe there are any realistic chances that Ethanol would take off without government subsidies.  And if you have to subsidize the fuel, it's not worth using.

Answer 3

If someone can design a bacteria that can digest grass clippings and pee alcohol, it might have a chance. Energy would still have to be used to gather up the biomass, but at least cellulosic alcohol wouldn't waste the food part of the corn plant.

     i've read that the oil companies don't like alcohol, even though they're paid to mix it in. It''s

corrosive, and causes them alot of expense changing their equipment to handle it. And when the govt. realises what a bad idea alcohol fuel is....

Answer 4

I know that corn will not work for fuel, do the math.

Cellulosic will work, its just a question of when.

I see hydrogen as a good resource also.  Renewable Energy making this gas to power the fuel cells in our homes and cars.  The solar panels and windmill at my house doing nothing but making hydrogen to fuel my life.

Answer 5

If government mandates and subsidies were removed, ethanol would disappear over night.  This pretty much proves that it is not a viable fuel given a level playing field.

Answer 6

Not only is it realistic, but if the big guys don't do it, WE the People will be able to distill the stuff in our backyards. But it would be better if the big guys did it. They can bring the cost BELOW $1.00 per gallon, and it'd be easier for them to convert the methane byproduct into methanol, which could then be used to replace the gasoline entirely.

And guess what? TERMITES DO eat cellulose and 'pee' ethanol and methane, which can be converted to methanol.

And there's no reason you can't build an anaerobic digester in your backyard USING a few crushed bugs.

But yes, we will eventually have to replace aluminum engine parts with carbon fiber carburettors or other less reactive metals.