What does ethanol and its blends have over bio-diesel?

Question

This is what I know: Ethanol and Bio-diesel (bio-fuels) are both generaly made from corn but most plant matter can be used. Also both pollute similairly to non bio-fuels. The main differences deal with production and the powerplant.

Ethanol is currently requires more energy to produce than it releases in combustion. It also is less efficent than regular gasoline produceng less horsepower in it engine and requiring additional fuel per mile. Engines desinged to run on E-85 are not as efficent as their conterparts. Diesel engines on the other hand readily use diesel or any blend of Bio-diesel from the factory. they are up to 40% more efficent than comparable gas engines and smell good when running biofuel. BioDiesel is energy effiecient to produce as well.

So why is ethanol the chosen biofuel? I would like to think that the extracost of diesel engines is not a major factor in this and that I am missing something. Otherwise "Live green; go yellow" is going to send up some red flags.

Answer 1

Because of Brasil, Ford has more advance knowledge in producing cars running on alcohol.  Because of a ban in California and other states, American cars has lagged in producing Diesel cars.  Of course American car companies want to puch alcohol, because the other car companies would have to catch up to the americans.

Answer 2

Assuming you are in the US, Ethanol is the "dominant" bio-fuel because there are more vehicles currently running on gasoline engines such as cars, SUVs. And gasoline engines are the target of ethanol blends such as E85.

Diesel fed vehicles are outnumbered by gasoline fed. They are limited mostly to semis, delivery trucks, buses and farm equipment. Also in the US, the source of vegetable oil crucial in its production is quite limited and sometimes expensive. But biodiesel can match the regular diesel in terms of effiiency and power output. One of the obvious disadvantage of biodisel is that it "solidifies" in winter.

Biodiesel is more widely used in tropical countries where problems of solidification is not encountered.