Why would anyone buy an E85 car?

Question

They use up a lot of corn that folks could be eating.

A lot of corn only makes a little ethanol.

They are very inefficient (some get less than 10mpg).

Answer 1

I would not. The EPA rejected our governor's plea to cut ethanol production on fuel and use the corn for food. If diesel prices were not so screwed up, diesel would be the way to go. They now pollute less and get tremendous economy. Apparently there is a conspiracy to keep them out of the country.  Europe does well on diesel, so could we.  

Answer 2

I wouldn't, since they're mostly produced by GM/FORD as an environmental PR campaign.  When they can produce some numbers as to how much CO2/energy/pollution is actually reduced, then i'll take them seriously.   Until then, it's all deceit in my mind.

Answer 3

They buy them because they they burn regular gas just fine.  

I have no idea why anyone would choose to buy a car specificallly because it had flexfuel.

Answer 4

to feed their egos.

Answer 5

one tank of corn ethanol, could feed an african child for a year.

lets make politicians to forbid making fuels from food! I heard that tons of fresh, edible food are used for fuel. that would feed a lot of starving kids.

Answer 6

An E85 or "Flex-Fuel" car just gives you more fuel options than a gas-only car. If you wanted to run one on plain gas, you can.

Ethanol is Alcohol. Alcohol can be made from all sorts of things, not only corn. Sugar Cane, grains, wood, algae, and many other kinds of plant matter can be made into alcohol/ethanol. One advantage to having a flex-fuel vehicle would be if there is an interruption to the petroleum supply whether caused by natural disaster, or manipulation such as the OPEC embargo of the 1970's...

Brazil makes most of their ethanol from sugar cane.

You can even make your own alcohol with a backyard still, though it may not be legal to do it in your state. It's not very difficult.

It would however be extremely difficult to make gasoline from crude oil in your backyard.

Answer 7

I wouldn't, instead I would buy one of these:

http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_disp...

Answer 8

Because no one is telling them how bad ethanol really is.  How we will actually spend more money using the ethanol/gas mixes than we do buy real gasoline.  I can tell the difference when I buy gas with ethanol than gas that is not mixed with ethanol.  I am boycotting stations that choose to use the ethanol mixes.  

Plus, if your car was NOT made to run with ethanol, then you run the risk of ruining your engine, not to mention you'll burn way more gas.

Answer 9

Good question. I prefer my cars that run on natural gas (methane). Doesn't take food out of people's mouths, and it's cleaner and cheaper, too. I believe the politicians think ethanol is a good deal for the farmers or something. Wish everybody had a natural gas car like mine...I love 'em!

Answer 10

Ethanol can be made of a lot of different plants not just corn, depending in witch area you are is the plant you want to choose.

I currently run ethanol (corn alcohol) in a 1999 Dodge 3500 truck. But all Cummins engines were modified from the factory to run on BioD since around 1992 without any modification.

Most vehicles are already equipped to run on Alternative Energy. In fact you’re probably even driving one right now and didn’t even know it. Go to www agua-luna com for a list of this vehicles

The following are a couple types of products to make ethanol easily. There are however many materials one can use including sugar cane, corn, wood, etc. The information was cut directly from a guide I offer at www agua-luna com, it is complete but if anyone’s interested in other types of foods to use or a more specific step by step of the process, including building your own still legally, visit www agua-luna com

"THE usual sources of raw material for alcohol Ethanol production from starch are cereal grains such as corn, wheat, rye, barley, milo (sorghum grains), rice, etc. Other types of starch are available from potatoes of all kinds, Jerusalem artichokes, and other high-starch vegetables. Starch conversion is the standard method of production and the one we will discuss here.

It is possible, however, to make alcohol from sugar-producing plants (saccharine material) such as sugar beets, sugarcane, fruits, and others. These substances need no milling (as do grains), but they do require some kind of grinding or squeezing process. Rapid, efficient fermentation of these sugars has not been as well explored as the process using starch.

A third source of fermentables is cellulose, as found in wood and waste sulphite liquor. This more complex process requires the use of acids to reduce the material to wood sugars. Consequently, most do-it-yourselfers should stick to either starch or sugar.

MILLING

All grains must be ground before mashing to expose the starch granules and help them remain in suspension in a water solution. The grain should be ground into a meal -- not a flour! -- that will pass a 20-mesh screen. On a hammermill, however, a 3/16" screen will suffice.

Potatoes and similar high-moisture starch crops should be sliced or finely chopped. Since potato starch granules are large and easily ruptured, it isn't necessary to maintain the hard rapid boil which is required of the tougher, dryer "flinty" starches found in grains.

CONVERSION WITH ENZYMES

For small batches (5 bushels or less), fill the cooker with water (30 gallons per bushel), and add the meal slowly, to prevent lumps from forming. (When, cooking with steam, or at higher temperatures, it is possible to save energy by using less water at the beginning. But for the "small batcher" with an ordinary cooking apparatus, the most complete conversion is obtained by using the full amount of water right from the start to encourage a rapid rolling boil.)

Next, add 3 measuring spoons -- as provided -- per bushel of Alpha Amylase Enzyme (mixed in water) to the mixture and raise the temperature of the mash to 170 deg F (77 deg C), the optimum working environment for the enzyme. Hold the solution at that temperature for 15 minutes while agitating it vigorously.

At this point all the starch available at 170 deg F has been converted to dextrins, so it's time to raise the temperature of the mash to the boiling point. The concoction should be liquid enough to roll at its own rate -- if not, add 2 to 3 gallons of water. Hold the boil for 30 minutes to complete the liquefaction stage. All the starches are now in solution.

Now reduce the temperature to 170 deg F, using the cooling coil, and add 3 more measuring spoons per bushel of Alpha Amylase Enzyme (mixed in water). After 30 minutes of agitation at this temperature, all the previously released starches will have been reduced to dextrins, thereby completing primary conversion.

During secondary conversion the dextrins are further reduced to simple sugars (maltose and glucose) by the beta, or -- to be more exact -- glucoamylase enzymes. You need Alpha Amylase Enzyme and the yeast necessary to carry out secondary conversion and proper fermentation simultaneously, you can add 6 measuring spoons per bushel of the fermentation powder (mixed in water) as soon as you've brought the temperature down to 85 deg F (29 deg C) using the cooling coils."

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step through the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Answer 11

No! I would like to have a hydrogen car. Less to do with the environment and more to do with fuel economy.  

Answer 12

True look into tesla a electric car with some balls!