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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Will ethanol E85 catch on in the US? Will we Live Green and Go Yellow? 
2104 messages, Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 5:34 AM
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NEVC - Jefferson City, MO – E85 refueling locations have more than doubled in the past year, making more availability for the almost six million compatible vehicles on American roads. Unfortunately, the price at the pump has not been the most attractive in recent months. When using E85 in a flexible-fuel vehicle, one will receive a 5 to 12 percent mileage reduction than when using unleaded gasoline in the same vehicle. This reason is simple – E85 contains less energy, lower British Thermal Units (BTUs) than regular unleaded gasoline. Thus, to be advantageous for a consumer, the price of E85 must be lower than that of regular unleaded gasoline. Unfortunately, at this time, the price of E85 is sometimes higher than regular unleaded at many refueling locations. What are the factors that are resulting in these high E85 prices? One of the main reasons is that ethanol demand has recently been at an all-time high. The reasons for this unprecedented demand of ethanol is the phase out of MTBE in parts of the United States and continued reductions in refining capacity. The hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast in late 2005 created a gasoline shortage throughout the country and in some cases, refinery supplies are still being impacted. Major gasoline retailers needed to extend their fuel supplies, and adding a small percentage of ethanol to their gasoline blend was a short term answer. Most persons associated with the industry indicate believe that the high cost of E85 is short term. “The price [of E85] is higher but it is being driven by market forces due to a short term market shortage.
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Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 05, 2006 8:40 am) No sniveling about the high price of corn ethanol. Did I say, I told you so? I hope you continue to support and run E85 in your vehicle when the price continues to rise. If not I would say that borders on hypocrisy.
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Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 05, 2006 7:37 am) It's surprising that it's taken this long to get an Industry-Approved E85 fuel dispenser. It's too bad that they aren't publicly traded. Cause we are going to need a lot of them. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 05, 2006 1:57 pm) It is hilarious to see even our USA TREE-HUGRs scramble, whine and ineptly try to denigrate renewable resources such as Ethanol and Biodeisal. Of course Hydrogen powered autos are decades away from being practical, just as Electric autos have been phased out as impractical so far. E95 and Biodeisal will allow us to push diesels technology NOW! Of course E85 continues to impact auto sales NOW. Ford currently is running a new ad that is advertising their E85 capable F150 as having NO price increase over 100% gasoline models. Good advertising...shows a stalk of green corn slowly turning into an E85 green corn like hose that is fueling a bright red F150...and the beat goes on...NOW! Like Mikey..."Buy it, you'll like it."
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Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 06, 2006 6:52 am) It is good that Ford and GM are offering FFVs for those that have access to E85. Right NOW today we are just about maxed out on what we can produce from corn. Until a process is in place to make ethanol from biomass we have reached our potential for supplying ethanol. We can waste a lot of money building more stills and without the corn to fill them it is a waste of money. You have already seen the price of E85 pass up regular. What does that mean to you. I do think biodiesel will have a more positive impact on our oil usage than ethanol over time. |
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Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 06, 2006 6:52 am) Well that's fine and dandy but raising corn for ethanol won't do it. Have you read the extensive article on ethanol in the latest (July) issue of Car and Driver? |
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Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 06, 2006 6:52 am) I truly admire the enthusiasm and passion you have for ethanol and E85 as an alternative fuel. You also have a deep desire to rid the US of oil dependence from other countries as I’m sure most of us do. If you really want to eliminate our need for imported oil you would have the same enthusiasm for bio diesel as you do ethanol and I don’t see that. Have you written your Congressman or woman asking why more has not been done to promote diesel and bio diesel passenger cars? I have. Have you written your Congressman or woman asking why Congress, the President and the US auto makers are pushing ethanol and ignoring bio diesel and in fact legislating some of the most fuel efficient diesels off the market? I have. I got back a form letter, but at least I did something and it’s on record. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but with such single, narrow focus on ethanol, I can’t help but feel your enthusiasm is self serving.
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Replying to: jim314 (Jun 02, 2006 5:52 am) |
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Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 06, 2006 6:52 am) Actually I'm reading that automakers like Honda and BMW are going to be introducing hydrogen vehicles way ahead of schedule. Maybe in 3-4 years. If ethanol's viability is based on large government subsidies I think the idea of practicality goes out the window. Electric vehicles have already been proven. They may only have a limited range but it is more than adequate for the vast majority of commuters. So the main problem is the expensive battery pack that adds $10k or more to the price of the vehicle. No problem. Let the government subsidize this amount and, voila, its practical. |
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Replying to: jkinzel (Jun 06, 2006 7:40 am) There is a Biodiesel plant being built about 20-30 miles south of here. The problem with biodiesel is the same as for Ethanol...where do we get enough raw material? States like California will never accept Ethanol or Biodiesel...too bad! I am not on any Ethanol bandwagon except it is a renewable resource available to us now and can be used in 12 million autos today, not tomorrow. Both Ethanol and Biodiesel are proven to be winners today and do cut down on our imported oil usage. We will evolve solutions over time, there is an E95 solution to the diesel problem right now, but nobody is building any plants. Diesels will be used in passenger autos more and more. However, Ethanol can be used today in today's gasoline engines where biodiesel can only be used in a major way in our diesel trucks. South America, Venezuela and Bolivia, have openly espoused their hatred of the USA getting their oil and of course Iran has generated this kind of hatred for many years. |
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