Ethanol in the news

[Doc Willie]

Not sure if this belongs in the news forum or here but:

Kingston Daily Freeman
For Prius owner, ethanol is a pain in the gas
By Kyle Wind, Freeman staff
08/10/2008


AS EXPENSIVE as driving is these days, Michele Linehan decided to drive all the way from her Rosendale home to Shokan just to fill up her gas tank - because she hopes the trip will save her some money in the long run.
The reason for the trip was to see what the impact of driving with ethanol-free gasoline would be on her car's fuel consumption. Dependable Energy, on state Route 28 in Shokan, is the only station in the area where she can fill up with ethanol-free gas.
. . .

Through the summer of 2007, Linehan said she averaged around 55 miles per gallon, but when she calculated her car's fuel economy this year, she found her vehicle was burning about a gallon of gasoline for every 45 miles she traveled.

At its best last year, the car, a gas-electric hybrid, achieved nearly 60 miles for each gallon of gas it burned, Linehan said. At its worst this year: 38 miles per gallon.
Linehan called both the dealership and Toyota's headquarters seeking answers, and the conclusion she drew from the conversations was that the increased use of ethanol in gasoline has hurt her car's fuel economy.

Complete story with discussion.

[Bill Merchant]

If I've said it once, I'll say it again: ethanol belongs in your glass, not in your gas.

[TonyPSchaefer]

There are some places in Wisconsin where I could purchase E-free gas. But I'm a bit torn between consuming more petroleum for better mileage or sacrificing a few mpg for less oil dependence.

[catgic]

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[halpos4]

Hi All,Newbie and Taxi driver from Dublin,Ireland,
I run my Prius on E85 using a bi-fuel manager i got from FFI in Idaho,of the 108,000mls on my odo,25,000mls of that using E85,yeah it burns slightly faster but that is well offset with the price difference,infact i'm getting 60mls more per fill x 3 times a week[ie:€60 E85-€60 unleaded]I hope that makes sense!!

[rfruth]

Not only is E85 cheaper and burn cleaner (less MPG so its 6 of one half dozen of the other) but it helps switch oil dependence from the mideast to the midwest

[richard schumacher]

But, but, but...! Don't you know that moonshine gasohol will warp your mind, curve your spine, and lose the War On Terror (tm)? My buddy's brother-in-law saw a website that proved this!

[halpos4]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

But, but, but...! Don't you know that moonshine gasohol will warp your mind, curve your spine, and lose the War On Terror (tm)? My buddy's brother-in-law saw a website that proved this!

Ah Ha,must be true so Richard

[JamesWyatt]

Originally Posted by rfruth

Not only is E85 cheaper and burn cleaner (less MPG so its 6 of one half dozen of the other) but it helps switch oil dependence from the mideast to the midwest

I don't like the increased use of fertilizers, the resulting land-rape from corn, and all the runoff pollution. Our entire country on E85 would likely kill everything of ecological value along the Gulf Coast.

"Pick your poison" is the phrase that comes to mind.

[halpos4]

Originally Posted by JamesWyatt

I don't like the increased use of fertilizers, the resulting land-rape from corn, and all the runoff pollution. Our entire country on E85 would likely kill everything of ecological value along the Gulf Coast.

"Pick your poison" is the phrase that comes to mind.

Here in Ireland E85 is produced from dairy,whey to be exact,a by-product of cheese,now this is where it gets anal,cattle being the worst polluters[their tailpipe emissions]Let's get rid of the cattle!!I know from my research that in the US that in the not to distant future E85 will be produced differently[cellulostic]thus rendering the food v fuel debate a non debate.As a Prius/Taxi driver i'm amazed that here on PC that a lot of people seem concerned about hypermiling,did they buy their Prii for that purpose alone or to feel warm and fuzzy inside because they felt they were doing their bit for the environment....like Cameron and Leonardo et al
It is possible to do a bit more,yes less mileage,yes cost less to fill!!