Alternative Fuel Sources: Ethanol
With the rising cost of gas prices, people are beginning to look into other alternative fuel sources to help them save some money. One of those fuel sources is ethanol. Ethanol, according to Wikipedia, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound. It is a type of alcohol that can often be found in alcoholic beverages as well as in thermometers. However, ethanol’s primary use is as a motor fuel or as a fuel additive.
A Little Background
Today, Brazil houses the largest ethanol industry, with their gasoline containing at least 20% ethanol. When the first mass-produced vehicle (Model T Ford) was designed by Henry Ford, it ran on anhydrous (aka: ethanol) alcohol. Ford even declared back then that ethanol would be the “fuel of the future.” However, years later, ethanol has not yet been approved as a motor vehicle fuel in the United States despite the fact that compared to gasoline, ethanol cuts back significantly on a vehicle’s emissions and produces fewer greenhouse gases.
The Future of Ethanol
Just because we’re not using 100% ethanol as our primary motor vehicle fuel doesn’t mean that other countries can’t either. In fact, Brazilian vehicles are able to use 100% ethanol and also have “flex-fuel” engines. These flex fuel engines are ideal because they allow a driver to fill up with ethanol only, gasoline only, or a mixture of the two. The United States currently has flex-fuel vehicles; however, they are only allowed to run on 0-85% ethanol (15% gasoline) since higher concentrations of ethanol are not allowed.
So, what gives? If using ethanol as an alternative fuel source is supposed to be better for the environment, then why isn’t the United States jumping up to embrace it with open arms- especially if it will save a little money?
[...] so, when we think of alternative fuel sources, we are now turning to ethanol for answers. The truth is, however, Americans are beginning to look somewhat desperate in [...]
[...] we think of alternative fuel sources, several things come to mind. The first thing I think of is ‘hybrid cars’. [...]
Alternative fuel should have been developed and produced in 1973. It is clear that leaders since that time have been swayed by oil company payoffs and other underhanded maneuvers to keep this from happening. They should be held accountable.