Alt fuels was Re: [AT] Gasoline $

[George Willer]

Jim,

My (old) chemical engineer's handbook lists the energy content of ethanol at 
12,780 BTU/Lb., and gasoline (varies) at about 20,000 BTU/Lb.  From the 
amount of energy contained, I would expect mileage to suffer by about 36%

If I were to figure the total fuel used in the production of ethanol for 
fuel, I would also figure in the total fuel used in the production and 
transportation of the raw material and transportation of the finished 
product.  I   would also figure in an amortized amount for the energy used 
to produce the farm  equipment necessary and the energy used to produce the 
chemicals necessary to produce a successful crop.  Wouldn't you?

Using your figure of 1.29/gal and adjusting for the poorer mileage, the 
ethanol would cost $2.02/gal BEFORE ADDING TAXES to be equal to gasoline.

George Willer

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim and Lyn Evans" <jevans at evanstoys.com>
To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'" 
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 7:13 AM
Subject: RE: Alt fuels was Re: [AT] Gasoline $


> I think real mileage loss is around 25%.  Here are production E85 fuel
> economy ratings:
> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/byfuel/FFV2000.shtml
>
> I don't buy the argument that it takes more energy to produce alcohol than
> it returns.  That is propaganda from the oil companies.  The only way you
> come up with that much energy is if you include the solar energy that it
> took to grow the corn.
>
> You can make the same argument with any energy source - gasoline, diesel,
> electricity, hydrogen, etc.  In all cases, it takes "more energy" to 
> produce
> it than it returns.  There are always inefficiencies in the production,
> making the return less than 100%.  If there wasn't, then it would be a
> perpetual motion machine.  The secret is finding a cheap, renewable fuel
> source, and transforming it into a product that can be transported and
> easily used by consumers.  If you can use natural gas, coal, or wood 
> (which
> isn't handy to use directly in a car) and a bushel of corn and create a
> product that can be easily handled and burned in a car, then you have
> something.
>
> The alcohol plants here are making it for about $1.29/gallon.  That 
> includes
> the cost of the corn (which is fairly high here because of demand), and 
> the
> price of the natural gas (expensive) they use to make the product.  There
> are no government subsidies in that cost.  If it took so much energy to 
> make
> it, wouldn't it cost more?
>
> Jim