E85
#21
Re: E85
Almost anything is better than using foreign oil. There are a lot of questions about using corn, as it is one of the lowest-yielding options for ethanol. I like soybeans much more. Since algae has such a great yield, why aren't we hearing more about it? (I've heard some, but not much.)
At least someone should be producing algae-ethanol - it's got to be a great money-maker, right?
At least someone should be producing algae-ethanol - it's got to be a great money-maker, right?
anyway, guess who is listening to algae? China and Australia. These countries are actually paying for research in this area... and guess where the idea came from?
here is a link to a study done:
http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_alge.html
#22
Re: E85
He doesn't drive a diesel car so biodiesel is a moot discussion. This isn't about is ethanol green or not, its about having more choices with a gasoline car. You've already stated E85 creates a problem no better than big oil so if both options being equally evil why not give us a choice to use the cheaper option given the differences in prices?
#23
Re: E85
You're being narrow minded. Not everyone drives a hybrid because they are treehuggers. If you read my other posts. I clearly stated I'm not driving a hybrid to save the environment. I drive it so save money. Less emmissions is just a side bonus for me. I drive 55 miles one way to work. Getting 23 miles a gallon with my Subaru WRX wasn't very good on the wallet. Getting 40-50mpg and now I have someone to carpoll with is saving tons of $$. If I had the option of using E85 which we should since it doesn't add much to the cost of production would just make sense.
Do you even know what the cost of E85 is per gallon in Iowa? If E85 is $1 cheaper per gallon. I'll gladly take the lower mpg and still save money. That is my point. Not all of us are here to stroke our e-peens on how many miles we can get per gallon.
Do you even know what the cost of E85 is per gallon in Iowa? If E85 is $1 cheaper per gallon. I'll gladly take the lower mpg and still save money. That is my point. Not all of us are here to stroke our e-peens on how many miles we can get per gallon.
#24
Re: E85
I assume you want to use E85 because somehow you are under the illusion that it's greener and better than buying from big oil?
#26
Re: E85
rupture already doesn't care about the green aspect. So that aside E85 is one way of adding competition to the fuel marketplace for gasoline engines. Big Oil gets subsidies too, you think a lobby as big as theirs didn't get some sweet deals from the gov't either? Let big Agri and big Oil battle it out at the pumps! It diverts their attention from quashing the really good stuff like better batteries or that algae biodiesel thing.
#27
Re: E85
So where can you find these conversion kits? Do they void the warranty? BTW, CA requires ethanol in the gas during summer.
#28
Re: E85
(If ONLY I had a billion extra dollars lying around .)
A few salient points from that good article:
"The point of this article is not to argue that this approach is the only one that makes sense, or that we should ignore other options (there are some other very appealing options as well, and realistically it makes more sense for a combination of options to be used)."
"It's important to point out that the DOE's ASP that projected that such yields are possible, was never able to come close to achieving such yields. Their focus on open ponds was a primary factor in this, and the research groups that have picked up where the DOE left off are making substantial gains in the yields compared to the old DOE work - but we still have a ways to go. "
"biodiesel produced from soy has an energy balance of 3.2:1. That means that for each unit of energy put into growing the soybeans and turning the soy oil into biodiesel, we get back 3.2 units of energy in the form of biodiesel. That works out to an energy efficiency of 320% (when only looking at fossil energy input - input from the sun, for example, is not included). The reason for the energy efficiency being greater than 100% is that the growing soybeans turn energy from the sun into chemical energy (oil)."
"... the potential algae has to offer. The current state of the technology is not yet capable of achieving yields as high as theoretically possible, and the economics need further improvement."
#29
Re: E85
E85 not available in my area. But I'd definately look at a conversion kit when it is. I remember 1974, and the long lines for gas. If something were to happen internationally, wouldn't it be nice to have E85 as a safety valve? Isn't a choice of two options better than a choice of one option?
So where can you find these conversion kits? Do they void the warranty? BTW, CA requires ethanol in the gas during summer.
So where can you find these conversion kits? Do they void the warranty? BTW, CA requires ethanol in the gas during summer.
#30
Re: E85
I never said I was a major corn biofuel supporter. You're not educating me about lobbyists, nor the issues with using corn. The lobbyist problem in this country is horrendous. That, and big companies funding various campaigns are ruining our political system.
The point is - TODAY, algae appears not quite ready, no matter how high its potential. Soybeans ARE pretty much ready today. We need a solution that works TODAY. If algae becomes a better solution tomorrow, bye-bye soybeans! Without gov't subsidies, capitalism will allow the most efficient {cheaper} method to win out. And I agree we should fund further algea research - and if the gov't won't do it, then an enterprising business should. The potential payback is enormous.
(If ONLY I had a billion extra dollars lying around .)
A few salient points from that good article:
"The point of this article is not to argue that this approach is the only one that makes sense, or that we should ignore other options (there are some other very appealing options as well, and realistically it makes more sense for a combination of options to be used)."
"It's important to point out that the DOE's ASP that projected that such yields are possible, was never able to come close to achieving such yields. Their focus on open ponds was a primary factor in this, and the research groups that have picked up where the DOE left off are making substantial gains in the yields compared to the old DOE work - but we still have a ways to go. "
"biodiesel produced from soy has an energy balance of 3.2:1. That means that for each unit of energy put into growing the soybeans and turning the soy oil into biodiesel, we get back 3.2 units of energy in the form of biodiesel. That works out to an energy efficiency of 320% (when only looking at fossil energy input - input from the sun, for example, is not included). The reason for the energy efficiency being greater than 100% is that the growing soybeans turn energy from the sun into chemical energy (oil)."
"... the potential algae has to offer. The current state of the technology is not yet capable of achieving yields as high as theoretically possible, and the economics need further improvement."
The point is - TODAY, algae appears not quite ready, no matter how high its potential. Soybeans ARE pretty much ready today. We need a solution that works TODAY. If algae becomes a better solution tomorrow, bye-bye soybeans! Without gov't subsidies, capitalism will allow the most efficient {cheaper} method to win out. And I agree we should fund further algea research - and if the gov't won't do it, then an enterprising business should. The potential payback is enormous.
(If ONLY I had a billion extra dollars lying around .)
A few salient points from that good article:
"The point of this article is not to argue that this approach is the only one that makes sense, or that we should ignore other options (there are some other very appealing options as well, and realistically it makes more sense for a combination of options to be used)."
"It's important to point out that the DOE's ASP that projected that such yields are possible, was never able to come close to achieving such yields. Their focus on open ponds was a primary factor in this, and the research groups that have picked up where the DOE left off are making substantial gains in the yields compared to the old DOE work - but we still have a ways to go. "
"biodiesel produced from soy has an energy balance of 3.2:1. That means that for each unit of energy put into growing the soybeans and turning the soy oil into biodiesel, we get back 3.2 units of energy in the form of biodiesel. That works out to an energy efficiency of 320% (when only looking at fossil energy input - input from the sun, for example, is not included). The reason for the energy efficiency being greater than 100% is that the growing soybeans turn energy from the sun into chemical energy (oil)."
"... the potential algae has to offer. The current state of the technology is not yet capable of achieving yields as high as theoretically possible, and the economics need further improvement."