There has been bluster and rhetoric for over 30 years about dependence on foreign oil, though there is good reason. A novel idea was brought up, which was to power cars with ethanol rather than gasoline. Most gas stations use E10, or a 10 percent ethanol mixture, in the gas they sell already. The next stage in ethanol, E15, or 15 percent ethanol, is set to be out next year. The Environmental Protection Agency is mulling whether to declare it safe for older vehicles. Auto makers are urging the EPA to hold back until more science is in on the matter.
The Environmental Protection Agency weighs in on E15
Currently, the EPA is finding out what it can concerning the launch of E15. E15 is the next step up from the already widely sold E10. It has a mixture of 15 percent ethanol to 85 percent gasoline. The Department of Energy is testing the effects of E15 on autos that are no older than 10 years, according to Popular Mechanics. However, about 88 percent of all vehicles within the U.S. in use are 10 years old or older. The Auto Alliance, a consortium of car manufacturers, has urged the Environmental Protection Agency not for making any ruling on E15 until Auto Alliance studies have been completed. There is at least one study out so far. The Ricardo Inc. engineering firm has determined cars older than 10 years are not harmed by E15.
Ethanol used as gasoline
Ethanol also goes by another name, which is moonshine. The liquid certainly could be used as a fuel. It is combustible, or rather it contains lots of energy. That said, ethanol has 34 percent less energy per unit of volume than gasoline, according to Wikipedia. This has a noticeable impact. An ethanol only engine will use about 50 percent more fuel than a gasoline engine. However, this could be countered with just a little tinkering. Adjusting the compression can make ethanol autos more powerful, and thus achieve parity with gas. That said, ethanol nevertheless doesn’t have quite the exact same power as gas does. A rise of mileage cannot be achieved, even with a larger ethanol engine.
Butterfly effects
Grain is already getting used as a fuel crop. However, the danger with supplanting gas with ethanol is that crops, especially grains, increase in scarcity and therefore cost. Cheap grain is more essential in the long run. Civilization itself is only made possible with cheap and abundant grain.
Further reading
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/biofuels/renewable-fuels-association-urges-epa-to-approve-e15-for-older-vehicles?click=pm_news
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel
