LOL start growing, you're going to need a lot! One bushel of corn (~56 lbs) will get you 2.8 gallons of ethanol under perfect conditions, but even big plants are generally only able to average 2.7 gallons/bushel. To add a bit more insight, you can get ~55-65 bushels of corn per acre assuming you're an efficient farmer with proper seeds and fertilizer.

 

What most people fail to realize about ethanol is that it actually takes much more energy to produce ethanol than the end product actually provides (think about all the gas/diesel/electricity needed to provide heavy machinery to harvest and distill billions of pounds of corn). This makes it pretty pointless from an economical standpoint. But hey when squirted into a 4g63 it makes for some nice boostin, theres no denying that. Just don't go congratulating yourself for being "green", or "sticking it to opec" because you're not. But YOU ARE contributing to world hunger, so at least you have that to make yourself feel good about.

 

I wish we have E85 in Canada...

 

Im going green.. By not spending 20.00/gal @ VP i got more green in my pocket..

Mike

 

flat out, we need to build a few refineries..... that said, the current ones have expanded enormously, so the critics saying we haven't built a refinery in XX yrs, are only telling half the story.

the corn grown for distillation is taking away from food crop. true, varieties are grown specifically for food or ethanol, but any crop land used for ethanol is not growing food crop.

I have read some articles on ethanol derived from algae grown in the desert. that and ethanol derived from prairie grasses seems much more economical than our current corn derivative. Ethanol made from corn just doesn't flow all that well when you factor in input costs.


There is some evidence, oil is renewing itself.... not saying it is renewable in the sense we have come to know the term. I think the thing about oil is, nobody really knows its true origins, if it is renewing or not, and how much is actually out there. From what I gather there is A LOT of it out there.

 

theres a list of other plant biproducts that can be used instead of ethanol(which arent edible). dont add BS to the arguement.

its not all numbers people, or else there wouldn't be innovations just productivity. another words investment doesnt net profit, but future opportunities. as industry uses more ethanol, demand will encourage research. numbers now may not make sense but it will down the road. same goes for electric cars; just because numbers doesnt make sense now doesnt mean we should quit.

in another words investment in research doesnt yield short term profit; you cant argue like an accountant.

 

^+1 here is a quote from e85fuel.com... i also saw something on tv that they are producing using algae(cellulosic ethanol.)

"’...an argument we’ve all heard - that ethanol is driving up food prices by stealing away corn and farmland for the production of fuel. Ethanol has been blamed over the past two years for everything from higher grocery bills to world hunger.

Here’s why: about two years ago, Big Food initiated a massive smear campaign against ethanol. It’s been their goal since early 2007 to turn public opinion by placing the blame for high food prices specifically on our industry.

But they seem to have overlooked one gaping hole in their plan - the fact that ethanol actually has little to no effect on the price of food. We know this now because the price of corn for both food and fuel has dropped dramatically - while the price of food at the grocery store is the same. Big Food is making record profits while Americans are hurting, and they’re actively blaming it on ethanol. Ironically, ethanol has been saving money for both consumers and grocers by keeping the price of gas down.

Ethanol will soon be made from cellulose in plant material - like agricultural waste, wood chips, and native switchgrass that actually improves soil quality, helping sustainable agriculture. We’re just a few years from mass-producing cellulosic ethanol, yet the plan set forth by Big Food specifically aims to hamper its development, as well as that of all other biofuels."

 

The best I can get in Lubbock, Tx is 91 and thats at $3+ The closest E85 station is 2hrs away but its still sitting around $2.5X so im more than happy to fill up a few 55gal drums every few weeks!!

 

that has to suck. i would hate to drive 2 hours for gas.

 

THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF CORN CROPS...WHICH IS THE REASON FOR e85 PRICE INCREASES

I recently read...that due to a wet season the corn crop is no longer in surplus, but actually in short supply.

My initial thought was that in the upcoming couple months the price of e85 would increase drastically, which would hurt you flex fuel fed evo owners. I did not realize the price increase was so efficient, but you can expect it to keep rising in the next couple months...possibly up $3.50/gallon...(mark my words)

 

I can't vouch for all states, but Missouri had a great year in corn. What source did you hear this from? One thing to realize even if you read this in a magazine/newspaper that most of these sources make **** up just to fill a colum.

 

Yes, I agree I should not necessarily believe all reports however, I read the article on my droid x phone, and it was I believe from USA Today. I usually can credit my readings based on their reputation and sources where they got the information.

 

e85= clean burning, domestically made, government subsidized race fuel for the masses. Im down

Also corn is not the only crop that alchohol can be made from. I think right now its just the most convenient. By supporting the industry and using E85 we are helping develope newer methods and technologies to produce it.

 

I dont feel like reading all of this to see if this has been said before, but in the NE and I would assume other cold weather cilmates the Ethanol rating drops to 70 rather then 85, as per why the price goes up a bit more. More petroleum.

 

Not quite on the top of the title, but it was brought up in the thread, E10 being better (from a power perspective) than 100% gasoline. I was under the impression that wasn't the case, because the 91 E10 for example (best I can get where I live) would just be 89 gasoline with 10% ethanol in it, making it effectively 91 octane, just like 100% 91 gasoline would have been. Is that not the case?