All the time.

 

^^ Yeah, it costs less, but you use more.

Nice to have options though.

 

^^exactly what I was thinking... you get cheaper gas but it costs you more in the long run to fill up your car twice as much... :\

 

Your right.. But that is only the flavor of the moment.. If there were a paradigm shift, ethanol production can be done locally where there is agriculture, groups of people can produce their own, etc.. This would reduce the costs significantly..

Ethanol can be produced from quite a few types plant matter, potatos, corn, sugar beets, etc.. At some point the equipment their using to produce the products will also use renewable resources such as Biodiesel, which is a product of the oils (corn oil, soy bean oil, etc..) Solar technology and others have become more efficient, therefore ultimately the fuels can be produces for cents on the dollar.

At the moment, the problem is Americans.. Most are concerned only about the cost per gallon, and not the cost to our economy or how things impact others and our future... I have no problem paying a bit more for E85, and filling up more frequently, knowing that ultimately it helps everyone, and eventually will bring costs down.

Heck, Look at how technology gets cheaper as new technology is created?



None of this is new.. But seeing Mitsubishi actively solicit the help of a local tuner, to create something that can be done AT THE DEALERSHIP, or BY THE END USER, or even by mitsubishi themselves, shows that there is a willingness to offer this should the infrastructure be made available.

You can almost be certain that the reason you don't see E85 at every pump is the fact that the oil companies haven't figured out a way to keep total control over it.

 

The only thing that concerns me is if the potential demand can be met by supply..

But this isn't the worst thing in the world, as it will encourage MORE growing and agriculture, and more advances in food producing technologies that can benefit more than just Fuel, but technology to produce food products all year around, in areas where it may be difficult or impossible to grow normally. That can benefit the world too..

It can also benefit the world market where many countries can now produce something of value to the world market and therefore have the ability to help themselves.

 

Well if it makes more power than pump gas and is still cheaper to run than race gas I could see demand for it growing quickly. Especially when you consider the amount of people that already have those basic mods and just need the tuning for it and availability of the fuel.

It is cool to see Mitsubishi actually working with tuners instead of against them.

 

Mitsubishi will have to put a bigger gas tank on these cars if they advertise E85 compatibility. I get about 275 miles per tank now, using 30% more fuel would cut that down to about 200 miles per tank (highway).

 

finally a benefit from living in the boonies in the midwest. there are 3!!! ethanol plants in the works for just the southeast missouri region alone right now. two are actively building i believe. my family has stock in one near mexico missouri, and had an active hand in the paperwork side of setting up the plant that is scheduled to be built outside a small town in the bootheel of missouri.

all of these future plans will help the local agricultural economy due to that it will provide jobs to the workers at the plant, and another buyer of grain for the local farmers. and from what i understand from listening to some of the information from the board meetings, the price paid for each bushel of corn will be higher than the local grain companies and that will drive the grain companies to raise thier price to compete with the ethanol plants.

what really interests me is the fact that ethanol isnt the only possible by-product from the ethanol plants. apparently the corn residue can be resold to feed companies, and also if the plant is equiped correctly, distilled water is also a by-product that can be sold as well.

and your thoughts on biodiesel are right on as well. another local group is building a biodiesel plant in dexter missouri. it seems that the local govt officials are actually looking around to see what type of companies could benefit the local job market AND the local economy as well.

so in short, if you have a chance to invest in an ethanol plant, DO IT. most have some type of clause stating that you must own land in the county/area and be able to contribute some type of grain to the plant, but both can be worked around.

also the local MFA's all carry the E85 at their pumps. ( mfa is a grain co-op for those who dont know )