Does YOUR vehicle run on E85?

[tuvor]

[soothsayer]

1. Well how on earth would ya' know?

[tuvor]

2. Well, there are a couple of sources on the graphic.

Check 'em out.

I saw the graphic on Yahoo with no attached story or links, and thought that if anyone were interested enough, they'd do a bit of homework for the environment.

Sowing seeds, that's what my post was all about. :)

[RebelOne]

5. Go to www.E85fuel.com to see what models run on E85.

You can download a PDF file.

[leveymg]

3. BUT, E-85 gives you 40% LESS MPG. So, it's 40% MORE EXPENSIVE

Worse still, it actually increases the consumption of fossil fuel stocks. E-85 is an 85/15 mixture of ethanol/gasoline. A car running E-85 uses 40% more of this blend than straight oil-based gasoline. It takes energy - usually natural gas or coal - to convert corn or other sources to ethanol. The use of coal in E-85 production, in particular, eliminates the enviornmental advantages of running motor vehicle on alcohol-based fuel. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060205/BUSINESS04/602050315/1033

Don't believe me about the 40 loss in fuel economy? Here's what the Volvo South Africa website says:

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=751&fArticleId=3015507

Volvo starts production of ethanol-powered cars
< See related stories >

November 30, 2005

Volvo has begun production of FlexiFuel cars powered by engines running on E85 (85 percent ethanol / 15 percent petrol). The 92kW 1.8F engine will available on S40 and V50 models, initially only on the Swedish market.

Ethanol can be made from biomass such as wheat, sugar cane, corn or cellulose. When running on E85 bio-ethanol, emissions of fossil carbon dioxide are as little as 20 percent that of a petrol-fuelled car.

However, it's not perfect, as shown by these figures:

Petrol/E85 engine specifications:
Power: 92 kW.
Torque: 165Nm at 4000rpm
'Four of Volvo's seven models are offered with an alternative driveline powered by a renewable fuel'
.
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 10.9sec (S40), 11.0sec (V50).
Top speed: 200km/h.
Fuel consumption: 7.4 litres/100 km (S40), 7.5 litres/100 km (V50).

…BUT these figures relate to running on 100 percent petrol. Fuel consumption when running on E85 bio-ethanol is about 40 percent higher since ethanol contains less energy than petrol.

Well, well. Would Exxon-Mobil try to pull one over on you under the guise of "greener, sustainable energy self-sufficiency"? Figure it out for yourself.

[tuvor]

4. Well, there's an inconvenient detail!

I'm glad you posted. Thank you!

[leveymg]

6. It's surprising how few people know this

There's a big ad campaign by GM right now pushing E-85 vehicles. No coincidence, GM started as a joint-venture of Standard Oil and DuPont Chemical. Still is, really.

[Strelnikov_]

7. Like I Have Said Many Times. It's A Shame

Burning coal to produce a liquid fuel with an EPR of 1 (corn ethanol) makes absolutely no sense when you could produce a liquid fuel with an EPR of 5 from the coal directly. Not to mention the incremental environmental impact.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2183112&mesg_id=2183159

[Strelnikov_]

8. Mileage Rating For A 2003 FFV Ranger

Gas - 19 mpg
E85 - 14 mpg ~ 26% reduction

2003 Ford Ranger 2WD FFV - Ethanol

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/19264.shtml

To consider ethanol as a 'renewable' fuel, renewable energy sources have to be used in it's production.

[KittyWampus]

9. Synchronicity! I just posted a thread about GM pimping ethanol on TV

commercials.

Sorry, but raising corn to make ethanol and then processing the ethanol and transporting it takes more energy then it's worth.

I personally don't support it and resent my tax dollars subsidizing Agribusiness this way.