My father-in-law, expert of all things, has said that ethanol is used for cars in Brazil and accounts for most energy needs in Brazil.
Is this true ???
2006-08-07 12:24:43 · 4 answers · asked by pezdispenserwisdom 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Yes, it is. Brazil started on the path to energy independence back in the 1970s. Sugar cane based ethanol provides well over 90% of the fuel for all new vehicles on the road. The ethanol production capacity is growing at about the same rate as the volume of new cars is, keeping things nicely in equilibrium.
Unlike the corn-based ethanol produced in the US, Brazil's does not depend upon ANY fossil-based fuel for the produciton of ethanol. The cane husks are ground and burned once the sugar is extracted and this provides sufficient fuel to run the production plants entirely without any external fuel source at all!
2006-08-07 12:32:05 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes. They grow a large amount of sugar cane there and the sugar is used to make the alcohol. Sugar cane grows there like crazy due to the heat.
The downside is that already large formerly forested areas have been replaced by sugar cane growing operations.
The upside is that it is a renewable energy source and you can use ethanol in many already existing cars, most without applying any changes to the pipes and engines - or just a few.
2006-08-07 19:36:35 · answer #2 · answered by spaceskating_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is true. Try googling it. I've heard it on the news, and on specials about global warming. I also asked a question about it recently if you go to my Q and As.
2006-08-07 19:29:53 · answer #3 · answered by neverneverland 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, I saw it on the news, yet another thing the media wants us to know.
2006-08-07 19:29:19 · answer #4 · answered by chickpea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋