2006-09-05 13:08:43 · 6 answers · asked by midwestwinters 1 in Environment
Fossil fuels are cheaper to use!
2006-09-05 19:48:31 · answer #1 · answered by Bernard B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is only true in the US where corn is used as the source for ethanol. The process for making ethanol from suger cane in Brazil is much more efficient. If you remember your high school science class, corn is a or polysaccharide, containing many sugar units, while suger is a disaccharide, containing two sugar units.
Obiously, it takes a lot of energy to break a polysaccharide to ethanol. Some say this is not energetically favorable. While this is a subject of debate, it is definitely less energetically favorable than sugercane. The reason why the ethanol produced is not used to power the plant is because there are subsidies for ethanol production in the US. It is cheaper to buy fuel to power the plant than using the ethanol that is produced. This could change pending new laws.
One of the obstructions preventing sugercane as a viable ethanol source is the corn lobby. It turns out, there's been tarriffs in place from way back against sugarcane production outside of florida and hawaii, because they don't want competition for corn syrup.
2006-09-05 13:28:35 · answer #2 · answered by tedhyu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All may not run on only fossil fuels. However, I believe I have read that more oil is consumed in its production than is produced. So essentially we could more efficiently use the oil and skip the production of ethanol. I believe a lot of the oil used in its production is a result of raising the crops that the ethanol is produced from.
2006-09-05 13:15:35 · answer #3 · answered by brzmunky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethanol produces significantly less energy per gallon when burned than diesel or gasoline. E85 cars that use ethanol also get significantly less miles per gallon.* Right now, ethanol is not a viable alternative to gas. That is why it is typically only available in the mid-west where corn is readily available and you don't have to travel far to process it.
2006-09-05 13:28:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
why is it when people talk about ethanol they never talk about the millions of gallons of water that is needed on every field of corn
2006-09-06 23:57:55 · answer #5 · answered by namkciub 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's still the best alternative though that is changing rapidly. They should convert to solar and wind soon.
2006-09-05 13:14:11 · answer #6 · answered by Cow Tipper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋