why is ethanol being used more now? What are some of the factors that complicate the use of ethanol in gas?

Answer 1

Ethanol is often blended with gasoline as an alternative to methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE), which causes groundwater and soil pollution. MTBE has been banned in a number of states.

Gasoline needs oxygenating additives such as MTBE and ethanol to increase its oxygen content, which helps it burn more cleanly. Air provides oxygen for gasoline to burn, but gasoline burns even better if it already contains some oxygen beforehand.

There are three main factors that work against using ethanol as a large component of gasoline. First, ethanol is less energy-dense than gasoline, meaning that one tankful of pure gasoline will let you travel almost twice as far as a tankful of pure ethanol. Mixing ethanol into gasoline will decrease mileage proportionally.

Second, ethanol is an excellent solvent that will degrade rubber tubings used in most automobile today. As a solvent, ethanol also attracts moisture (dissolves water into itself). Extreme corrosion of gas tanks and the formation of salt deposits are known to occur while using ethanol-gasoline mixture.

Third, very few vendors are equipped and ready to sell gasoline that contains large percentages of ethanol. As result, very few individuals are willing to purchase vehicles designed to burn such fuels, which in turn discourages fuel stations from selling such them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel

Answer 2

Ethanol is made from a renewable resource, namely grain . The biggest factor complicating it's use is the fact that the oil companies can't make any money on it. Other minor factors might include tuning the vehicle to ethanol, finding suppliers, learning more about the engine's use history using ethanol.

Answer 3

Ethanol is a renewable alternative fuel. It is manufactured from just about any vegetable matter. This could reduce or eliminate need for imported oil.
Several issues exit with ethanol.
1. ethanol is not compatible with most existing vehicles. ethanol damages aluminum components and some rubber seals. This would require conversion for mostolder cars.
2. ethanol does not have as much energy released as gasoline when burned. It takes more to go the same distance. Also older cars would need revised air fuel rates for them to drive properly.
3. in the US it's made from primarily corn it will raise food prices as land is cnverted to grow corn for ethanol production.

given time this may be the way out of oil dependancy.

Answer 4

Environmentally, it's better. Also, since it comes from a renewable source (plants) we won't run out, like we eventually will with gasoline. The problem is, what plants? In Brazil, they run almost everything on ethanol from sugarcane, which grows in abundance there. Here in America, we are starting to see commercials for "E85" ethanol. That comes from corn, and is more expensive and uses more plant matter to make than ethanol from other sources. But the corn industry is a big American industry, so using corn is another way for big business and politics to have a hand in the control.

Answer 5

Ethanol is cleaner burning, better for the environment and it is made from corn and other plants so it is 100% renewable. It is a viable answer to reducing foreign oil consumption.

The only issue I know of with ethanol blended in gas is that some cars may not be designed to run efficiently on it, but that will change.

It will be used next year as the fuel for Indycars.

Answer 6

ethanol is being used more now because of the high price of regular fuel,,and it is a re-new able source of fuel,,and the factors with it,,there really isn't any,,a lot of people have been led to believe that there vehicle wont operate on ethanol,,in fact it will,,all cars will,,its just a cleaner burning fuel,,i have it in my lawn mower,,right now,,and it burns fine in it,,and i probably will use it in other hings too before long,,it doesn't hurt an engine like some will tell you,,i own a repair shop,,and i have seen it used in many things,,and it does not do harm to anything,,all it will do is make the us less dependent on foreign oil,,and that's a good thing,,if you get a chance try some,and you,ll see it does OK,,good luck,hope this help,s.

Answer 7

American's are tired of the gas industry gouging them at the pump so they can make record profits. What they needed is another way to increase profits that seemed to be green friendly. Answer: Ethanol!
Ethinol is mostly made from corn. The amount of fuel needed to run the farm machinery to produce the corn is more than what is produced when the corn is turned into ethanol. So for now it's a lose/lost situation. The only people who benefit from this are the farmers and the people who sell and service their farm machinery...not the American consumer.