Is E85 the answer?

Question

Is the new fuel for cars e85 the answer for cars in the future, and the gas issue today?

Answer 1

It depends E-Mail me details at [e-mail] I know a lot about this kind of gasoline. Just ask. I work at a farm equipment supply merchant i know this stuff.

Answer 2

Not with present technology. Right now they have to use a lot of energy to grow a corn plant, and can use the corn kernals as feedstock, as if they were making Jack Daniel's. So you need a lot of energy to make the fuel - some have even argued more energy than you get back by burning it, which may or may not be true, but it's not very efficient. Then the government subsidizes it like crazy while taxing gasoline, and the prices are still pretty close to the same. And when you put it in the car, you have to get a car built specifically for it, and it won't give you as much mileage as gasoline.

It would take a significant breakthrough to make ethanol use way less money, farmland, and energy to make before it has a chance at being a viable alternative. As it is, ethanol is more like a corporate welfare program for Archer Daniels Midland than a good environmental policy.

Answer 3

I live in Iowa so I know about ethanol as we have used 10% for over 35 years. E85 has only 75% as much potential energy as gasoline. .On E-85 a car will get 25% less mileage than a gasoline piowered car . I would say that it might be a short term answer, Until hydrogen powered cars and hydrogen fuel are made readily available. But ethanol is not THE answer.

Answer 4

i own a repair shop ,and truthfully it isn't ,its only ten% at the most right now any way ,but its not the answer we need to get the prices down or to help save on fuel,one thing we need is a 100 % alternative fuel,one that will totally replace gas,but without having to alter any of the cars from the way they are now,,if they cant come with a good alternative fuel that is compatible with the modern day engines,then its not worth trying to do right now,because there are so many gas powered engines out there that it would be impossible to re-fit all of them with a kit to burn on another source of fuel,and even if they could,a lot of people couldn't afford it,so we wouldn't be any better off than we are right now,seriously we need another energy source,but i don't think enough effort is being made to come up with one,because the oil company's don't want anything else right now,they like things the way they are,with them getting rich,I'm sure there is an alternative fuel that could be produced,but seeing it done is a totally different thing all together,but we need it,and we need it now,not ten years from now,maybe someday they,ll do it,until then ,we play by there rules,good luck,i hope this helps.

Answer 5

Maybe the newer switch grass fuel may help, but we can not grow enough corn to run everything on and eat too. I think that the real future is bio-diesel. Diesel engines are more efficient and get better mileage. The new clean fuel and engines along with the ability to burn french fry oil looks promising.

Answer 6

It may be the issue today, but as it stands right now I doubt it is the answer for the future.

Another 10-15 years will bring some better advancements in technology.

Answer 7

Realistically, the United States cannot grow enough corn to make the ethenol quantities to equal the consumption of gasoline, so no it's not the answer. But is is a viable option to reduce gasoline dependence until a better solution is found.