arrow
Super Member
. Currently most ethanol blended gas is E10 or 10% ethanol. We are now headed for E85 or a 15% blend that some areas already have. I had to laugh when I read about an interview of a Jeff Broin who is of the ceo of the largest ethanol producing plant in America. He stated he'd like to see gas at a 20% blend. When asked what will millions of small engine owners who are having trouble with E10 do with E85 0r E80 gas, he stated that he sees ethanol blends being chosen by the consumer much like octane rates are. Really. If you had a "choice" of ethanol blend, which would you regularly choose? The added cost of the special pumps with blending capabilities will add another $20K for the pumps. All of which will be borne by the consumer of course. To think, we have ethanol because George B the second passed an energy independence bill in 2007 and every senator and congressman in the corn belt conferred and agreed with. (what else would they do?). A few questions: If we get less mpg with ethanol blended gas, does the extra burning of more fuel offset advantages of less air pollution and fuel usage? 2.If primarily we have this stuff because one of its attributes was lessening of air pollution in big cities, why is the stuff all over the country? 3. With cars becoming more fuel efficient which means burn efficient, why are we continuing to bother with anything added to gas? 4. How much has our energy dependence on oil been reduced with ethanol? This just sounds like another good ole boy back room deal that has more of an economic impact than an actual one. I'm jaded and prejudiced to ethanol because of the political aspect and question its viability because of its performance or lack thereof characteristics. To me, it lies in the same bed as that other woefully inadequate No Child Left Behind government edict. How do we reduce our dependance by adding a substance that gets us as much as a 10%-20% decline in mpg?
Last edited: