Friday, January 30, 2009

Vehicles and powers sources

So following on the ethanol fuel question.

I'm currently of the opinion that the capitalist way that ethanol fuels are being developed and managed is a BAD thing.
Pros
* Short CO2 lifecycle (plants grow taking CO2 out of air, we burn fuel putting it back in)

Cons
* Food crops are being diverted to ethanol production due to simple market economics and as a result it is contributing to world food shortages. (Fuel producers and car drivers are paying more.)
* Forests are being cleared to produce the ethanol sources.
* Ethanol is borderline on energy efficiency (ie: net energy in is sometimes greater than net energy out, mostly depending on fuel source)


As a tip, if you buy E10 or whatever fuel due to cost, be aware that;
1) not all cars can handle ethanol due to gumming up the jets
2) In my tests, E10 gives about a 6% reduction in fuel efficiency (ie: less km/L), so if the price is not >6% less, you're paying more $/km.

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