The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 334
both fuels and then cherry-pick certain elements of gasoline production/use and
compare them to cherry-picked elements in ethanol production/use in which
they may appear favorable. However, these are not even necessarily “recent”
stories, but simply re-worked lies and misinformation that the oil industry has
circulated for decades.
• To say that ethanol reduces mileage in cars because it is less-energy dense
than gasoline is ludicrous and preposterous. Energy density has nothing to do
with why there is a difference in mileage. The typical spark-induced internal
combustion engine will get better mileage using gasoline because the engine
is optimized to run on gasoline. If the engine was optimized to run on ethanol,
it would get at least the same mileage, with more power.
In order to optimize an engine for either ethanol or gasoline, there are three key
components: the fuel injectors used, the timing of the spark, and the length of
the piston stroke. None of these three components rely on “energy-density.”
The argument of energy-density, which is predicated upon BTU-ratings is not
relevant to internal combustion engines. BTUs are a good measure for steampowered engines.
• Ethanol does not cause more wear and tear on engines, it helps them to run
more smoothly. It is why ethanol must be added to gasoline – without it, or
poisonous lead, the engines would shake apart from the knocking (I assume
you’ve heard of engine knock).
Ethanol cleans engines. It removes the gunky deposits that form in gasolinepowered engines.
• Ethanol costs less than gasoline. Even without pump subsidies, E85 costs
less than gasoline. Additionally, in most cases, even when taking into account
any reduction in mileage from using E85 in a gasoline-optimized engine, the
lower cost for E85 makes up for the reduction in mileage. Therefore, there is a
net advantage for the consumer.
Furthermore, since ethanol can be produced by anyone, anywhere, from a very
wide assortment of raw materials that can cost as little as zero, ethanol will
always be easier and cheaper to produce than gasoline… until and unless the
oil industry can get the government to make alcohol production illegal, again. I
hope you are not an advocate for probation.
