There has been bluster and rhetoric for over 30 years about dependence on foreign oil, though there is good reason. Ethanol is one of the many substitute fuels that have been suggested. Over the last few years, gas suppliers have been mixing gasoline and ethanol, in a solution called E10, or 10 percent ethanol. Currently, the EPA is considering whether to approve use of E15 for late or older models. Since the amount of evidence isn't ample enough to really decide, auto producers are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to hold off.
Resource for this article - EPA urged to mull over ethanol by automakers.
The EPA weighs in on E15
Currently, the EPA is finding out what it can concerning the launch of E15. E15 is the next step up from the already widely sold E10. It has a mixture of 15 percent ethanol to 85 percent gasoline. The Department of Energy is testing the effects of E15 on vehicles that are no older than 10 years, according to Popular Mechanics. However, about 88 percent of all cars within the United States of America in use are 10 years old or older. The Auto Alliance, a consortium of vehicle manufacturers, has advised the Environmental Protection Agency not for making any ruling on E15 until Auto Alliance studies have been completed. At least one study, by engineering group Ricardo, Inc., found that E15 has no harmful effects on cars older than 10 years.
Driving under the influence now has a whole different significance
Ethanol also goes by another name, which is moonshine. The energy potential of a chemical is determined by its combustibility, and ethanol is certainly combustible. However, there is a hitch. According to Wikipedia, ethanol has 34 percent less energy by volume than gas does. As result, an ethanol-only engine uses 50 percent more fuel than a gasoline engine. With greater compression, ethanol engines can produce more power and become more efficient. That said, ethanol still doesn't have quite the exact same power as gas does. A rise of mileage cannot be achieved, even with a larger ethanol engine.
Unintended consequences
Use of ethanol isn't likely to be totally curtailed. Grain has been a gasoline crop for a while, and will continue. However, ethanol will never be able to supplant gasoline as a fuel. Grain will become more scarce, and therefore increase in price should much more of the grain harvest be converted to fuel. Cheap and abundant grain can't be discounted, as that is the very thing which made, and still makes, civilization itself possible.
More on this topic
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/biofuels/renewable-fuels-association-urges-epa-to-approve-e15-for-older-vehicles?click=pm_news
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel
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