| | | Ethanol Cars

From WikiVerde

There is much speculation as to the good and bad of ethanol cars and using ethanol fuel. It seems that ethanol cars may be the only positive thing to look forward to when considering the future of the current automotive industry. Ethanol provides a less expensive alternative to the high cost of today's gasoline.

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1 Green Effects OF Ethanol
2 Ethanol Greatness
3 Ethanol – What Is It?
4 Producing Ethanol For Cars
5 Ethanol Cars And The Future
6 National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
7 Country Participation
8 References

Green Effects OF Ethanol

By using ethanol cars, the popularity of this green option is rising in popularity. The more it becomes popular for individuals to do their bit for the environment, the more these alternatives are being considered more important. Ethanol is not only a better fuel choice, it is much easier to make and can be made much cheaper and safer than regular gasoline or other petroleum fuels.

Ethanol Greatness

The best part of using ethanol cars is the benefits it provides. Since it is a renewable option it will not run out like oil-based gasoline. This is why it is becoming more and more popular. If the resources on the planet are used up, how are we going to make it? Ethanol cars provide less air pollution than gasoline or diesel and are better for air quality. It also costs much less to make.

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Ethanol – What Is It?

For those who do not know what ethanol is, it is simply an alcohol based fuel supplied from grain products. It is a formula created from the natural sugars contained in crops such as wheat, corn, potatoes, barley and cane sugar. These items are processed into a renewable form of fuel or additives for fuel. By utilizing this method, the fuel created is inexpensive and better for the environment. The majority of the vehicles on the market today can run on gasoline and ethanol mixes.

Producing Ethanol For Cars

Corn is the most used ingredient in the Ethanol in the US and the method used for the creation of Ethanol is a process of eight separate stages. To begin, the corn is crushed into a very fine powder. The powder is then mixed with water and a substance called Alpha-amylase. The mixture is heated to 150 degrees C. The use of heat kills most of the bacteria the mixture contains. The mash is then cooled by Saccharification and glucoamylase is added for sugar creation. Yeast is added to ferment the mixture to change the sugar into Ethanol. The entire process takes 48 hours to complete.

Separating The Mix

The mash is then distilled and has an alcohol ratio of about ten percent and the solids are about ninety percent of the mixture. Since the two are now separate, the solids can be removed to create ninety-six percent alcohol strength in the leftover fluid. The water is then removed and the mix is dehydrated. The alcohol mixture is now a two-hundred proof mixture and not yet ready to run an ethanol vehicle. If the alcohol is going to be used for human consumption, the process stops here. For cars to use it, a denaturing process needs to be completed by adding a minimum of two percent gasoline. Feed for livestock is created from the solids and carbon dioxide gas is also created and used by other industries.

Ethanol Cars And The Future

Almost one hundred plants are currently producing Ethanol for multiple uses. This also means that more and more vehicles are being equipped with engines capable of sustaining ethanol fuels. As far as the price of the fuel, it seems to run as much as the gasoline does but is in the process of going down. Hybrid vehicles and those that run on ethanol seem to be more prevalent in Brazil and a few of the other countries that are promoting a healthier lifestyle. The United States is offering some current year models as well as those from 2006 and 2007 that offer the ability to run on Ethanol fuels. For those vehicles that have a regular engine, there are conversion kits available to change them into a more eco-friendly vehicle. The cost of such kits is not a largely expensive undertaking but will save much money in the long run. It will also help to provide more natural resources in the environment stay around for a few more generations than is expected now.

National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition

For those interested in finding out more about vehicles that run on Ethanol fuel, the not for profit group, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, can provide the information and answers needed to make an informed decision. They promote over eighty-five percent of the United States ethanol use as fuel for transportation. There are also opportunities available through the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition for those interested in giving of their time and promoting the better way of life through the use of cleaner burning fuels that renew themselves and give the environment a cleaner alternative to petroleum products and pollution.

Country Participation

Right now, twelve companies are using and creating Ethanol for use in cars. This means these vehicles are getting better gas mileage and have a lower amount of toxic additives that are damaging to the environment. More countries are coming up with their own ways to create Ethanol and promoting the use of Ethanol vehicles to lower carbon monoxide, greenhouse gases, and the amount it costs to send fuel across country borders. Countries are finding they can make their own fuel and lower their export costs. Countries using and producing their own ethanol products include: France, Philippines, The United States, France, Costa Rica, South Africa, Indonesia, Guatemala, the Sudan, Argentina, Kenya, and Thailand.