What will happen if E85 gets popular ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: SF Bay Area CA
What will happen if E85 gets popular ?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/03/26/b....ap/index.html
So, automakers seem to go for E85 soon. They say they can produce 2mil cars capable to run on E85 in 2010.
If that happens and E85 gets very popular, what modification do we need on our C3 to run E85 ?
So, automakers seem to go for E85 soon. They say they can produce 2mil cars capable to run on E85 in 2010.
If that happens and E85 gets very popular, what modification do we need on our C3 to run E85 ?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...corn on the cob will be priced so that movie stars will be the only ones that can afford it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: WI
I wouldn't get too worried about it. According to a number of thoughtful magazine analysis, it's a brilliant stop-gap measure for the car companies (like Ford/GM) that didn't have many other profitable vehicles besides trucks/SUVs in the wave of high fuel prices and financial turmoil to keep the ship afloat. It allows them to effectively market an alternative fuel vehicle (when Toyota was stealing all the publicity with the Prius) and slip through a tax loophole to continue to earn significant profits on each SUV. A brilliantly simple and effective marketing strategy.
Don't get me wrong, I love GM and glad to hear things are beginning to turn round for them, ...and I do own a Jeep G/C. But several magazines that have thoughtfully analyzed E85 conclude there aren't much savings when you take all costs into account and reduced fuel economy of E85 (from Corn). I think it's technology that should definitely be explored, and expanded into other Biomass sources.
Mark G
Don't get me wrong, I love GM and glad to hear things are beginning to turn round for them, ...and I do own a Jeep G/C. But several magazines that have thoughtfully analyzed E85 conclude there aren't much savings when you take all costs into account and reduced fuel economy of E85 (from Corn). I think it's technology that should definitely be explored, and expanded into other Biomass sources.
Mark G
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
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From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
not to worry
*** News Flash 9/06: We have recently been doing testing with E85 Ethanol. Really interesting results so far. This could be a really viable alternative to racing gas or even pump gas considering the pricing, power, & fuel properties. There is a torque & power advantage over conventional fuel & will support compression at least up to 12:5.1. Through our testing we've learned how important the proper fuel requirements & tune-up are for maximum power & drivability. We think E85 is going to be a real winner considering the power & pricing advantages especially once E85 becomes more readily available.
Neal
*** News Flash 9/06: We have recently been doing testing with E85 Ethanol. Really interesting results so far. This could be a really viable alternative to racing gas or even pump gas considering the pricing, power, & fuel properties. There is a torque & power advantage over conventional fuel & will support compression at least up to 12:5.1. Through our testing we've learned how important the proper fuel requirements & tune-up are for maximum power & drivability. We think E85 is going to be a real winner considering the power & pricing advantages especially once E85 becomes more readily available.
Neal
Drifting
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From: North Bend Ohio
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: WI
did I not read where it costs more to produce than they are selling it for and the government is subsidising ethanol? and that actually costs more to use because it produces less power so your mileage would be less?
...redvetracr
...redvetracr
Race Director
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From: FL
I was just in Denver and the Monte Carlo I rented was an E85 FlexFuel vehicle. E85 cost $2.75 a gal versus $2.55 for regular and returned 20% less miles per a gallon.
Hmm, pay more, drive less distance. Sounds like a bargain.
NOT.
IMHO, E85 is a scam with the government subsidizing the corm producers. What we really need is better hybrids, drilling in ANWR, and more refineries.
Hmm, pay more, drive less distance. Sounds like a bargain.
NOT.IMHO, E85 is a scam with the government subsidizing the corm producers. What we really need is better hybrids, drilling in ANWR, and more refineries.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: MN-C3, AZ-C7
Something like 50 cents a gallon you and I are paying thru our taxes so we can buy a higher cost to produce gas that produces less power.
Another tidbit...it holds more water content so it cannot be shipped thru the pipeline because it will rust them....so it has to be trucked from the north to Texas where it is mandated. Just think of the cost (and energy wasted) of trucking all that gas south
JU
Team Owner
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From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
link
The DOE is funding a bunch of factories to do this to test capacity and production.
trw
Race Director
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
I think E85 and electric cars should be mandated in CA and FL. That would leave enough gasoline for the rest of us who really need it.
Le Mans Master
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From: Boca Raton Florida
that is hilarious...or i'm too easily amused lol
Race Director
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
E85 is just the current temporary trend to fix the larger problem. Besides, our country can't support both large scale fuel and food from the same source, so don't expect this to be permanent. It will never make it past small percentages of vehicles on the roads.
