E85 Gas – Separating Fact from Fiction!

Before we delve into the myths associated with E85 and Flex Fuel; let us first get EDUMICATED! The “E” in E85 stands for Ethanol. Ethanol is a Biofuel that is derived from the starch of corn. The 85 refers to a mixture of 85% Ethanol and 15% Gasoline that makes up this fuel. Consider yourself LEARNED!

E85 Nets Better Gas Mileage – MYTH!
The use of Ethanol significantly hinders fuel mileage because alcohol (what Ethanol actually is) contains less energy than regular gas. Your miles per gallon could be decreased by as much as 15-30%.

E85 Costs less than Regular Gasoline – FACT!* Not Really Though!
Yes E85 is currently around 20% cheaper than regular gasoline. But keep in mind that you get lesser miles per gallon using E85. So the end result is that you would have to purchase more E85 fuel to go the same distance you would by using regular gas. This would offset the money saved at the pump.

E85 is better for the Environment – FACT!
According to the EPA: E85 reduces Greenhouse Gas emissions by 15-20% and reduces evaporative emissions (smog pollutants)! “Ethanol currently is the only compound that can be blended with gasoline to help reduce global warming,” according to a recent study by Smog Reyes.

Ethanol uses Corn that could Feed the Hungry – MYTH!
The corn that is used for Ethanol production is not the same corn used for human consumption. It is the corn used to feed livestock. So are we using up all the corn that is food for animals? Again, No! Ethanol is made from the starch in this corn; the nutrients, minerals, and protein that remain is still used in the production of gluten feed.


E85 has suddenly become popular for a couple of reasons. First it is a Biofuel which means this is a renewable energy source. Where oil might run out some day….we can go on forever creating Ethanol as long as there are farmers with fields of corn. E85 is also much better for our environment. With the Green Movement in full swing; it was inevitable that Smog and Greenhouse emissions would need to be reduced and thus we now have flex fuel cars.


Resources:
http://www.epa.gov/SmartwayLogistics/growandgo/documents/factsheet-e85.htm
http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Biomass/docs/FORUM/Whitten2004.pdf
http://www.smm.org/buzz/blog/e85_ethanol_myths_and_realities
http://e85.whipnet.net/ethanol.faq/topten.myths.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12872060/

Why This Lotus Is Groundbreaking!

At the British Auto Show in London; Lotus unveiled the next step in environmentally friendly cars. The Lotus Eco Elise goes one step further than regular earth friendly cars. While most manufacturers are concerned only with tailpipe CO2 emissions; the Eco Elise jumps ahead of the pack by being built with sustainable materials.

The paint will be water based. The interior will be comprised of bio-degradable materials. The seats, panels, and trim will all contain hemp, eco-wool and sisal. The hardtop will contain solar panel to help power the electrical system.

This car will not only be more environmentally friendly, it will also kick some tail on the track. The usage of these sustainable materials ensures the sportiness of the Eco Elise by further reducing the already feathery weight by another 70 lbs. And in car performance terms, that is a big plus!

Lotus itself has also cleaned up its act. “Dramatic improvements to the culture and operations at Lotus has rewarded the company with staggering reductions in energy (Electricity 14%, Gas 30%) and water (11%) consumed across the Hethel headquarters in 2007, compared to 2006. These advances have coincided with improvements in recycling, with 57% of waste product now being recycled.”
(http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/2008/top-2008-Lotus-Eco-Elise.htm)


http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=128807

100 MPG Car…..The Future Is Oh So Near!

Forget this 40-50 MPG peanuts…..The real news is that the X PRIZE Foundation has offered a $10 million prize for the first production vehicle to break that golden 100 Mile Per Gallon barrier. This foundation is the same that recently paid…you guessed it….$10 million for the first suborbital space flight a few years back. This foundation is dedicated to offering large amounts of money to make huge leaps for humanity.

Since Space the Final Frontier has been conquered…might as well solve the gas crisis. Damn….why did I skip Auto Shop Class! I could be rich…..maybe not….you can bet that the big auto makers are already on the case. The Announcement was made at the New York International Auto Show a few months back. And even the Mayor Bloomberg gave his 2 cents on the prize. "Development of a super-efficient car would be a major step forward in the fight against global warming - and it would help us reach our goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in New York City by 30 percent by 2030." Please…..by 2030 we are going to be oil free. It always seems like America is a little behind the times. Why shoot for 100 MPG….that seems easily within reach. I mean we already have Electric cars, Vegetable Oil powered cars, and so on running around. Gas is a thing of the past! In 2009 a cross-country race will determine the winner of the Progressive Automotive X Prize. Check out their website for more info. http://www.xprize.org/x-prizes/automotive-x-prize

Source: http://www.knbc.com/news/15686890/detail.html

http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/files/img/auto/index_main.jpg

Yellow Taxis Go Green!

Just the sight of 50 million taxis sitting in New York City traffic would be enough to send any tree hugger off the deep end. Well that’s all going to change by the year 2012. Mayor Bloomberg has recently announced that over the next five years the city’s entire fleet of smog emitting taxis will be replaced with more environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles. According to Yahoo News not only will the green taxis cut down on emissions; but they will also increase gas mileage. Now if only the Mayor could get the cabbies to emit less obnoxious emissions!

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