Why not, follow my country ideas ???

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John on August 30, 2008 at 1:03pm

I believe that Brazil uses sugar cane to make ethanol, I don't know if our climate would support a large enough crop to make the impact that Brazil enjoys. Brazil from what I have heard uses 40% alcohol in its ethanol, which is a 40% reduction in gasoline, which is huge. We have been chasing alcohol from corn, which is not viable, it uses more energy than it produces, but there are alternatives to corn, such as switch grass, and other plants that produce actual net gains in energy. I saw a program on TV, can't recall the name, but the program was based on ethanol production, the scientist that was interviewed talked about a process using bacteria to break down the cellulose of the plant, which will make it profitable to produce alcohol. so there is some future in ethanol, but we need many solutions to our transportation consumption. But if you add hybrids, and bio fuels, this could reduce our consumption greatly. I hope we can reach the point that Brazil has reached, to have no imported oil. Brazil is to be commended for their achievement.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Felipe Meirelles on August 30, 2008 at 3:58pm

Yes sir, we use sugar cane down there, the climate is not a matter, they can do this here too. We use 100% of alcohol, wich has the same octane as ethanol, the governament adds 22% of alcohol on gasoline also.The corn should be used to feed people and not to "feed" cars.
I saw the same TV show that was amaizing, I think that to reach the Brazilian point we need to start is the Flexfuel cars, we have there, Chevrolets, Volkwagens, Toyotas, Mitsubishis, Fiats, Fords, and others that produce Flewpower cars, and is not more expensive, is just an small set up on the ECU of the cars, (Engine Control Unit).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Antonio on August 30, 2008 at 3:38pm

Another difference why it won't work here it that in Brazil the decision to get into ethanol was a government decision. Back then the government was a dictatorship, where the generals ran the country. Here in US, you are a powerful oil and auto industry among others that makes the decision (lobbies).

Besides corn is used in so many different products that if converted to alcohol will have a huge impact on the pricing of these products. Using foodstuff for fuel is just plain stupid. We probably make more money by exporting the excess corn.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Felipe Meirelles on August 30, 2008 at 3:52pm

Dear Antonio,

You right, we had a dictatorship governament, but this ends in 1985, we have huge powerfull lobies in Brazil too, more than you can imagine, but the automotive industry there is in the ethanol side, was not only a governament decision, starts with the car manufactures that begin building Flexpower vehicles and after that some Brazilian fuel distribuitors like Shell, Texaco, Petrobras and others started selling alcohol, here in the U.S. they need to start producing the sugar cane.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Antonio on August 30, 2008 at 7:46pm

I know. Like you I am from there too. I was there when it all started.We even owned a car that uses ethanol. But alcohol as car fuel in US will never happen. Too expensive to make alcohol from corn. Besides, with the price of gas going down, there is no incentive for alternative fuel (car and power generation). Americans would rather drill for oil believing that can instantly produce cheap gas rather than research for alternative fuel. Already you see politicians asking for new drilling. Only oil companies are happy and getting rich. They "own" those politicians.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by NKYCarbon on August 30, 2008 at 11:21pm

The goverment already supports bio fuels to a large extent which is unlikely to change ( with the negative impact of global food prices ).

This plan highlights some things that the goverment need to increase it's support of.

The reason to do both ( and other things not mentioned ) is that we consume such a large amount. Conservation is a skill we are skill working on.

• ▶ Reply