Comments on: Greg Evers: Let Floridians Buy Ethanol-Free Gas

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:43:47 +0000

The video on the site also claims it now takes one unit of energy to produce 2.3 units of energy in ethanol. If so, that is a vast improvement since it used to take more than one unit of energy to produce each unit of ethanol energy. Just a few years ago, every gallon produced raised our dependence on fossil fuel. (I suspect it still does but that’s just because the video makes so many questionable statements.)

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:43:52 +0000

Dan,
One of the articles at the site you refrenced says ethanol reduces the price per gallon by four cents. Since ethanol has about half the energy content, that means E10 would have ninty-five percent the energy content of gasoline without ethanol. That five percent drop would mean more than five percent increase in the number of gallons needed for the same mileage. This more than offsets a four cents out of 350 cents per gallon reduction.

There are other reasons to consider ethanol but reduced transportation cost is not one of them. Drop the per-gallon cost of ethanol to half that of gasoline and you reach break-even.

David for Mr Fusion powered transportation

By: fred

fred — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:33:03 +0000

molino jim – I’m afraid I don’t agree with your contention that ethanol necessarily means cleaner air. The refining process used to make it requires more fossil fuels to power the plants and refining process (however, to be fair, some plants are implementing some solar power), and since it contains less energy, you have to burn more of it to travel a mile over the road. I know the proponents argue against this point strongly, but they have a financial interest in the subsidies and profits to be gained from ethanol sales.
It has to be transported by trucks, barges and rail, because it can’t be piped due to the fact that it picks up excess water and impurities and corrupts the gasoline in the pipe. This transportation process also adds to the burning of fossil fuels (probably diesel).
But, I’m afraid I just don’t feel objective. I hate the stuff, because of the damage it causes engines and fuel systems. Corn makes better whiskey than fuel, in my book.

By: molino jim

molino jim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:18:40 +0000

Three short comments. Try and recall the reason we started using ethanol. Does “clean air” ring a bell? The main source of ethanol is corn– the market for corn is dropping on the world market. Way to go Greg, help farmers loose what little profit there is still left. He keeps bring up the same bills over and over and see them fail, can’t you find any new areas to try to raise the tax base or help jobs?

By: certifiableacct

certifiableacct — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:19:36 +0000

For the southern end of Santa Rosa Co….

The Pure Station has ethanol free gas (Hwy 98 just east of Bergren Rd)

The Parade Station also has ethanol free gas (Hwy 98 just west of the Wendy’s in Gulf Breeze)

By: fred

fred — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:09:00 +0000

@Dan Barlow –
I can tell you from personal experience that ethanol corrupted fuel actually costs more per mile to use than real gasoline. I have tested it and I know it to be true. Now, if the 100% gas is $1 more expensive per gallon, it probably doesn’t work out to be cheaper, but I don’t want that junk in my car to begin with.

Also, ethanol bonds to water. Have you ever noticed cars with mildew around the gas tank access? Usually these are cars that don’t get washed often, but you’ll notice it if you look. This means you could have moisture in your fuel as well.

Does anyone have the figures on the subsidies being paid to gas companies to produce this stuff? When you add that to the cost, it raises the price of ethanol a lot.

By: Dan Barlow

Dan Barlow — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:40:57 +0000

Two questions:
1. Ethanol reduces gas costs by 25-35% ($1.09 in 2011; http://www.ethanolrfa.org). Does this offset the cost of the worse fuel economy?

2. I hear ethanol scavenges for other molecules to bond to. They say that’s why it ruins classic car, boat and lawn mower engines — the ethanol bonds to the less modern hoses, untreated pistons, etc. So if they put an additive in it that took care of the scavenging, would there still be a problem using E10 or E15 in these engines?

By: SLB

SLB — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:10:41 +0000

The Pure Oil gas station in Atmore,Al also sells the ethanol free gas if anyone is looking for another place up on the northend.

By: fred

fred — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:36:33 +0000

THANK YOU MR. EVERS!!!! I use only ethanol free gasoline in my cars, the new ones and the old one. I have tested the mileage and get on average 4mpg improvement in my Chevrolet Tahoe, and about 6 mpg improvement in my Honda. I had some ethanol fuel in my old car, and it literally dissolved the rubber hose section of the fuel line from the inside.

The ethanol fuel crowd will dispute my mpg claim, but I tested it in both new cars, driving the same route at the same speeds over several weeks. Any scientist will also tell you that ethanol fuel does not have the same BTU potential as 100% gasoline. it’s a little more per gallon to buy real gas, but it’s cheaper per mile to use it, only a few pennies, but as long as you don’t use a whole lot of gas getting to the station, you’re saving money.

By: River Rat

River Rat — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:31:27 +0000

@ Bill,
That would be Jackson Street & New Warrington Road.