Ethanol Hybrids

One Hundred Forty Fifth Post: Ethanol Hybrids

New hybrids are just now becoming popular. The need for oil independence is there. Ford recently has been showing a commercial where they talk about new ethanol hybrids coming out soon. The site is http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/specialtyVehicles/environmental/ethanol.htm. It is better than nothing, but isn’t this technology 30 years to late. Ford admits that Henry Ford originally tried ethanol as a means to fuel his cars, but oil was a cheaper alternative.

Ethanol is by no means new. It has been an additive in some gasolines for years. But as found by searching the web, it increases octane so the timing of ordinary gasoline engines is off to use the ethanol efficiently. Ford said that its ethanol hybrids will operate on 85% ethanol and 15% regular gasoline.

I have a few questions for this technology. This first is that if only slight modifications had to made to an average, gasoline combustion engine why wasn’t this done sooner? If alcohol can be nearly as efficient and easy to produce from corn and other renewable resources why wasn’t this done sooner? Secondly what are the byproducts of burning ethanol? And lastly, where do you find a gas station that caries the ethanol?

I would like to see a diagram of the ethanol engine explaining how it differs from a regular gasoline engine. But until then it is something to watch and surf the net for.... And May the Creative Force be with You