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Domain: iowacorn.org

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Comments · 7

  1. also . . . by tubbtubb · · Score: 1 · on General Motor's EV1 Electric Cars Scrapped

    Ethanol.
    There are many FFVs out now (Ford Explorer, and several other popular makes that I can't recall) that can use either regular gasoline, or E85, which is 85% ethanol.
    Reduces dependence on foreign oil, burns cleaner, supports US companies.
    See more info here

  2. C2H50H , E85, FFVs by tubbtubb · · Score: 1 · on General Motor's EV1 Electric Cars Scrapped

    Why hasn't anyone brought up ethanol yet with all this talk of "running out of oil"?
    Take a look at some mass-market-appeal type vehicles. Flexible Fuel Vehicles can use E85 (85% ethanol) or regular gasoline, just fill it up with either.
    some more interesting info.

  3. Re:Availability by Burz · · Score: 1 · on Brew Your Own Auto Fuel For 41 Cents A Gallon
    I'd hope so, otherwise Mr. Thermodynamics might have to have a few strong words with Mr. and Mrs. Biodiesel.

    They love biodiesel. Looking at biodiesel production around the world, U.S. biodiesel has one of the least efficient lifecycles: 3.2 units of energy are harvested for each unit used to farm and process the fuel. In Europe, the biodiesel from rapeseed results in a better energy balance of 4.3:1. Corn ethanol, at about 1.2:1 can barely turn an energy profit in comparison.

    This means that current biodiesel production acts as a very effective solar energy-collector. Even so, the future of biodiesel (and ethanol) is in different crops like mustardseed, microalgae, and switchgrass.

    You can get more info here.

  4. The energy gain comes from solar energy by DaveWhite99 · · Score: 1 · on Can Cell Phones Ignite Gasoline Vapors?
    The energy in biodiesel comes from the sun. The sun is what "powers" the plants (mainly soybeans in this country) to produce long-chain hydrocarbons from ground minerals and atmospheric gases. Furthermore, the processing of biodiesel is efficient enough that it only takes about 1 gallon of biodiesel fed back into the system as energy to produce more than 5 gallons. This is actually more energy efficient than most oil well operations outside of the middle east.

    Be careful, cynics. Just because something sounds too good to be true does not mean it can't be true. Also, being cynical, especially on Slashdot, is far too easy. Wouldn't it be more mature to do a little research before bashing a positive idea ?

  5. Re:Doubtful by HokieJP · · Score: 1 · on Manure-Powered Generators On The Rise

    Well, maybe they don't need to, but personally, I have a hard time thinking that even a ruminant can get enough nutrition from cellulose alone to get by.

    Regardless, your point is irrelevant because we certainly do feed the "edible" part of the corn to cows and other animals, whether they "need" to eat it or not. I don't know if you've ever been to America's beautiful corn-growing heartland, but of all the corn they raise out there, a very small percentage is the "Sweet Corn" that humans eat. In fact, over 50% of the corn produced in the US does go to domestic animal feed, and that number may get closer to 70% when you include the corn we export to feed cows in Japan and elsewhere. You can read about it here and here.

    IANA Farmer but as I understand it the green parts of the plant are usually fed to dairy cows as silage, not to beef cattle.

  6. List of flexible fuel vehicles by shed · · Score: 1 · on Where are the 70% Efficient Solar Cells?

    From: http://www.iowacorn.org/ffvs.htm
    The following auto manufacturers are currently producing vehicles that can be operated on E-85 fuels:

    Ford Motor Company
    2002 Models:
    Selected 4.0L Explorer (4-door)
    Selected 4.0L Explorer Sport (2-door)
    Selected 4.0L Explorer Sport Trac
    Selected 3.0L Taurus sedans and wagons
    All 3.0L 4X2 extended cab Ranger pickups

    2001 Models:
    All 3.0L 4X2 extended cab Ranger pickups
    Selected 3.0L Taurus LX, SE, and SES sedans

    1999 and 2000 Models:
    All 3.0L Ranger pickups 4WD and 2WD
    Selected 3.0L Taurus LX, SE, and SES sedans

    1995-1998 Models:
    Selected Taurus 3.0L sedans

    General Motors

    2003 Models:
    All 5.3L Vortec-engine Avalanches

    2002 Models:
    All 5.3L Vortec-engine Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon and Yukon XLs
    Selected 5.3L Vortec-engine Sierra and Silverado pickups

    2000 and 2001 Models:
    All 2.2L Chevrolet S-10 pickup 2WD
    All 2.2L Sonoma GMC pickup 2WD

    Daimler Chrysler
    2000, 2001 and 2002 Models:

    All 3.3L Chrysler Voyager minivans
    All 3.3L Dodge Caravan minivans
    All 3.3L Chrysler Town & Country minivans

    1998 and 1999 Models:
    All 3.3L Dodge Caravan minivans
    All 3.3L Plymouth Voyager minivans
    All 3.3L Chrysler Town & Country minivans

    Isuzu
    All 2000-2001 Isuzu 2.2L Hombre pickups (after Dec. 1999)

    Mazda
    Selected 1999 and 2000 Mazda 3.0L B3000 pickups

    Mercury
    2002 Models:
    Selected 4.0L Mountaineers

    2001 Models:
    Selected 3.0L Sables

  7. Re:Ethanol by cDarwin · · Score: 2, Informative · on Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Recommendations?

    If you're concerned about maintaining your warranty, you might also look into flexible fuel vehicles, which run on ethanol/gasoline mixtures (some up to 100% ethanol!)