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Non-Tech : $2 or higher gas - Can ethanol make a comeback? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: robert b furman who wrote (2682)	5/12/2008 11:03:16 AM
From: miraje	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2801

FWIW, I like GM products. 2 of my 3 vehicles are GM. That being said.. Subsidized and mandated ethanol is a bad joke. For a number of valid reasons. Expect changes in policy as pressure from a number of sources is on the increase. I don't blame GM for creating Flex Fuel vehicles, even though their primary reason for doing so is to get around the onerous (and stupid, IMO) CAFE requirements. E85, aside from the its inherent economical, logistical and environmental problems, is a lousy fuel to use, as it delivers terrible mileage in comparison to gasoline. In order to take advantage of its only positive attribute, very high octane, one would have to raise an engine's compression ratio to the point where it wouldn't run on pump gas, only E85 exclusively. As far as I know, the only vehicle on the boards to go this route is Saleen's next generation super car.. Plug in hybrids (although battery production and disposal is anything but clean and green) do make sense in urban areas, although the additional load on already stretched power grids will mean more brownouts and higher prices, as environuts are doing all they can to halt meaningful additional electricity production capacity. As for hydrogen, sure it's pollution free, but it has to be made before it's used, and that takes energy. Back to square one. Hydrocarbon energy will supply the vast majority of transportation fuel for decades to come, whether derived from crude oil, shale or tar sands, or synthetic fuel from coal to liquid or natural gas. All the greenie posturings to the contrary are so many pie-in-the-sky pipe dreams. And if impediments to developing more of the above are not soon removed, then it won't be only GM that will be in a world of hurt..