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Advantages And Disadvantages Ethanol Fuel
Ethanol is an alternate fuel extracted from plants and other organic substances. It can be produced from such sources as corn, sugar cane, waste paper and grains like sorghum and wheat. There is a raging debate on the advantages and disadvantages of ethanol as a fuel. Some are listed below: |
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Advantages of Ethanol Fuel:
- Ethanol as an energy source could be a renewable and sustainable. It can reduce the rate of depletion of fossil fuels reliant on carbon-based compounds, which have a limited reserve.
- The US can produce E85 so reducing its dependence on imported oil. E85 is a mixture of ethanol and gasoline in a ratio of 85:15.
- Ethanol comes with a host of environmental benefits such as reduced emissions and greenhouse gases.
- Ethanol is high-octane. Power acceleration and cruising speed is not compromised with an ethanol/gasoline mix.
- Hybrid vehicles become flexible. They can run either totally on gasoline or on an 85 percent ethanol mix.
Disadvantages of Ethanol Fuel:
- Ethanol in E85 form is highly corrosive. The entire train from fuel tank through to engine block will have to be made more corrosion and damage resistant. It is likely that fuel tanks might have to be constructed of stainless steel and all hoses of an alternate material, as ethanol rapidly corrodes rubber.
- Ethanol easily absorbs water and dirt, both of which will affect the engine block.
- The energy content in ethanol is lower than gasoline. This would mean a lower fuel economy.
- Refueling stations are limited. There are very few in the US and most are located in the mid-west.
- Since ethanol is a plant derivative, the costs of other products that rely on the same source are likely to rise if corn and sugarcane is diverted to production of ethanol.
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Deforestation Of Brazil Due To Ethanol
 Brazil is already the scene of the most extensive deforestation in the world, accounting for 42 percent of the world's net forest losses from 2000 to 2005, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization. At the current rate of deforestation, the Amazon rainforests are expected to shrink by 40 percent of its present area by the year 2050. Brazil’s Cerrado is faring even worse with all remaining vegetation projected to be lost by 2030. More..
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