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Old September 7th 06, 01:20 AM posted to alt.energy.renewable,alt.energy.automobile,rec.autos.tech,sci.environment,sci.chem
Mad Scientist Jr
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Posts: 2
Default E85 vs Gasoline - credible numbers?

Looking for some definitive (or at least of somewhat mainstream
credibility) numbers on E85 vs gasoline:

For production/hauling/storage/etc, end to end:
BTUs consumed to yield X BTUs from ethanol
vs
BTUs consumed to yield X BTUs from gasoline

and

Simply burning the stuff:
Pollutants produced per 100,000 BTU worth of E85 burned
vs
Pollutants produced per 100,000 BTU worth of Gasoline burned

Also what car models (SUVs too) will run on E85?

People talk about ethanol not being worth using because of the fossil
fuel needed to produce it. They are leaving out a couple of factors
1) do you have to burn fossil fuel to produce ethanol? why not run the
facilities on ethanol?
2) what is the total return of energy produced vs consumed, of ethanol
vs gasoline?
3) what is the total pollution difference when you compare the two BTU
for BTU?

I did not find consistent numbers, for instance Wikipedia says Ethanol
produces 27% less energy than gasoline, which would be 0.73 the amount
of energy from gasoline, but a USA Today article says one gallon of
E-85 has an energy content of 80,000 Btu - compared with about
118,000 Btu for a gallon of gas, which would be 0.67 BTUs per gallon of
gas.

Please no flames, just numbers or a balanced mix of web links to
reputable / high profile studies ie a couple by academia (plus any info
on who funds their research), a couple from the oil industry or their
friends, a couple from green friendly studies.

Thanks

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