It is currently popular for automobiles to use 10% ethanol / 90%gasoline mixtures (âgasoholâ) as fuel. According to popularconsensus the main benefit of gasohol use is that it âreduces ourdependence upon foreign oil.â We test this assertion by making someelementary calculations. Our analysis will unrealistically ignoreengine maintenance issues associated with older automobiles (suchas gasket and seal hardening), added fuel consumption necessary toproduce grain used as a feedstock in ethanol production,incremental food price increases associated with a reduction ingrain stocks, and many other effects. Gasohol use typically reducesaverage fuel economy by approximately 15% and effectively leavesfuel prices unchanged. This article further debates the wisdom ofethanol use and may be of interest outside the problems:
http://harvardmagazine.com/2006/11/the-ethanol-illusion.html
These concerns and problems have been strongly influenced byconversations with Dr. H.J. Harmon, of the OSU physicsdepartment.
2. Consider a 14.2 mpg 1991 Ford F150 driven 761 miles. Calculatethe pure gasoline consumption of this truck when: a) usinggasoline, and b) when using gasohol (with its attendant economyreduction). Determine the total CO2 emissions for each fuelassuming all fuels produce 20 lbs of CO2 per gallon. Comment uponthe wisdom of using gasohol versus pure gasoline in this vehicle.
It is currently popular for automobiles to use 10% ethanol / 90%gasoline mixtures (âgasoholâ) as fuel. According to popularconsensus the main benefit of gasohol use is that it âreduces ourdependence upon foreign oil.â We test this assertion by making someelementary calculations. Our analysis will unrealistically ignoreengine maintenance issues associated with older automobiles (suchas gasket and seal hardening), added fuel consumption necessary toproduce grain used as a feedstock in ethanol production,incremental food price increases associated with a reduction ingrain stocks, and many other effects. Gasohol use typically reducesaverage fuel economy by approximately 15% and effectively leavesfuel prices unchanged. This article further debates the wisdom ofethanol use and may be of interest outside the problems:
http://harvardmagazine.com/2006/11/the-ethanol-illusion.html
These concerns and problems have been strongly influenced byconversations with Dr. H.J. Harmon, of the OSU physicsdepartment.
2. Consider a 14.2 mpg 1991 Ford F150 driven 761 miles. Calculatethe pure gasoline consumption of this truck when: a) usinggasoline, and b) when using gasohol (with its attendant economyreduction). Determine the total CO2 emissions for each fuelassuming all fuels produce 20 lbs of CO2 per gallon. Comment uponthe wisdom of using gasohol versus pure gasoline in this vehicle.
