Ethanol Emissions

There is a controversy raging around ethanol emissions. Some say this biofuel can reduce harmful emissions while others say the emissions produced by ethanol are as bad if not worse than those from gasoline. Which side to believe? The best course of action when researching ethanol fuel as an investment or as an alternative to gasoline for your vehicle is research. The more you learn about this fuel and the options available to you the better off you and the environment will be. The Internet is a good research tool but the bulk of information on this topic can be overwhelming.


First, let's take a look at the practice of adding ethanol to gasoline. Most conventional gas being sold at stations everywhere does contain a small percentage of ethanol. This is because the percentage of oxygen in ethonal causes better combustion and reduces polluting emissions. Because ethanol is biodegradable and water soluble it is much better for the environment than petroleum based gasoline which contains benzene, a known carcinogen. Ethanol comes from renewable plant sources unlike the limited supply of petroleum fossil fuels.

In addition to being added to conventional gas, ethanol comes in a blend called E85. It contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas, and over 400 stations in the United States have it. In order to use E85 you will need to have a compatible vehicle. Many vehicles made since the 80's can take this fuel, just check in your owners manual or refer to the sticker on the inside of your fuel fill door. Now, before you jump on the ethanol bandwagon you should know more about the apparent downsides as well.

According to a Fox News story run in 2006, a Stanford University atmospheric chemist named Professor Mark Jacobson claimed that E85 may release emissions that might be very dangerous to human beings with medical conditions like asthma and other related respiratory disorders. The study done by Professor Jacobson also stated that cars using ethanol may increase toxic ozone levels in heavily populated cities such as Los Angeles. So what is the verdict when it comes to ethanol emissions? It seems only time will tell and each consumer is best off doing their own research and deciding for themselves where they stand on this issue.



People & Power - Ethanol & Bio-fuels - 17 Sep 07 - Part 1

 



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