| |
G4EBT > FUEL 08.12.08 02:27l 160 Lines 6375 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : A59733G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: Ethanol % in Oz - VK4TRS
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0IUZ<DB0OVN<DB0UHC<DB0RES<IK2XDE<PY1AYH<
F4BWT<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 081207/2035Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:20560 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:A59733G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : FUEL@WW
Bruce, VK4TRS wrote:-
>...sugar cane growers are mostly contracted to different companies
>and have been for decades. Australia only uses 10% ethanol hence (E95).
Good to see a bull from you Bruce - last ones
I saw from you were Feb 08, then July 07!
> Only 2 Ethanol plants in Australia one is in Sarina QLD and the other
> I believe is in Victoria. Contractors transport Ethanol in Queensland,
> EX-Sarina QLD across to Darwin, south to Brisbane, Sydney to
> subcontractor Terminals (Not Oil Refineries) where storage excess
> millions of litres.
I wonder how much fuel they use on the way for transportation?
Sugar Cane is a good example of a raw material which can be cultivated to
produce alcohol. Other food crops such as corn and potato can be used to
but none seem to have the potential of sugar cane.
Sugar Cane has a very efficient cropping habit and the fibrous waste
(bagasse) can be used to power the plant and evaporate the cane juice.
The world's largest producer of ethanol from sugar cane is Brazil but
other countries include India and Mauritius and there are more with
considerable potential.
The main environmental argument in favour is that the growing of the crops
absorbs carbon, so compensates for the eventual emissions. That argument
has its doubters but there can be little doubt that this is preferable to
the use of fossil fuels.
What few people seem to be adressing is the demand side of the equation.
America (and to some extent Oz, with its 'big six' Holdens) has a penchant
for gas guzzling cars. They tend to see new methods of production of fuels
as a means to continue in the same way, worrying less about consumption
and tailpipe emissions than the price at the pumps.
>remember when your buying your next tank full, how much ethanol is
>really in this, I know for a fact that it can be between 4% and 15% but
>mostly around 8%.
In Europe, diesel-engined cars are commonplace.
Until perhaps two years ago diesel had a price advantage as well as better
MPG - drivers were encouraged to switch to Diesel, especially if they do
high mileages.
However, diesel has become quite a bit more expensive than petrol.
Presently in this area the cheapest diesel costs £1.04GBP a Litre,
four-star 95 RON petrol is 82 pence a Litre.
I drive a 1.9L diesel, which averages 52mpg (we buy fuel by the Litre, but
the odometer calculates MPG). My wife has a 1.2L petrol car which averages
42 MPG.
A litre = 0.22 Imp gallons, so an Imp gallon = 4.55 Litres.
Thus, a gallon of diesel costs 4.55 x £1.04 = £4.73.
A gallon of 4* 95 RON petrol costs 4.55 x £0.82 = £3.73
So, my 1.9L diesel car costs £4.73/52MPG = 9.1 pence a mile in fuel.
My wife's 1.2L petrol car costs £3.73/42 = 8.9 pence a mile in fuel.
The difference is neither here nor there.
One consideration in the UK is that annual excise duty
varies according to tailpipe emissions, which are presently:
Band CO2 emission (g/km) 12 months rate
A Up to 100 Free of duty
B 101-120 £35.00
C 121-150 £120.00
D 151-165 £145.00
E 166-185 £170.00
F Over 185 £210.00
G Over 225 £400.00**
** For cars registered after 23/03/06
A growing number of car manufacturers endorse the use of biodiesel
both in 'blend' with mineral diesel, and 'pure' - 100% biodiesel fuel.
In Europe, biodiesel is produced to conform to EN 14214 European standard.
Numerous engine manufacturers have endorsed the use of a 95/5
diesel/biodiesel mix (now commonplace) without invalidating the
maker's warranty.
It isn't just about economics.
Politics are intimately entwined with economics because politicians want
to be elected or re-elected and that often depends on their influence over
the prosperity of their constituents.
This is true for both local and national politicians. For example a law
allowing the production of alcohol from field waste might be a good move
for a local politician in a farming community.
On a national basis, politicians might worry about the volatility of oil
prices and thus there's pressure to look for home produced fuels. But as
the example of Brazil and sugar cane shows, this line of action can create
its own volatility.
There's always a trade-off, and often, unforeseen consequences.
Look what happened to world food prices with corn for ethanol programmes.
There are international political pressures of other kinds too.
Nations have reacted differently to principles enshrined in the Kyoto
Protocol. Where a populace is dedicated to habits of car worship then
it's likely to be in the forefront with high carbon emissions and that's
counter to Kyoto.
America is the best example - Ford, GM and Chrysler are dinosaurs.
They've seen it coming for fifty years, yet still produce cars which few
want to buy. The only viable car industry in America is Hyundai, Honda,
Toyota et al.
The US car industry is bleeding to death - the present recession is just
the last nail in the coffin. It is haemorrhaging sales, cash and jobs.
Obama has been burdened with unrealistic and excessive expectations that
he can solve the global financial crisis. He has to decide whether to raid
the $700bn troubled asset relief programme (Tarp) set aside for banks and
insurers to rescue Detroit, throwing good money after bad.
Basically the big three have had it - they're sunk.
GM might survive as a global car company, increasingly operating outside
the US, with different pay and reward deals from the US. Ford may survive
by selling some of its more profitable European subsidiaries. But even if
they manage this, it is sad end to what was once a central element in the
American industrial dream.
A leader of a community which produces gas guzzling cars who took global
warming seriously (and, for example, tried to limit the consumption of
oil) wouldn't increase his/her popularity.
On the other hand increasing biomass fuels and downsizing care engines,
making them more efficient could contribute to the reduction of dependence
on a Middle East oil and possible international strife.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 20:34 on 2008-Dec-07
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
(Registered).
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
