Autoblog

Feds punt on E15 waiver decision, want to test ethanol's effect on more cars

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST

There is some ethanol in almost all of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Usually, this amount is no more than 10 percent of the total and, if it's more than that, it jumps all the way to 85 percent and is sold as E85. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to come down on one side or the other today of a possible increase across the board to 15 percent that Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers asked for, but instead announced that it needs more time.

The EPA has been looking at the E15 issue all year and investigating all sorts of issues, but there are a lot of moving parts in this sort of decision. Everyone from farmers and their subsidies to grow the corn used to make most of the ethanol sold today to car makers who have tuned their engines to run on E10 but not E15 want to have their say. The EPA has heard the comments, and now says that it needs more time to test E15 in vehicles. Right now, it thinks that any vehicle built after 2001 will burn E15 just fine, but there are a lot of older vehicles still on the road. Cash For Clunkers didn't get all of them off the road, after all. A decision is now expected in mid-June 2010.

The postponement was met with approval by the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures, which said they want more government testing "to prove that increasing the allowable ethanol blend limit will not harm vehicle emissions, performance, and durability." Read their full statement after the jump.

[Source: Reuters, Auto Allliance | Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images]

Continue reading Feds punt on E15 waiver decision, want to test ethanol's effect on more cars

Feds punt on E15 waiver decision, want to test ethanol's effect on more cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ethanol from almost anything? Coskata opens Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant

Sebastian Blanco — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Electric

Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant - Click above for high-res image gallery

Coskata's newly-opened semi-commercial flex ethanol facility in Madison, Pennsylvania is as small as it can possibly be. Co-located at a Westinghouse facility that also in some fashion uses nuclear energy, the Lighthouse project, as it's called, is running 24/7 to turn wood chips into ethanol. It's also intended to show off just how far Coskata has come since emerging from stealth mode almost two years ago. Oh, and the plant can also be scaled up to fit the needs of cellulosic ethanol producers from coast to coast.

The Lighthouse plant follows the Horizon integrated processing plant that started in 2008 in Warrenville, Illinois and precedes the Flagship plant that is due for 2012 at a location somewhere in the Southeast U.S. that will be announced later. The location for the Flagship plant has been selected, but Coskata will not specify where it will be until it can talk more specifically about the financing arrangements involved for the 55-million-gallon-per-year plant that will use forest residue and other woody biomass.

Coskata says the Flagship will be "the first commercially-viable, feedstock-flexible ethanol facility." The company has not taken any government money to date, but they may apply for DOE loan guarantees for the Flagship plant. Coskata will also not expand this Madison Lighthouse facility. In fact, they're only located there as a guest and will leave when the contract is up. The facility is modular and will actually be dismantled and trucked to the Flagship location in the future.

What might this plant offer, both for partner General Motors and for the U.S.'s biofuel needs? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Continue reading Ethanol from almost anything? Coskata opens Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant

Ethanol from almost anything? Coskata opens Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Bentley, Electric, Luxury

Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the environmental merits of any 621 horsepower, twelve-cylinder behemoth that's capable of traveling at speeds of up to 204 miles per hour are, at the very least, debatable, Bentley hasn't exactly been shy about touting the green angle of its upcoming 2010 Continental Supersports.

Further straining the gorgeous coupe's eco credibility is word from Green Car Advisor that U.S. laws and "engineering challenges" - including the fitment of hardened valve seats in Bentley's W12 engine - mean that the first 200 Supersports imported to the United States won't actually be flex-fuel capable.

Ah well, somehow we doubt that buyers willing to plonk down the $267,000 it takes to park a twin-turbocharged Continental Supersports in their driveway will be all that concerned with pumping ethanol in the tank.

UPDATE: Bentley informs us that there is no delay in the Continental Supersport's getting the flex-fuel treatment. It's been Bentley's plan all along to wait until summer of 2010 to introduce flex-fuel capability in the United States.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Mazda, Electric

Dyson Racing B09/96 running at Mid-Ohio - click above for high-res image gallery

When we spoke with American Le Mans Series CEO Scott Atherton at the Detroit Auto Show last January, he revealed that discussions were being held between the series and parties interested in racing with a new fuel. At the time, he declined to reveal the nature of the fuel but expected to announce something during the 2009 season. We're now down to the second to last race of 2009 and a fourth series fuel has finally arrived.

Dyson Racing's LMP2 #16 Lola-Mazda is running unclassified at this weekend's Petit Le Mans because its fuel tank will be filled with a blend of biobutanol and ethanol. This is the first use of butanol in an ALMS car. Dyson has been working with its primary sponsor BP and engine supplier Mazda to develop the new fuel which is currently produced from sugar cane but can also be produced from cellulosic sources. Butanol has several advantages over ethanol including higher energy density allowing mileage and power closer to that of gasoline. What's more, because it doesn't have the same tendency to absorb water (which causes corrosion), it can be blended with gasoline in higher concentrations without modifying the engines. Hopefully, we'll see cars running for points fueled by butanol all season long in 2010. Check out our high-res gallery below and the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Dyson Racing Mazda-Lola at Mid-Ohio

[Source: American Le Mans Series]
All photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans

Dyson Racing debuts ethanol-biobutanol blend at Petit Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watermelon Juice - the next great automotive fuel?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:01:00 EST

Corn as a source for ethanol has its problems. While there are a number of backers, there are real issues that need to be addressed, including (but not necessarily limited to) the huge amount of corn required to brew large batches of the alcohol fuel and the large quantities of water needed in the process. A new alternative is just now popping up that may offer at least a partial solution: watermelon juice.

According to Discovery News, 360,000 tons of watermelons are left to rot and spoil each and every year as farmers leave between 20 and 40 percent of their crops on the ground. Why? It seems consumers just won't buy watermelons that don't look quite as attractive as their siblings, whether that's due to an odd shape, smaller size or minor animal damage. Researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture in Lane, Oklahoma, have found that its possible to create ethanol from these unwanted watermelons. We've heard about this potential biomass before.

Though there's only enough watermelon juice available to brew 2.5 million gallons of ethanol (total ethanol production will top 9 billion gallons this year), researchers indicate that the tasty nectar can be used to displace up to 15% of corn or molasses, cut down on water usage and supply needed nitrogen to the mix.

College Station, Texas-based company Common Sense Agriculture, LLC is reportedly working on a prototype plant to produce ethanol from waste watermelons. Company President Jim Rausch points out:

"This is not going to replace corn. In that sense it will remain a niche source of biofuel. But unlike algae biodiesel or cellulosic ethanol, it's a right now thing. There's no new technology that needs to be developed to make it economical."

[Source: Discovery News | Image: babasteve - CC 2.0]

Watermelon Juice - the next great automotive fuel? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lazareth creates a 500-horsepower E85-powered quad (w/VIDEO)

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, BMW, Motorcycle, Electric

Lazareth Wazuma Bio V12 - Click above for an image gallery

French automobile and motorcycle builder Lazareth has managed to shoehorn an entire BMW V12 engine into one of its crazy Wazuma quads. While there isn't much that's environmentally friendly about a 500-horsepower supercharged V12 from BMW that's powering a rather large and impractical quad platform, Lazareth has decided to attempt to give the machine a bit of eco-cred by running the engine on E85.

Why use ethanol in a decidedly performance-minded machine? We'd guess Lazareth's decision to run E85 as a fuel is due to its superior octane rating, which allows the engine to run a higher compression ratio than with gasoline. If you're interested in adding an ethanol-burning, V12-powered road rocket to your own personal stable of vehicles, all you need to do is write Lazareth a check for €200,000 ($283,000) and await your delivery. Click past the break for a video of the Wazuma Bio V12 in action.

Gallery: Lazareth Wazuma Bio V12

[Source: MotoRevue via Faster and Faster]

Continue reading Lazareth creates a 500-horsepower E85-powered quad (w/VIDEO)

Lazareth creates a 500-horsepower E85-powered quad (w/VIDEO) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Energy Secretary Chu: All American cars should be E85 capable

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Electric

In early May, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $786.5 million "third-generation" biofuel program. Yesterday, ex-biofuel researcher Stephen Chu, the Energy Secretary, said that all cars made in America should be able to burn ethanol (E85). Earlier this month, Chu said electric vehicles were "inevitable."

Predictably, Chu made the E85 statement deep in corn ethanol country - in Des Moines, Iowa - yesterday, even though he has previously said that, "corn is not the right crop for biofuels." Chu's promotion of E85 capability seems to be driven by the low cost of making a standard internal-combustion vehicle able to burn the biofuel. Chu said that:

I've been told it costs about $100 in gaskets and fuel lines to turn a car so that it can go all the way to E85. But a new car, it would only cost $100 out of $15,000. Wouldn't it be nice to put in those fuel lines and gaskets so that we can use any ratio we wanted?

While Chu made clear that the Obama Administration is not ready to mandate any flex-fuel capability at this time, that "any ratio" line surely caught the attention of those pushing for an increase in the nation ethanol blend to 15 percent. For more on the E15 debate, click here.

Gallery: Ford E85 Escape Hybrids

[Source: Des Moines Register]

Energy Secretary Chu: All American cars should be E85 capable originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Price of Green: Bentley Continental Supersports is $267,000

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Green, Supercars, Bentley, Electric

Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for a high-res gallery

The Continental Supersports has been priced, with Bentley having decided that $267,000 is fair compensation for exclusive access to green, luxurious speed. The ethanol-capable Conti is not only a sign of Bentley technology to come, it also provides the first clues to the next generation Continental, which we were told "isn't far off." Orders can be placed beginning in October, though the first couple hundred units earmarked for the U.S. will be gas-only, with the full on flex-fuel model arriving Stateside summer of 2010.

The total price includes ceramic brakes but not destination and gas guzzler tax, which will take you up to about $275,000. After that, the only limit is your Cayman Islands balance. Check out the gallery of high-res pics below.

Gallery: New York 2009: Bentley Continental Supersports

The Price of Green: Bentley Continental Supersports is $267,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: Bentley goes green - really fast - with the Continental Supersports

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Green, Supercars, Bentley

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bentley Continental Supersports

Bentley has decided to go green, and the fabulously white coupe you see above is how they've done it: "a muscular two-seater that delivers supercar performance and a highly focused driving experience." Sounds green so far, right? It's called the Continental Supersports, and the marque from Crewe hasn't merely pulled out all the stops... they created a few extra stops, just so they could pull them out as well.

Under the hood is the Supersports' main event: the most powerful engine Bentley has ever created, it is a 621 brake horsepower, 590 pound-feet of torque, E85-capable W12 that pulls the ghostly looking thing to 60 in just - ready for this? - 3.7 seconds. The engine is fitted with sensors to monitor how much gasoline and/or ethanol is being used, and power and torque stay constant no matter what the ratio is. Speaking of torque, all of it is available at the low, low rpm of 1,750. In case there's a Polaris rocket in the next lane you need to teach a few lessons.

While that engine might take the title card, there is a massively full undercard as well. That 3.7-second 0-to-60 flip is not only about the engine, it's about the fact that the car is 110 kilograms lighter than its 4-seater brethren. The Supersports has rear deck where back seats once resided, and it has also scored a raft of weight-saving components like the wheels and those carbon fiber thrones. It also benefits from Quickshift, which halves gear change times.

Of course, there are a gaggle of additional details, but you don't need us to tell you about it. There's a detailed press release after the jump, and a gallery of high-res photos below. If this is the future of green, *ahem,* yes, over here please.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Bentley goes green - really fast - with the Continental Supersports

Geneva Preview: Bentley goes green - really fast - with the Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Bentley releases early footage of new biofuel supercar

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:39:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Green, Videos, Supercars, Bentley

Click above to watch video after the jump

Bentley has released a teaser video of its upcoming new "extreme" biofuel supercar, which we expect will use a version of the British firm's existing German-engineered twelve-cylinder engine adapted to run on ethanol. Although Bentley is trying hard to promote the green side of the flex-fuel equation, horsepower addicts will also find something to like from the new machine. Quite a bit more power can be extracted from ethanol when an engine has been properly tuned to run on the high-octane fuel, so it shouldn't be too surprising that the British automaker is claiming that its new coupe will be its most powerful production car ever, a title previously held by the 600-horsepower Continental GT Speed.

As with any flex-fuel engine, the car will be able to run on any mixture of gasoline and ethanol, and its on-board computer will adjust the timing to run properly and make as much power as possible. We're sure we'll get plenty more details before the car's official unveiling on March 3rd at the Geneva Motor Show, but for now, enjoy the video after the jump.

[Source: ExtremeBentley.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bentley releases early footage of new biofuel supercar

VIDEO: Bentley releases early footage of new biofuel supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oklahoma Dreamin': Mustang-lovin' corn-grower chases record with ethanol

Noah Joseph — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green, Ford

Brent Hajek loves racing cars and corn. The Oklahoma corn farmer is also the proprietor of a race car museum, and has managed to combine his two passions in an effort to set a new land speed record.

The idea came out of the record Ford set with a Mustang Mach 1 some 40 years ago. Hajek wanted to commemorate the event by returning to Bonneville, and even got the original record driver's son to pilot his modified S197 Mustang. The idea really gained steam - and support from FoMoCo - when Hajek and co. decided to go for the record using E85 bio-ethanol. They set a top speed of 252.78 mph, which will be a new record if and when they manage to replicate it so it can be etched into the books. In the meantime, Hajek is convinced the initiative will pave the way for Ford to produce an E85-powered Mustang straight from the factory, which may be the corniest Mustang dream we've heard yet. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: NewsOK via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Oklahoma Dreamin': Mustang-lovin' corn-grower chases record with ethanol

Oklahoma Dreamin': Mustang-lovin' corn-grower chases record with ethanol originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford developing next-gen, ethanol-boosted engines under Bobcat codename

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Technology, Ford

Ford has yet to release its first EcoBoost engines but is reportedly already hard at work on the technology's next phase. Rumors indicate that the new engine technology is codenamed Bobcat and uses small amounts of ethanol injection to improve power and reduce emissions. Ethanol carries a very high octane rating, which allows an engine to be tuned for more power. An engine with ethanol injection can run a much higher compression ratio along with a small turbocharger as the ethanol would be injected directly into the engine's combustion chamber, thereby eliminating precompression, which is more commonly referred to as knock and can be extremely hazardous to your engine's health. The alcohol injection would be performed on an entirely different fuel injection system as the gasoline, complete with its own fuel tank. It would have to be closely metered, but should only need refilled once every few months since the amount used would be so small.

Early estimates put the new Bobcat engine tech at about a $1,100 price premium over a standard gasoline engine, but the turbocharging and gasoline direct injection that makes up EcoBoost accounts for $700 of that charge. While that may seem like a steep amount, consider that many truck buyers opt for high-power diesel engines that carry premiums of $5,000 or more.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ford developing next-gen, ethanol-boosted engines under Bobcat codename originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus developing efficient two-stroke OMNIVORE engine

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Green, I.C.E., Lotus

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

Lotus Engineering has been hard at work developing new engine technologies that allow the use of sustainable alcohol fuels. It's recent Exige 270E Tri-Fuel concept showed that the British firm knows how to make an engine run on various fuels, including gasoline, ethanol and methanol. In fact, the 270E Tri-Fuel concept was the most powerful Exige ever conceived by the Hethel-based company and made its highest power output using synthetic methanol fuel. Lotus has started a new research project called the OMNIVORE engine -- cleverly indicating that it will run on anything -- that uses a single cylinder with direct injection and a variable compression ratio in order to maximize power and efficiency while running on various alcohol fuels. The higher octane rating of alcohol fuels will allow the engine to run with higher compression, thereby offering more power, while also toning itself down to run on lower-grade fuels as well. Read the press release after the break for more details.

Gallery: Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus developing efficient two-stroke OMNIVORE engine

Lotus developing efficient two-stroke OMNIVORE engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 HUMMER H3 to get direct-inject 3.6L V6 as base engine

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Hummer

Our friend Mike Levine, proprietor of PickupTruck.com, was trying out the new H3T pickup out in Moab, Utah this week and learned that the H3 will finally lose its hoary old five-cylinder base engine in favor of something a little more modern. A new flex fuel-capable direct-injected 3.6L V6 like the one used in the HX concept will become the new base powerplant for the H3 by 2010. The last remaining question is, will the H3 get a diesel? The answer is yes... eventually. We spoke with HUMMER's Martin Walsh at the New York Auto Show this week and a diesel is in the cards for the H3, and it will be different than the diesel six-cylinder being used in Europe. Since the 4.5L fits in anything that GM's small-block V8 does, the European diesel six is possible, but a smaller diesel seems more likely. To that end, we've heard rumors since last spring of a new diesel V6 being developed for use in the H3. We don't know when it's ultimately going to arrive, but it will, and change is clearly afoot on the powertrain side at HUMMER.

[Source: PickupTruck.com, Photo: Alex Núñez]

2010 HUMMER H3 to get direct-inject 3.6L V6 as base engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E

Alex Nunez — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Green, Lotus

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

While assorted activists, politicians and random individuals carry on about the spectres of global warming, imported oil, CO₂ emissions and other issues that combine to create timetable-free doomsday scenarios, there are people working on potential solutions that do not involve us driving around four-wheeled Segway scooters. That's right: the "dreaded" internal combustion engine might yet provide the answer -- or at least an answer. And because Lotus is the entity searching for the answer in this particular case, the end result might not only be green -- it looks ridiculously fun, too.

The car you see here is the Geneva-bound Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel concept, the successor to 2006's Exige 265E, which made 265 horses running on E85. The 270E goes a step further. Not only can it run on gasoline or ethanol, it achieves its peak output -- 270 horsepower and 184 lb-ft -- on methanol, hence the Tri-Fuel label. Incidentally, that power figure is the highest yet for an Exige coming out of Hethel. Even more interesting, however, is Lotus' research into producing carbon-neutral synthetic methanol. You can read about it in detail after the jump, but in summary, the process involves using atmospheric CO₂ and reacting it with hydrogen created via renewable electrical power to create methanol. Liquid methanol could be transported and distributed much in the same way gasoline is now, making for a feasible infrastructure if the idea were to take hold somewhere down the line.

Lotus is also hunting for solutions involving EVs, as well as optimizing the traditional gasoline-powered ICE through its Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Grou p. One must admit, however, that the idea of a sustainable, synthetic, carbon-neutral fuel driving internal combustion engines with the same levels of power we currently enjoy is the equivalent of having your cake and eating it. Press on, Lotus.

Gallery: Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

[Source: Lotus via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E

Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Science magazine declares ethanol worse for the Earth than fossil fuels

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Technology

Jon Markman at MSN Money doesn't hold back when he says "Corn-based ethanol production is sure to go down as one of the greatest mistakes ever in U.S. energy policy." It's even more provoking when he writes "replacing fossil fuels with corn-based ethanol would double greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades. The studies show that switchgrass, an alternative to ethanol that's more weed than plant, would boost emissions by 50%."

The problem isn't with the cars, the problem is with what it takes to grow the biofuel in the first place. Clearing the land, harvesting, and refining the crops, plus the loss of forest and wild lands and habitats, amounts to creating a carbon footprint worse than fossil fuels. According to the Science article which, admittedly, posits an extreme scenario, it would take 423 years to even out the carbon debt if Indonesia's peat lands were converted to palm oil fields.

The research is starting to give some people pause, such as the folks at the European Union who declared they wanted ten-percent of the block's transport fuel to come from plants. And Joe Fargione of the U.S. Nature Conservancy asks, "Is it worth it? ...[S]urprisingly the answer is 'no'. These natural areas store a lot of carbon, so converting them to crops results in tons of carbon emitted into the atmosphere."

Thanks for the tip, Zo!

[Source: MSN Money]

Science magazine declares ethanol worse for the Earth than fossil fuels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The US according to Lutz: ethanol, yes, diesels, not so much

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Green, Technology, GM

In the fuel economy and future tech debate, the hybrid vs. diesel vs. hydrogen fuel cells vs. smaller cars and smaller engines always provokes a fair bit of discussion among Autoblog commentators. At this point, no one yet knows what's going to win since nobody knows how the volatile mix of products, timelines, prices, regulations, legislation, state standards, and gas prices will ultimately pan out. Bob Lutz's prediction is that diesels, at least as far as the US is concerned, won't be much of a factor.

His reasoning is simple: "I think customers are going to say, 'Wait a minute. At equal fuel prices I'm paying $4,000 more for this." Unlike many countries in Europe, the US offers no incentive for people to buy diesels. In the States the price of a diesel vehicle is often more than $1,000 higher than that of a gasoline-engined car, and diesel fuel is just as expensive as gas (throughout California and other states, it's slightly more expensive than premium unleaded). In that case, Lutz's opinion is that just about all the customer will glean from an oilburner is a higher car payment.

Lutz sees diesel uptake in the US hovering at about eight-percent. The technology he sees as winning the day: ethanol. It's clean, it's easy to integrate into the refueling infrastructure, and it "doesn't require a change in consumer behavior." (Except for the people in emerging markets who've seen the price of corn skyrocket.) For another take on the fuel economy battle, according to Kelly Blue Book, 40-percent of US new car shoppers think hybrids are the future, with just 17-percent citing flex-fuel.

[Source: The Car Connection]

The US according to Lutz: ethanol, yes, diesels, not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

John McElroy — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Autoline on Autoblog

THE BREAKTHROUGH WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR?

There seems to be an anti-ethanol bias in so much of the media that GM's recent announcement didn't get the kind of coverage it deserves. Did you miss it, too? Here's the news: GM is teaming up with a company called Coskata that's come up with a breakthrough to make cellulosic ethanol.

But there's a big difference between their effort and everyone else's. Coskata's process goes way beyond using switch grass. It can use any kind of agricultural waste. Even more importantly, it can use a lot of municipal waste, i.e., most the stuff we're dumping into landfills. In fact, it can use anything that has carbon in it, including used tires.

Move over Brazil! We're about to get into the ethanol game in a big way.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to finish reading this week's editorial.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A1GP switches to ethanol mix, ships fuel to New Zealand

Noah Joseph — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green

Switching a racing series to ethanol? Smart. Shipping the ethanol around the world to show how green that racing series is? Less so.

A1GP has announced that its upcoming race in New Zealand will mark the inauguration of the series' switch to E30 Hiperflo ethanol-gasoline blend, which, as organizers point out, cuts CO2 emissions by 21% and, of course, reduces the use of fossil fuels. The mixture is specially made for use in A1GP and consists of 30% ethanol and 70% gasoline. While IndyCars and Champ Cars have run on methanol since the '60s, both series are based in the US and have to ship their fuel to fewer races abroad than A1GP.

Logistical considerations aside, overall we say it's a good thing that motorsports are shifting to more sustainable and environmentally-friendly fuel sources. At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show this week we heard all about the American Le Mans Series and its green intentions. Ferrari, which is set to begin supplying the engines for A1GP in two years, revealed its bio-ethanol-powered 430 Spider in Detroit, as well. Meanwhile, the FIA has revealed a preliminary timeline for introducing a new F1 engine formula that's anticipated to include environmental measures.

Excerpt from the press release after the jump.

[Source: A1GP via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading A1GP switches to ethanol mix, ships fuel to New Zealand

A1GP switches to ethanol mix, ships fuel to New Zealand originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Ferrari fills in details on F430 Spider Bio Fuel

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Performance, Green, Ferrari

click above to view more images of the Ferrari 430 Spider Bio Fuel

Ferrari's press conference here in Detroit was rather short and to the point. They reminded us that Kimi is World Champion and that the team is busy readying his defense. They also pointed out that the F430 GT is doing a bang-up job in GT2. And then they talked about the street cars. Besides telling us that Ferrari had a record year, with sales up 8% to 6,400 units worldwide, they also showed the E85 ethanol-powered version of the F430 Spider we talked about yesterday. The F430 Spider Bio Fuel runs on the familiar mix of 85% natural ethanol and 15% gasoline, which results in a modest 10HP power bump and fuel economy that improves by 5% over the standard gas-only V8. So that means that the sweet-sounding 4.3-liter plant is now good for a true 500 HP.

The bio fuel car on display in Detroit is still labeled a concept, but the company says that it'd like to put it into production as part of its efforts to reduce fuel consumption and cut emissions 40% by 2012. As we mentioned yesterday, the regions where ethanol is readily available - like the Midwest states, Brazil and Sweden - are not major markets for the sportscar maker. But ethanol is already being used in the ALMS and elsewhere, so Ferrari already has some experience with it. We already put in our request to have one in the AB Garage. We'll let you know how that goes.

[Source: Ferrari]

Gallery: Ferrari 430 Spider Bio Fuel

Detroit 2008: Ferrari fills in details on F430 Spider Bio Fuel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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