When you are Ready for a new Engine for your Rod
Think "all-American" Ethanol fuel
Ethanol is a clean-burning American-made renewable fuel. You make
it like you brew beer. The technology is cheap, simple, and proven.
Henry Ford even designed his 1908 Model T to run on ethanol. Ford Motors
still promotes the technology. Today, all new vehicles are warranted to run
on up to a 10% ethanol blend.
Ford has sold more than 15,000 Focus FFV [flex fuel vehicle] in Sweden alone
since 2001. Ford made three primary modifications to their Flexi-Fuel Focus :
- Valves and valve seats of the 1.8 litre 16-valve gasoline engine are
made of specially hardened material
- Engine-control software senses the ratio of gas and ethanol in the fuel tank
and adjusts the injection and ignition accordingly. This is done automatically
without the driver having to make any adjustments.
- Finally, because bio-ethanol fuel has less positive cold starting characteristics
than gas, the cylinder block has particularly effective pre-heating when the
temperature dips below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
In Brazil, 40%
of the cars run on 100% ethanol. During the 1970's oil crisis, their
government began a campaign to reduce dependance on foreign oil. The automakers,
encouraged with subsidies and tax breaks, began producing cars that ran on 100% ethanol.
It's estimated that Brazil
saved up to $55 billion (in U.S. dollars) on oil imports
from 1975 to 2003 as a result of their national ethanol program.
Once established as a viable fuel, the consumer demand served as a strong
incentive.
Volkswagen launched the fuel-flex Golf, which can operate on either gasoline or
ethanol,
or any blend of the two fuels. The other automakers quickly followed. Today
Brazilian automakers including Ford and General
Motors continue to improve their vehicles.
Engine performance of these flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) is similar with either fuel.
When the fuel tank is filled, a Bosch Flex Fuel injection system
or similar computer chip
analyses the mixture and adjusts the motor for optimum performance on the ratio of gas
and ethanol in the tank.
Ethanol is also a proven racing fuel. The National Hot Rod Association [NHRA] and
the International Hot Rod Association sanction the use of ethanol. In 2005, Le Mans
allowed Team
Nasamax, a consortium of parties interested in both motor sport and
alternative energy, to enter a bio-ethanol fuelled car in the race. Their lap times were
competitive, although they only completed 16 hours of the race. Still, Team Nasamx
achieved their goal to raise the profile of "renewable" fuels. In 2006, the Indy
Racing
League [IRL] will switch to ethanol. With the cost of fuel cells still
prohibitivatively high,
it is increasingly important to pursue proven alternatives to fossil fuels.
What's the biggest problem with ethanol-powered vehicles in the US today?
Fuel availability. But don't let that stop you in your tracks.
Ethanol and propane burn similarly. And, you can buy propane almost anywhere
due to the popularity of backyard grilling and camping.
Woodsy first fell in love with propane when he was 18, and serviced a truck for
a local propane dealer. The dealer asked him to change the oil because he had
10,000 miles on it, yet when Woodsy drained it, it looked as clean as new.
That's when he realized the advantages of propane.
Back in the 80's, he built several ethanol engines used for daily transportation.
Our neighbors were showing other farmers how to brew up ethanol from their
corn to save money . . . but when Reagan cut tax credits, the under-funded
ethanol projects didn't survive.
We agree with the Governors’
Ethanol Coalition. Key points from their April 2005
report include:
Dependence on oil is a major risk to our national energy,
economic and environmental security.
Energy Security
National security is linked to energy through our dependence on imported
oil — much of it located in politically troubled parts of the globe. As such,
the potential for large-scale failures in the global production and distribution
presents a real threat to ALL of us . . . not just the soldiers in Iraq or folks
on the subways in London.
The political problems in major oil-producing nations, plus growing demand
for oil from China and India continues to push up the price of oil — hitting us
in the wallet. As our trade deficit increases, it is setting the stage for far more
serious consequences.
Economic Security
Switching from oil to ethanol produces economic growth for
small farms,
agricultural cooperatives, and larger agribusiness. It is already happening
in some rural areas of the nation. But it is more than a farmer's dream.
In addition to corn, grasses and wood waste, ethanol can be
produced from
municipal solid waste – cheap, clean "garbage"
power for cities everywhere!
Environmental Security
Ethanol use can produce significant reductions in carbon
dioxide emissions,
and reduces the potential future risks associated with climate change. And
when we turn our garbage in to power rather than landfill pollution, we protect
our land and underground water supplies. Another important consideration
is that we can produce it locally. No risk of oil spills from leaky ships and
pipelines.
Renewable + Sustainable Energy - Today!
The next time you hear talk about the promise of hydrogen fuel cell technology
or flexible-fuel vehicles built by Detroit, think here-and-now reality!
Our cars and trucks can run on ethanol today!
We're not talking some distant
hypothetical future.
So when you are ready to put a new motor in your hot rod, consider ethanol.
E85 engines [85% ethanol/15% gas blend] can run on pure ethanol. For safety,
15% gas is blended in to produce a flame if an engine fire started. Oh, and it keeps
folks from drinking it rather than heavily-taxed alcoholic beverages. ; )
Questions? Contact at woodsy@gearheadcity.com
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