Run Your Car On Your Own Rum

[RobertBurr]

Meet the E-Fuel 100 (http://www.efuel100.com), which parent company E-Fuel says is the "world's first home ethanol product." It's a personal refinery system that hooks up to a water source, a power source, and a waste water disposal outlet--"just like a washing machine," as Floyd Butterfield, E-Fuel's vice president of biofuels and technology, described to reporters in a press conference Thursday in New York.

[Edward Hamilton]

As it says "It's starting to make sense." Unfortunately it's taken more than 30 years too long.

The downside to all this ethanol for fuel business is that the cost of all consumable alcohol from beer to rum is going to cost more soon, and not just for the shipping.

[Socrates]

I hadn't meant for this to be my first post, but it is. I just couldn't resist this rum as fuel thread. It's funny in a way that there is actually a company who has put together a contraption that looks just like a fuel pump, lol. Just "shake and bake"... looks like something you could put in Junior's room for Xmas, lol. But I couldn't find (on their webpage) any figures re cost of their premixed "feedstock", or the costs of water and electric to run the darned thing. Not to mention maintenance and the original cost of $10,000. It would be interesting to see the actual cost per gallon.

But somehow I think this one is a non-starter.

OTOH, and of more immediate concern is the real and actual subsidizing of corn based ethanol already going on and heavily subsidized by the fed, apparently to please the big American agri-interests. It's already affected food costs with corn and rice crops being diverted. It's a case of do you want your SUV or do you want to eat? The unfunny part.

Meanwhile they are selling the Prius like hotcakes. It's going be a new world, that's for sure, and I don't think we'll be laughing. Think I need to pour another dram... and hello all.

[RobertBurr]

welcome Socrates, drop down to Coral Gables now and then for a tasting event.

[Lew Barrett]

Welcome Socrates. You are completely correct. The ethanol solution as envisioned "here" is no solution whatsoever, and for so many reasons.

[primate77]

I like the idea of there being a sponsored contest with a grand prize of say, anywhere form $10million to $100million for the person who comes up with a car that will go 100 miles on a gallon of gas.

I think we might find results quicker than anticipated??? I agree - ethanol is hardly the answer (and I live in a state that is putting up ethanol plants like there is no tomorrow).