The original Model T Ford ran on ethanol, why do we still use gasoline?
551181
If farmers started planting crops for ethanol production and people actually used it, the farmers would make more money than the oil tycoons.  The oil tycoons are so rich and powerful that they will do their best to prevent any of this from happening.
575237
we have two types - field corn (to feed our animals/chicken and corn by products) and sweet corn (to eat! to freeze/can)--just to name a couple of things.  \n\nand like the other poster said now it will be the ethanol 'thing' which is ALREADY making our gas more expensive.... we will never learn....
723128
Henry Ford and his Model T for a semi-modern one.\n\nBack in 1335, Guido da Vigevano made a wind-powered car.  There were plenty of others along the way that ran on different things.  Check the site below for more details: http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cars/carhist.htm
517504
There are laws against mixing alcohol and driving automobiles, it is something that is generally frowned upon.  Actually they do use some Alcohol Mixed Fuel for racing it is used for speed and not for economy in fact it probably burns so hot and fast that it would get very poor mileage, but the question was worth putting out there as we can produce almost any amount of alcohol needed as a replenish-able fuel.
297496
I'm already half way there; a Vapor Chamber that converts Regular Pump Gasoline into Propane.The Problem is that it's Illegal to change anything on any Car from 1996 to the present, even if Emissions are Lowered, and Fuel Economy is Improved.100 parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel, instead of 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel, which is the Law! I've already built the Vaporizer Chamber, which is a Really Cool Gadget, and burning less Fuel would definitely make Life easier!
1124319
Market it to intellectuals. Some student at my school (chemists, I think) proposed that we use the excess grease from the dining halls to be converted to ethanol on campus in a lab they built and now all of the facilities vehicles are running partially on ethanol (I think it's a mix of ethanol and gasoline, but I could be wrong). \n\nThe layperson isn't going to be interested in ethanol until it becomes mainstream. The best bet is to start getting Universities and Hosiptals to run their vehicles (ambulances, security vehicles, construction vehicles). \n\nAlso, it would be sweet if the government supported ethanol usage by providing tax incentives for these companies (like you get if you buy a hybrid car). It's really very frustrating because ethanol production is so inexpensive. I feel your pain.
1107450
Hardly. Methane, ethanol (not yet for cars but already viable for power plants), vegetable oil etc.  If we really had to stop burning fossil fuel, the current service stations could distribute the new fuel.  One of the problems with bringing out alternate fuels is that in order to 'compete' with gasoline, it has to be reasonably available to people driving across the country.  Distribution is a tough issue for some of the products.
1026768
gasoline burning engines
822097
Uh, the question is about F1, not those POS backbreaking crapwagons the IRL calls racing cars. And, please, get a grip on reality. The Honda IRL engine isn't pulling anything near 20,000 rpm; their engines are rev-limited in the 10,500 rpm neighborhood.\n\nF1 cars use unleaded gasoline which must comply with EU standards and cannot contain any additives not found in commercial gasolines for road cars.\n\nChamp Car uses methanol. The IRL has used methanol in the past (and has never used gasoline), but went to a 10% ethanol/90% methanol blend in 2006 and will run 100% ethanol in 2007.
947689
Ethanol fuel is made from sugar cane. Brazil is now using 40% of\nethanol fuel to run their vehicles because Brazil is the  no. 1  producer of sugar cane in the world . Based on their reports, ethanol run cars have 25% more mileage compared to gasoline feed cars? Sugar cane production is less costly in Brazil compared to other countries.
911761
I'm not sure that methanol has been seriously proposed as a widely used fuel. Methanol is a poisonous alcohol and chemically different from ethanol, which HAS been proposed as an alternative fuel and is available in many stations in the midwest (and extensively in Brazil). GM makes ethanol cars and trucks now.\n\nMethanol is used on a limited basis to fuel internal combustion engines, mainly by virtue of the fact that it is not nearly as flammable as gasoline. Methanol blends are the fuel of choice in open wheel racing circuits like Champcars, as well as in radio controlled model airplanes (required in the "glow-plug" engines that primarily power them), cars and trucks. Dirt circle track racecars such as Sprint cars, Late Models, and Modifieds use methanol to fuel their engines. Drag racers and mud racers also use methanol as their primary fuel source. Methanol is required with a supercharged engine in a Top Alcohol Dragster and, until the end of the 2005 season, all vehicles in the Indianapolis 500 had to run methanol. Mud racers have mixed methanol with gasoline and nitrous oxide to produce more power than gasoline and nitrous oxide alone.\n\nOne concern with the addition of methanol to automotive fuels is highlighted by recent groundwater impacts from the fuel additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Leaking underground gasoline storage tanks created MTBE plumes in groundwater that eventually adulterated well water. Methanol's high solubility in water raises concerns that similar well water contamination could arise from the widespread use of methanol as an automotive fuel.
558627
Repeal, or Alter the Clinton/Gore EPA-OBD II Law. This Law Mandates that all Gasoline Powered Vehicles in the USA from 1996 to the Present must Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel. Any Deviation from that , and the Vehicle will Fail Inspection. Even if Emissions are Lowered, and Fuel Economy is Improved, Failure! And the Vehicle will be Illegal to Operate! I've found a way to Convert Regular Pump Gasoline into Propane. 100 Parts of Air, to 1 Part of Fuel. 50 + MPG, with even the Largest SUV! See, all Petroleum is the same, on a Molecular Level. Only the Dispersal is Altered. I'm not the First, only the Latest. I've been to the US Patent Office to Check Out the "Myth" about Vapor Fuel Units that have been Bought Out, and kept off the Market. Guess What? It's for Real! Case in Point, the Pogue Carburetor. It is Patented with a Claim of 100 MPG, with a Flathead Ford Engine Powered Vehicle, that with a Conventional Fuel System got 15 MPG!And this was before WW II ! So, there's really no Point in even trying to Patent a Vapor Fuel System. It's always Stopped Cold! And Now, with the Clinton/Gore EPA-OBD II Law, it's Pointless to even Try! Watch the Process, the Next Time Your Car is Inspected!" Big Brother" has Won! Now, if I am Wrong, then how is it that Engines DO Run on Bottled Propane? That Requires a Large, Expensive, Cumbersome Tank, Expensive Tank to Engine Metering Equipment, and the Added Hassle of Specialized Refueling! Even with Gas at $3.00 per Gallon, it's just not worth It! My System is Safe, Compact, and uses Low Pressure Air to Do It's Thing. It all Fits very Neatly under the Hood. But again, it's Illegal because the Vehicle must Conform to Original Gov't Mandated Spec's, 14.7 to 1 ! I can understand why a Vehicle should be Required to Pass an Inspection to Limit Excessive Emissions. But, to "Outlaw" a Vehicle for not Emitting Enough Pollution? This is Insane! My Environmental Project Proposal for Today would be to Change this Insane Law! For even more Insight, check out this Website, It's a Couple of Years Old, but Please Read It All! http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html
352778
It actually is. GM is spending millions on the Live Green Go Yellow campaign which features Flex Fuel GM vehicles that can take both E85 and regular gasoline. Although E85 is cheaper than regular gas, there are still supply shortages due to the fact that it has to be grown, processed, and transported from the Midwest\n\nAnd here is a news link from IBD
82156
gasoline is obtained from the fractional distillation of crude oil.  It is therefore a hydrocarbon.  It is evaporated and mixed with air and forced into the cylinder where it burns.  When the C--C and C--H bonds are broken, energy is required but then more eneryg (than is required to break these bonds) are given off on the formation of H--OH (water) and O--C--O (carbon dioxide)bonds.  This is the thermal energy that causes the burned gas in the cylinder to expand thus forcing the piston away from the spark-plug end, causing the engine to "run"
330645
Well, I've found a way to Convert Gasoline into Propane. But, it's Illegal to do so on any U S A Vehicle Built from 1996 to the Present.This is the EPA-OBD II Law that Mandates that all Vehicles must Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel. Any Deviation, even if Fuel Economy is Improved, and Emissions are Lowered, and the Vehicle will Fail Inspection, and will be Illegal to Operate. This is Insane! My System, which is very Compact and Safe utilizes Low Pressure Air to Produce 100 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel.Bottom line, 50 + MPG with even the Largest SUV, and 10 Times Less Air Pollution. Also, this will actually Result in far more Engine Power, and longer Engine Life! I'm not the First, only the Latest to do this. I've been to the US Patent Office, and Looked at other Diagrams of Fuel to Vapor Systems that have been Bought Out, and kept off the Market. The Pogue Carburetor is an Excellent Example. It is Documented at the US Patent Office as having Achieved 100 + MPG with a Flathead Ford V-8 Engine that, with a Conventional Fuel System was at best 15 MPG ! Engines Run best on Vapor, [100 to 1] not Atomized Liquid, [14.7 to 1]. If this is Wrong, then how is it that Engines DO Run on Propane? To do so by Conventional Means involves Utilizing a Large, Cumbersome, Expensive Tank, which must be Hauled with the Vehicle. Also, Expensive Tank to Engine Metering Equipment. And, the Extra Hassle of Refilling the Tank. So much Hassle, that even with Gas. going back to $3.OO Per Gallon, it's just not Worth It! All Petroleum is Essentially the Same on a Molecular Level. Only the Dispersal is Altered. All Petroleum comes from the same Place, Earth! But, when the "Big Brother Box" is Hooked Up to any OBD-II Vehicle, like Yours[?] It has to Be 14.7 to 1 or Else! Hybirds aren't the Answer. At Highway Speed, the 14.7 to 1 Gas Engine takes over, Plus the Heavy, Expensive Batteries have to be Hauled as Well. Just Like the Propane Tank.Cheap, Safe Hydrogen is the Ultimate Answer. As long as there is so much Profit in Petroleum, that's not going to Change anytime Soon. I Think that My Vapor Unit could possibly be a Step toward Converting Tap Water to Hydrogen, but I don't have the Resources to Conduct the needed Research. Water Converted to a Cold Fog would be a lot easier to Convert to Hydrogen. In the Short Term, I'd like to Convert as many Older Vehicles as Possible to Vapor Fuel, and Donate them, Starting with the Local Meals On Wheels Program.There are Many People willing to Help the Homebound Elderly, but with the Cost of Fuel, it's becoming Increasingly Difficult to do so. Also, Volunteer Veterans' Service Organizations. We All Owe Them so Very Much! And, Homeless Shelters. See, Greed has Stopped the Whole Fuel to Vapor Thing every Time! And That OBD-II Law....To Donate to Charity would be such a Slap in the Face of all who have Stopped Vapor Fuel! Money isn't everything. Take a Deep Breath of Clean, Fresh Air ! How do You put a Price on That? Here's a Website that's a Couple of Years Old, but Please take Time to Read It all. Very Informative! http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html Thanks for Asking the Question, and giving Me the Opportunity to Respond! Nothing will Change, but at least We can Talk about It!
1072850
Interesting...many studies have been conducted regarding Ethanol.  Keep in mind that ethanol is produced from corn.  If every single farm in America grew corn we'd be able to replace about 8% of our oil imports...not really enough to make a significant impact.  Also keep in mind that if for any reason the crop of corn was destroyed, be that storm or drout, we would have no product to convert into ethanol and no fuel.  Before you read on please keep in mind that I'm a registered independent...Under the Bush administration quite a bit of effort was put into the creation of a new agency within the DOE (Department of Energy) called the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Dept....within that department the Hydrogen Infrastructure and Technologies Program was established.  Why Hydrogen?  Because it can't be politicized, don't have to worry about drouts or damaged crops and hydrogen comprises 80+% of the mass in our universe (not something we're likely to run out of anytime soon).  http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/   According to the "Posture Plan" our economy will be carbon free by 2060 with hydrogen as the likely successor.  Also check out Canada's FCC (Fuel Cell Canada) for their plan to globally commercialize fuel cells.\n\nOur current president has done great things when it come to decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.  Just gotta know where to look.  Try this        http://thomas.loc.gov/      and under "search bill text" type the word hydrogen and you'll see every piece of legislation dealing with hydrogen as an alternative fuel.
455493
No. But I Sure Do From The Clinton/Gore "Regime"!Here's Why; As of 1996, all Vehicles Must Conform to the Insane EPA-OBD II Law that Applies to the Car that You're Driving, Right Now! That Law Dictaes that all Vehicles under that law must Run at 14.7 Parts of Air to 1 Part of Fuel. Any Deviation from that, even if Fuel Economy is Improved, and Emissions are Lowered, will Result in a Failed Vehicle Inspection, and the Vehicle will be Illegal to Operate! That's the Law! And Clinton/Gore did it,"Because It's Good For The Children"! This is Insane!Please! Don't "Blame Bush" for That! So what's the suppressed Alternative? I've come up with a way to Convert Regular Pump Gasoline into Propane. I'm not the First, only the Latest. I went to the US Patent Office, and Checked Out the "Wild Stories" about how other similar Vapor Fuel Units have been kept off the Market. Guess What? It's True! Case in Point, the Pogue Carburetor, which is on File as having Achieved 100 + MPG on a Flathead Ford V-8 that, at best with a Conventional Fuel System got 15 MPG! My System could get 50 + MPG with even the Largest SUV, with an Equally Remarkable drop in Engine Pollution Emissions ! My System is Safe, Compact, and uses Low Pressure Air to turn Gasoline into Propane. To Run an Engine on Conventional Propane requires the use of a Large, Expensive, Cumbersome Tank, which must be Hauled with the Vehicle. Also, Expensive, Complex Fuel Metering Equipment. And, Finally the Extra Hassle of Specialized Refilling of the Tank. So much Hassle, that even with Gas at $3.00 per Gallon, it's just not worth it! See, on a Molecular Level, all Petroleum is the Same! I can Prove it! I can also Wind Up in Jail, or Worse! Every Vehicle on the Road could get at Least 50 + MPG, but thanks to Clinton/Gore, "It Ain't Gonna Happen"! Want Further Proof? Go to http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html Please, if You have an open Mind, Read it all!Don't"Blame Bush"