[Sca-cooks] OT & OOP: Greasecar?

[Terry Decker]

In 1962, Dodge had a turbine engine that would run on just about anything
flammable you could pour.  Even won some big races with it.  But they
couldn't beat the noise problem, so it was impractical as a production
engine.

With ethanol (which is still found as a gasoline additive in some places) it
is production cost.  It costs more energy to produce than it generates, so
it is used primarily to reduce emissions.  Manufacturing process is
distillation (invented by the Arabs a millenium or so back) but I think ADM
may have a few patents to improve the process.  The reason you don't see it
anymore is economics, not conspiracy.  Get the price of gasoline to spike
high enough permanently and just watch ethanol make a comeback.

Bear

>Remember when...  The manufacture of ethanol from corn was touted as the
>next major energy source?  There were even, IIRC, vehicles powered by
>ethanol and some ethanol stations.  My 60's paranoia seems to remember that
>all the methods of production and the technology was purchased by Big Money
>and never heard from again...
>
>Prydwen, who also believes thusly.