Swift Fuel & an alternative to corn-based Ethanol production

[imjin]

Here's a couple of interesting little snippets on an alternative means to produce ethanol without corn along with what they're calling a gasoline replacement, called Swift Fuel. The PBS article is talking about an alternative to the corn-based ethanol production method using sorghum instead of corn which is supposed to produce about 6x more ethanol per acre than corn does. It also mentions that China has already switched it's ethanol production over to full use of sorghum over corn. The other link is to the company's site that was founded by a group of scientists that have partnered up with Perdue University to produce something called "Swift Fuel", that's supposed to be derived from ethanol, but that doesn't require any modification to older cars to prevent corrosion, can be mixed with gasoline in any amount and can be distributed using the current gasoline network, including being pumped in the same pipes and shipped in the same trucks. Supposedly, it's being tested by the FAA for certification in prop aircraft to replace 110LL aircraft fuel.

PBS Report

Swift Enterprises

Discuss.

[stuball]

That is fascinating. I hope everything goes well in bringing it to market. I could use that stuff in my old antique outboard motors instead of the ethanol crap. They wouldn't need to produce flex fuel vehicles either.

Stuball

[TundraBay]

What they don't tell you is the energy input, or dollar input required for each gallon produced. That would be key information.

[SOSHeloPilot]

.

Good article on alt fuels ...

In my opinion .. we are not buying cheap sugar from Cuba .. because it would upset the the subsidized ethanol and oil industry.

And I believe than Cuban (higher energy sugar cane) ... costs less to product and uses less energy to produce than (good old boy subsidized ethanol) ethanol and oil.

Good old boys (from both parties) are making a lot of money (and spending our tax dollars) to make high priced alt fuel.

SOS
.

[Leland]

Originally Posted by SOSHeloPilot

.

Good article on alt fuels ...

In my opinion .. we are not buying cheap sugar from Cuba .. because it would upset the the subsidized ethanol and oil industry.

And I believe than Cuban (higher energy sugar cane) ... costs less to product and uses less energy to produce than (good old boy subsidized ethanol) ethanol and oil.

Good old boys (from both parties) are making a lot of money (and spending our tax dollars) to make high priced alt fuel.

Right on. Corn ethanol actually uses MORE fossil fuels to get to market than it would otherwise save. It's a huge farce on the American people. On the other hand, German bio-diesel offers about a 2.5:1 advantage (plus the extended mpg of diesel), and Brazillian sugarcane is about 8:1. Brazil runs almost entirely on sugarcane ethanol.

Look back through National Geo for a great article about this about a year or a year & half ago. One of the things in the pipeline is switchgrass ethanol which can offer a 22:1 fossil fuel to ethanol ratio. Plus, switchgrass will grow almost anywhere, even in areas unfit for corn; AND it can grow very quickly to produce several crops per year vs. one corn crop. However, the government only seems motivated to continue funding a dead-end street vs almost infinte possibilities.

[guntech]

Too many people in the Govt. making too much money to switch. Let's see if there is a "Change".

[stuball]

Originally Posted by TundraBay

What they don't tell you is the energy input, or dollar input required for each gallon produced. That would be key information.

Swift Enterprises are working to get a replacement for leaded aviation gas. This fuel they are developing gives a piston-powered plane 10 to 15% more range than avgas. Ethanol gets about 30% less range than avgas. They say there is better products than corn for making the fuel.

Stuball