Biofuels: No get up and go?

Concerns over food crops are only one issue to overcome when it comes to biofuels. There's also a serious lack of infrastructure that will prevent the fuel alternative from becoming mainstream, according to a new report by Lux Research.

"The problem is that there aren't nearly enough filling stations and cars--nor will there be for decades--that are capable of using the fuel. Without changes downstream in the current distribution infrastructure and end-use, ethanol's growth will soon cease--even if it's given away for free," said Mark Bünger, a research director at Lux Research, who headed up the report "Biofuels After the Fall."

Bünger and his group said that research has been focused on developing more cost-effective production methods and reducing reliance on food crops, and that the industry is poised to produce 10 billion gallons for 2009.

But demand will be stifled until the development of commercial infrastructure giving consumers greater access to biofuels and of more vehicles that can use biofuel blends, according to Lux Research.

The report is "a reality check for biofuel advocates operating under the false assumption that demand will exceed supply as soon as costs are competitive with fossil fuels," the group said in a statement.

Lux Research, which interviewed 35 leading biofuel organizations as part of its study, saw algae-based biofuels, catalysts for fermenting biomass, and lucrative biofuel byproducts as other areas ripe for development and investment.

Earlier this year, a report from Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors said biofuels could be competing with gas by 2030.

[HeavyJim]

I love the fact both of my vehicles get 2-6mpg LESS when using gas blended with ethanol.

[USAmom01]

So it's more important to you to get an additional 2-6 mpg than it is to improve our air quality or to create jobs in the USA. And you would prefer to continue to send our sons and daughters overseas to fight wars to protect our oil interests? There are studies proving that you can get as good or better mileage on E20 to E30. Technology is constantly evolving and improving. I believe in ethanol!

[galonga]

Why don´t you do some reading before posting simpleminded stuff like this?

Ethanol delivers LESS power than gasoline, so OF COURSE you´ll get less mileage.

On the other hand, it also pollutes LESS, is CHEAPER than gasoline, is RENEWABLE and does NOT depend on imports.

But no, all those benefits are null when compared to your precious 2-6mpg right?

[HeavyJim]

Let me get this right, you love a fuel (even an additive to our fuel) that makes us use MORE petroleum, uses MORE energy to make than it gives, and I am willing to bet you don't want more of our own oil to be drilled for? Great. By the way, what studies, internet experts?

[fgwgner]

Heavy Jim just face it you like seeing the United States sucking on the Middle East oil nipple

[HeavyJim]

Wow, I want more of our own resources tapped, how do you get I like us using more foreign oil? Oh, thats right, you are like mom above, lets use more of a fuel derived using more energy than its worth, and add it to our gas to make us use more of it. Sounds to me like you are the one wanting to use more of the Middle east oil.

[Arnold Reinhold]

When you count all the fuel used to make ethanol, do you also count all the fuel used in obtaining our petroleum? Do you include the fuel use by the U.S. military, whose major mission these days is to protect our foreign oil supplies? The fuel used by all its contractors? The fuel needed to rebuild out cities after petro-dollar fed terrorists finally get hold of nuclear weapons?

[fgwgner]

Hay Heavy Jim how so what is the alternative to ethanol you and every body else complains that it takes more energy to create these alternative energy sources but as always they don't come up with their own solutions to the problem like you they just complain

[HeavyJim]

Simple solution: DO NOT USE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU USE MORE! Would you buy an appliance for your home, thinking and being "told" by the "experts" that it would save you on energy cost, yet that appliance actually used more energy? Would you pay the added cost of CFL lightbulbs if you knew they where going to increase your power bill? NO! Yes, it cost billions to obtain and use petroleum. Why in the world do we add something to it that makes us use more of it, and with ethanol producing plants shutting down, see not too bright a future for it?

[fgwgner]

So Heavy Jim how much energy it takes to produce gasoline vs ethanol such as for gasoline from the point of origin from the refiner to your local gas station and compare it to ethanol from the farmer to the ethanol producer to the gas station educate me on this. like all the data Ive been seeing the people against the use of ethanol production factored in the production of fertilizer the use of diesel fuel for farm equipment but etc but think about it these same farmers would still have to use these things to produce corn for food or ethanol. but unfortunately I could not fine any data that says how much energy it takes to produce gasoline like transportation etc and did you know that back in the early 1900's farmers in remote areas down the south before they had gas stations in their area used moon shine to fuel their Model T's aka Ethanol

[fgwgner]

So Heavy Jim how much energy it takes to produce gasoline vs ethanol such as for gasoline from the point of origin from the refiner to your local gas station and compare it to ethanol from the farmer to the ethanol producer to the gas station educate me on this. like all the data Ive been seeing the people against the use of ethanol production factored in the production of fertilizer the use of diesel fuel for farm equipment but etc but think about it these same farmers would still have to use these things to produce corn for food or ethanol. but unfortunately I could not fine any data that says how much energy it takes to produce gasoline like transportation etc and did you know that back in the early 1900's farmers in remote areas down the south before they had gas stations in their area used moon shine to fuel their Model T's aka Ethanol

[BuyGreenGasoline]

When is somebody going to stop the BIO FUEL train barreling out of control?

We got a better plan, you can save gasoline, and the environment with our invention: Buy Green Gasoline. You put it in your tank, and it costs under $5. You use less gasoline, need less oil changes, use your same car, and your emissions burns cleaner. Yes, you can do it right now. buygreengasoline.com

[galonga]

you don´t even have to buy a new car to use ethanol: there´s this company that will retrofit it for you: alkol