Corn As Auto Fuel Vs Gas/petrol

[debmidge]

possible increase in corn prices if corn "gas" ever comes about?

[ianm]

Hard to say on that one. Corn is relatively easy to grow and the US has the capacity to greatly overproduce it. Plus engines would have to have some modifications to burn higher levels of ethanol. It will probably become more common but it won't happen overnight.

[debmidge]

but if they produce it and engines are modified; do you think that growers may get more money for their crops from "refineries" than food processors would pay? Growers would prefer to sell to refineries for more profit, leaving food consumers out in the cold? or we'd pay much more for corn food products?

[ianm]

The type of corn used for ethanol is generally not the same strain that is used for human food. I really don't think it would have that dramatic of an effect on food prices. I think the cost of oil has more of an effect because of the amount of energy required to plant, harvest and process the crops. Increased use of ethanol could actually cause the price of corn to drop because less oil would be needed.

[debmidge]

Oh, then that would be better.

[minibabe]

There are already engines out there that run on vegtable oil. There are people that go to fast food places and get the used oil, strain it and then put it into a diseal. It is the coolest thing.

What actually happens is that the car is started with diseal and then after the vegtable oil heats up to the correct temp. it starts to run on vegtable oil.

Amanda NY

[elye]

Hell, let's get the researchers going on wheat-based gasoline...We've got so much of the stinkin' stuff here in Canada, and it aint no damn good to me. I'd love to be putting it to good use--in my car's gas tank...

[ianm]

Ethanol or something close could certainly be derived from wheat.

[debmidge]

Gee, wheat gives better mileage than corn!!

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