Ethanol Car: A Viable Means to Replace Oil Imports

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There is considerable clamor in the US to replace oil imports with the help of manufacturing of hybrid cars that may provide the answer to energy alternatives and ethanol cars can play a major role in this respect. Ethanol-based technology is here to stay and the US accounts for as many as five million Flexible Fuel Vehicles that can run on unleaded fuel as well as blended ethanol gasoline known as E85.

It is now up to major manufacturers such as Ford and General Motors to come forward and lead the way by building more eco-friendly vehicles such as the ethanol car and not be completely dependent on fuel imports from the Middle East to power their vehicles. In this direction, Ford has unveiled its ethanol-hybrid SUV and the E85 consuming hybrid Ford Escape that is a part of Ford’s development program which may give to the consumer ethanol cars such as these, sooner rather than later.

However, to manufacture ethanol cars there is need for more infrastructures to be in place and with technology being available there is no reason why it should not be implemented in order to cut down dependence on oil imports. Both Ford and General Motors have pledged to build more ethanol cars or at least, flexible fuel vehicles especially as they point out that the US can save a barrel of oil for every 37 gallons of E85 being used.

Public Demand Needed For Use of Ethanol to Become Popular

Most cars that are on the road today in the US may not require modifications to run on gasohol that is a blend of ethanol and gasoline. It is up to the public to generate demand for ethanol cars if they really care about their environment and would like to save energy as well. Once the demand is generated for ethanol cars, it would not be long before car manufacturers would respond and churn out such products.

A novel ethanol car is the Lotus Exige 265E which, according to its manufacturer is the fastest ethanol car that weighs 2,050 pounds and runs on E85 fuel and can output 265 horsepower at 8000 rpm. This ethanol car can reach 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds and hundred miles per hour at less than ten seconds, having a top speed of 158 mph. Though, at present, this car will only run on ethanol, there is work under way at the manufacturers to develop this ethanol car into being able to run on different fuel types instead of on just E85.