Biofuel Myths
Myth: Biofuels provide less energy than it takes to make them.
One (and only one) obsolete study done over 20 years ago—in the 1980s—showed a negative energy balance, which the media sometimes quote. Since then, technology and crop yields have improved tremendously. Many studies prove that ethanol provides about 1.5 units of energy for every unit of energy used.
Biodiesel is even higher: 3.2 to 1. What oil companies don’t want you to know is that gasoline takes 20 percent more energy to make than it provides.
Myth: Biofuels drive up food prices.
Corn and soy bean prices have gone up—primarily because of speculators, not Biofuel producers, increasing the cost of a chicken sandwich by about 7 cents. However, high petroleum prices have driven up food prices far more! About 20% of America’s corn crop goes to produce ethanol, which accounts for about 5% of our motor fuel. After the liquid starch is extracted, the remaining product is still be used for feed and fiber. That’s why a third of all the corn grown in the U.S. is still exported! We can easily increase our ethanol production to 15% of our gasoline needs without threatening our food supply. Beyond that, we will need to develop new feedstocks, such as wood and fibrous plants. Research in these areas is well underway.
Myth: Biofuels get worse fuel mileage.
We have been using Biodiesel for over 6 years now. Nearly all of our distributors have seen a 1% to 5% improvement in fuel economy due to better lubricity, higher cetane levels and oxygen content.
Ethanol blends up to 10% have negligible effect on fuel mileage. While high blends of ethanol (such as E85, 85% ethanol) can reduce fuel mileage slightly, ethanol, at 110 octane, provides more power. With proper tuning, engines can reach comparable mileage. In fact in Europe, which has already adopted Biofuels, the same manufacturers sell models in Europe to run on ethanol that get the same mileage as those they sell to run on gasoline in the U.S.
Myth: Vehicle and heating systems must be modified to use Biofuels
Rudolph Diesel’s first diesel engine ran on vegetable oil. Any diesel can run on Biodiesel, although blends above B20 may not yet be supported by your manufacturer.
Any heating system can use Biodiesel, although you may need to replace your fuel pump and make minor modifications for blends over B20.
Henry Ford promoted ethanol. Any car can run on up to E24 (24% ethanol). Blends up to E85 can be used in Flex Fuel Vehicles. There are millions of these on the road today. By 2012, all GM vehicles will be Flex Fuel.
Myth: Biofuels must be subsidized to be affordable.
When you include the cost of our military protecting Mid East oil, environmental remediation, smog and other environmental damage, and numerous similar factors, the real cost of a gallon of gasoline is over $5! It’s already heavily subsidized! Biofuels, on the other hand, are minimally-subsidized. The blending credit (51 cents/gallon for Ethanol) and ($1/gallon for Biodiesel), gets passed on to the consumer. Sometimes Biofuels cost less than petroleum. This will continue to occur with increasing frequency as the price of petroleum continues to rise, and the price of Biofuels continue to fall as production increases.
Data sources: USDA and DOE
Reality: Biofuels are the only real alternatives to fossil fuels, which cost us far more than the price we pay at the pump. Petroleum fuels damage our environment. Every time we buy gasoline, most of the profits go to hostile foreign nations. Money spent on Biofuels stays right here in America, creating jobs and growing our economy!