GM: Learn How Coskata Makes Ethanol from Numerous Feedstocks in its New Flex Facility

[supraracer]

Not a sexy article, but interesting video none the less:

You Tube

[Elvisuperman]

Flex Fuel was a step in the right direction.
The big problem is that there is just not enough places that offer it to make it a logical alternative/solution.

[Rick_VT]

Might not be alot of places that offer it, but its a good thing for GM to get in on now, potentionally could be money earner for GM in future if they can be able to increase production alot to supply the market.

[Hunid Racks]

You know when the cash for clunkers nonsense was going around, our representation could have done something for the "home team". The Japanese have not embraced ethanol fuel or capabilty. There are very few models they sell. But there are a lot of "Big Three" E85 capable cars and trucks out there. Why "our" leaders didn't put an E85 capable credit into the C4C nonsense is beyond me. Japan wrote in hybrid provisioms into their "stimulis". They also knew it would favor the home team. I guess I'm sold on the potential of what Coskata is doing. It may not be perfect but it does beat the current situation. I've had a E85 capable Sonoma in the driveway for nearly a decade. I may not fill it E85 every time but when I do, there's really no negatives. Might lose a mpg or two at the most but it also (for a 2.2) does run a bit better.

[Slideways]

OK, I might be off my rocker, but. . . When they said that they should build the refinery where people are and use the locally gathered or grown materials they showed two pelicans. My first thought was, "hmmmm could you make bio-fuel from pelicans?" Haha

[dewey9315]

I think E85 is a great idea. What a novel idea: GROW your gas!

[TORRED1]

Im glad to see GM and Costka continuing on this path. Gas has been down and im sure that the oil companys would like to see E-85 go away. Lets not get complacent. I want to see a Volt with a E-85 as the standard motor.

[johnstarnes]

Is work continuing on biobutanol? As I recall it is more energy dense than ethanol and can be made from a very wide variety of organic wastes.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by dewey9315

I think E85 is a great idea. What a novel idea: GROW your gas!

Coskata makes it mainly from things we no longer use. Trash, wood chips, food fat,...

[JBsZ06]

Right now there are quite a few legal hurdles making financing for ethanol production alternatives difficult.

If you get a chance...what this past weeks autoline detroit after hours..

I think coskata s capability to produce ethanol from waste like tires etc...is the perfect solution..One cool feature is coskata also only uses 1 gallon of water to produce one gallon of ethanol...

[91 s-10baja]

i also saw this on my youtube subscription page, I really enjoyed it!!

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by fp115

Coskata makes it mainly from things we no longer use. Trash, wood chips, food fat,...

That is what I like about this process, it actually cleans up the environment while producing a needed product and can greatly reduce transportation/logistics costs by making the product at the market itself.

I hope this technology works as well as the initial reports suggest.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by JBsZ06

Right now there are quite a few legal hurdles making financing for ethanol production alternatives difficult.

If you get a chance...what this past weeks autoline detroit after hours..

I think coskata s capability to produce ethanol from waste like tires etc...is the perfect solution..One cool feature is coskata also only uses 1 gallon of water to produce one gallon of ethanol...

Check out last weeks Autoline Detroit report titled "10%" with Bruce Dale, Ph.D., Biofuels Expert, Michigan State University on Ethanol, he said we have just about maxed out on E10 production and made 10 billion gallons of Ethanol last year and that the biggest barrier to the market today is saturation. He also talks about how gasoline uses more water than even Corn Ethanol and that Corn prices have come back down to more normal levels. Very informative show.

I prefer we get Ethanol using something like the Coskata process, but I will be happy with other sources.

Autoline Detroit Afterhours is very good, always watch it live or later if I have to.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

Check out last weeks Autoline Detroit report titled "10%" with Bruce Dale, Ph.D., Biofuels Expert, Michigan State University on Ethanol, he said we have just about maxed out on E10 production and made 10 billion gallons of Ethanol last year and that the biggest barrier to the market today is saturation. He also talks about how gasoline uses more water than even Corn Ethanol and that Corn prices have come back down to more normal levels. Very informative show.

I prefer we get Ethanol using something like the Coskata process, but I will be happy with other sources.

Autoline Detroit Afterhours is very good, always watch it live or later if I have to.

I'll go check it. Is it archived online on sites like Youtube?

On a little off-topic note, I spotted this clip from 2008 who talk of ethanol from hemp

You Tube

[Danko]

...and check out if they mentioned how inefficient ethanol is vs. gasoline. Years ago, I read it takes 17 gallons of ethanol to do the work of 10 gallons of gasoline. Since then, I have read ethanol has gotten a bit better but when I read road tests where gas is compared to ethanol mileage, the difference is noteworthy. So, you ethanol cheerleaders need to understand that a Cornell scientist has written that to produce and distribute ethanol from corn actually USES more energy than the ethanol will provide. If we make it from waste products, it may be a good idea but never lose sight of its inefficiency vs. gasoline. Check it out. When you use it, see your mileage drop. Driving through some states that require a percentage of ethanol to be used has opened my eyes further. It DOES cause a drop in mileage!