Ethanol to the Rescue
Filed under: Fuel Costs, otr trucking
Approximately twenty years ago we attempted to introduce ethanol into the market with much excitement. It failed. Now, with the rising cost of crude oil which effects the price of gasoline and diesel, we once again are bringing back the miracle cure, ethanol. My prediction? It will fail again. Ethanol from wood was first introduced in Germany back in 1898 . . . it did not last. We tried corn Ethanol in 1984 and 1990 . . . it did not last. Here we are again in 2008 and it will fail again eventually.
Vehicles are built to run on the premise of the combustible process, not from corn. Eventually, every new vehicle built would have to be “corrected” in order to accept this new form of energy. Older model vehicles would have to be altered to run on the new fuel source. So everybody in the United States with an older model vehicle would have to pay for this alteration? Yea, that is really going to happen.
We are already seeing the decline in wheat and other farming products as farmers switch over to growing corn, and who can blame them? Thus, the prices of groceries are increasing, actually offsetting any savings we may see with gasoline. As well as when people begin to realize they are losing 2-3 MPG by using ethanol, will they continue to purchase it? Also, what are the benefits of ethanol for the diesel industry?
The cost of diesel continues to rise simply due to the fact of supply and demand. More and more countries are using diesel. E-Diesel is out there already, but every diesel driven vehicle would have to have a converter installed on it before using the ethanol blended diesel. Would this assist our truck drivers in experiencing savings in their profession? As the price of food continues to rise will we actually see any savings at the pump? I don’t think so.
The high cost of fuel is here to stay due to two main reasons . . . first, supply and demand. We cannot keep up with the demand for petroleum products, especially diesel. And secondly, and actually most importantly . . . our country will not allow any more drilling or the building of refineries and plants. As long as we continue down this same road, the price of fuel will only go higher and the hardest hits will be our truck drivers.
So for now, we have reinstalled the “blinders” and fallen back to the ethanol miracle again. Ethanol will save us. Well, we’ll see . . .
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May 14th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
You are probably right about ethanol, however I disagree with the supply and demand theory. You need to listen to Lindsey Williams, he is reporting the truth about the oil industry. He knows because he worked side by side with the HEAD CROOKS that built the Alaska pipeline. He attended every meeting with the top dogs at Arco and witnessed the power hungry dealings that went on behind closed doors, and still go on today. These people are controlling the World economy, they own the government leaders in this country. I know that I will be called a finatic, but I speak the truth, and if the American people don’t wake up and stop being brainwashed by CNN HOGWASH, this country is going to be controlled by the ALLAH TOUTING *** ******. There is enough oil in northern Alaska to supply the US for over 200 years, but every drop of the oil that is pumped is being exported. They use the excuse that there is too much sulfer in the crude. Did you know that they pump the natural gas back in the ground to keep the price up. It is actuall costing tons of money a day to pump the natural gas back into the well, but they don’t care because they are making billions off of the STUPID SUV DRIVING MORONS. There is plenty of oil for everyone, the price of gas should not be over a dollar a gallon.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for your response. However, I still say the price of fuel is due to two reasons : supply & demand, and the failure of our own country to drill here and build new refineries. I spent many years in the oilfield back in Oklahoma. My former father-in-law was in charge of a large section of the Alaskan pipe line when it was being built. The demand for fuel, especially diesel, has increased rapidly mainly due to China and Asia. These countries have made deals with each other, but not with the USA because of political reasons, thus causing the US to export more fuel at higher cost. The Gov’t. has no right to tell the people what they can drive, what light bulbs to use, etc. This is not in The Constitution. This is not what the Gov’t. was established for…..to allow this to continue, before long they will be telling us what we can eat, how many groceries we can buy and etc…..the problem also lies with so many people believing that the Gov’t. “will take care of us.” The Gov’t was not established for the reason to “take care of us.” What is happening in the Congress and House today is completely out of line as to what the Gov’t. was established to do…..As long as we continue not to drill in our own country because we don’t want to hurt any trees or such, or build new refineries and plants, we can continue to pay high energy costs. Supply & Demand and failure to drill here…..plain and simple.
Thanks, Allen