The 2009 HUMMER H2 will be the first HUMMER to utilize GM's E85 FlexPower, with the H3 following later in 2009. The new H2 will be able to run on E85 ethanol, standard gasoline, or any combination of the two fuels. E85 is a cleaner-burning, higher-octane fuel that can help reduce dependency on oil, but may not necessarily achieve the same fuel economy as regular gas.

The ethanol in E85 is an alcohol that can be distilled from a number of sources, including sugar cane, corn, biomass, and waste materials. With increases in the cost of food supplies, there has been increased emphasis on using ethanol sources that do not affect the prices of third-world food commodities.

GM is a leader in developing E85 ethanol made from waste wood collected as part of forest wildfire prevention programs. Waste wood would otherwise be burned and does not affect food prices compared with corn. In the United States, more than 3 million of the 7 million flexible-fuel vehicles on the road are GM cars and trucks.

In addition to the HUMMER H3 becoming E85-capable later in 2009, a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine also is being developed for it.

Source: General Motors

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A old technology called gasification is getting a new look from researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University. By combining gasification with high-tech nanoscale porous catalysts, they hope to create ethanol from a wide range of biomass, including distiller's grain left over from ethanol production, corn stover from the field, grass, wood pulp, animal waste, and garbage.

With the Ethanol debate hinging on clams that; crops are being earmarked for ethanol production and therefore driving market prices, it is important for the ethanol industry to look for other materials for ethanol production.

Gasification is a process that turns carbon-based feedstocks under high temperature and pressure in an oxygen-controlled atmosphere into synthesis gas, or syngas. Syngas is made up primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (more than 85 percent by volume) and smaller quantities of carbon dioxide and methane.

It's basically the same technique that was used to extract the gas from coal that fueled gas light fixtures prior to the advent of the electric light bulb. The advantage of gasification compared to fermentation technologies is that it can be used in a variety of applications, including process heat, electric power generation, and synthesis of commodity chemicals and fuels.

"There was some interest in converting syngas into ethanol during the first oil crisis back in the 70s," said Ames Lab chemist and Chemical and Biological Science Program Director Victor Lin. "The problem was that catalysis technology at that time didn't allow selectivity in the byproducts. They could produce ethanol, but you'd also get methane, aldehydes and a number of other undesirable products."

A catalyst is a material that facilitates and speeds up a chemical reaction without chemically changing the catalyst itself. In studying the chemical reactions in syngas conversion, Lin found that the carbon monoxide molecules that yielded ethanol could be "activated" in the presence of a catalyst with a unique structural feature.

"If we can increase this ‘activated' CO adsorption on the surface of the catalyst, it improves the opportunity for the formation of ethanol molecules," Lin said. "And if we can increase the amount of surface area for the catalyst, we can increase the amount of ethanol produced."

Lin's group looked at using a metal alloy as the catalyst. To increase the surface area, they used nano-scale catalyst particles dispersed widely within the structure of mesoporous nanospheres, tiny sponge-like balls with thousands of channels running through them. The total surface area of these dispersed catalyst nanoparticles is roughly 100 times greater than the surface area you'd get with the same quantity of catalyst material in larger, macro-scale particles.

It is also important to control the chemical makeup of the syngas. Researchers at ISU's Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies , or CSET, have spent several years developing fluidized bed gasifiers to provide reliable operation and high-quality syngas for applications ranging from replacing natural gas in grain ethanol plants to providing hydrogen for fuel cells.

"Gasification to ethanol has received increasing attention as an attractive approach to reaching the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard of 36 billion gallons of biofuel," said Robert Brown, CSET director.

"The great thing about using syngas to produce ethanol is that it expands the kinds of materials that can be converted into fuels," Lin said. "You can use the waste product from the distilling process or any number of other sources of biomass, such as switchgrass or wood pulp. Basically any carbon-based material can be converted into syngas. And once we have syngas, we can turn that into ethanol."

The research is funded by the DOE's Offices of Basic Energy Sciences and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

SOURCE: Ames Laboratory

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V8 Supercar racing needs to lead the way in showing Australian drivers their cars can run just as well on ethanol as conventional petrol, according to one of the sport's most powerful figures.

Team Vodafone boss Roland Dane said the climate-change debate and the oil crisis meant the sport had an ideal opportunity to show Australia the way in using alternative fuel sources.

The sport is considering using E85 (85 per cent ethanol-blended petrol) to power its cars from next year. This decision will not only improve the carbon emissions but help support a growing interest in bio fuels in Australia.
Dane's team has been one of V8 Supercars' ethanol guinea pigs, with driver Craig Lowndes using the new blend successfully in his car during a recent test session.

Dane wants the sport to embrace ethanol for 2009, and become a leader in convincing Australian drivers of the merits of using the cheaper, environmentally friendly fuel made from sugar cane and other starch based bi-products.
Dane said tweaking engines was enough to ensure cars could run just as efficiently on ethanol as conventional petrol, both in the V8 series and on Australia's roads.

"There's no reason to have any noticeable performance drop-off using ethanol. The experience shows actually, if you care to increase the compression ration of the engine, then the performance goes up," Dane said.
That's the experience with road cars as well as race cars - we don't lose. With cost effective convertion kits avalible that can convert most modern FFI vehicals to run on E85 then all we need now is the Pumps. Once the public start to ask for E85 the petrol stations will provide the pumps. Read more about convertions kits

"It's essential (we move to ethanol in V8s). We've got to face up to the same problems and issues and changes as society in general," he told AAP.

There's going to be changes in the energy sources we use. The fact is oil at some point will run out. And we need to be looking at alternatives for the future. Motor racing traditionally has helped people focus on changing and new technologies.

"What we can show is here is a sustainable fuel source that produces a lot less carbon dioxide, it's a lot cleaner, it's made in Australia, it's made from sugar and other renewable sources, there's no shortage of it, it doesn't affect the world price of food."

V8 Supercars will run on environmentally-friendly ethanol next year, while the 2009 championship will be shortened by a month.  V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane confirmed cars in the championship would use 85 per cent ethanol-blended petrol from next year, hoping to take the lead in promoting the greener fuel's benefits to Australian motorists.

In a series of pronouncements on the sport's future for 2009 and beyond, Cochrane said on Sunday:

• The length of next year's championship will be shortened to 38 weeks from 42, with all 14 rounds and the Australian Grand Prix exhibition event shoehorned into a calendar with less breaks and more action; 
•  A final decision on whether a Sydney street race around the Olympic precinct will happen in 2009 is expected later this week; 
•  V8 bosses are considering a night race; 
•  A final decision on format changes for next year, including scrapping the compulsory pit stop window and revamping the three-race sprint format, will be made by September and; 
•  V8 Supercars Australia will not raise the fees they charge event promoters for 2009, hoping this will translate into no ticket price hike for fans.

A board meeting on Thursday discussed the move to ethanol, with Cochrane confirming on Sunday they had agreed to adopt the 85 per cent blended fuel, known as E85. All cars in the main V8 series and the Fujitsu Development Series will run on E85 - which is made from sugar cane - for at least the next five years from 2009.

Currently the fuel is not readily available for Australian motorists, though the oil crisis and climate change debate is set to ensure more demand for the cheaper, more sustainable ethanol-blended petrol.

"We want to be a leader in the area of emissions and renewable resources - we don't want to be a follower," Cochrane said. "Our job is educational. We want to show if we can run it in our cars, maybe it's a consideration for the average motorist".

"Petrol is going to keep going up, E85 petrol pumps will become a lot more commonplace throughout Australia, and a lot more cars and manufacturers are going to be out there offering an E85 power plant."
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Statistics about the use of Ethanol in the USA, and its effect on world oil prices:

* The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy note that petrol prices would likely be 20-35 cents higher per gallon if ethanol were not available.
* Merrill Lynch analysts believe oil and petrol prices would be 15 percent higher if ethanol producers weren’t expanding their output: which would mean $21 per barrel more for oil and 61 cents more per gallon for petrol.
* Iowa State University found that between 1995 and 2007, Americans in all regions of the country spent less on petrol —between 29 and 40 cents a gallon—than they would have if ethanol had not been available.
* Using the low and high estimates of ethanol’s savings—20 cents to 61 cents per gallon—ethanol is saving American households between $210-$642 per year.
* By growing the production and consumption of ethanol in the US, and taking basic conservation measures, the nation can fuel its own energy needs for nearly six months out of the year.
* America currently produces enough oil (49 billion gallons) and enough ethanol (9 billion gallons) to provide 149 days of energy independence—or up to May 29 each year.

The Ethanol-Petrol debate is heating up with many different factions presenting information to support their own political stand on the topic. My personal favourite is from OPEC (with absolutely no evidence to substantiate their claims): OPEC insists that ethanol is to blame for the present price increases in world petrol prices!!!

Yes, it’s ridiculous!

Now, who to believe?

And do we really care?

Here in Australia, the present prices for unleaded petrol present a savings of over 60 cents/litre when you fill up with E85 (85% ethanol to 15 % unleaded blended fuel). On the average car, if your tank holds 50 litres you save $30 per tank every time!

With savings like this I was convinced that converting my 94 Camry over to E85 was the only solution to my ever growing fuel bill. When the cost of installing a conversion kit is only $500 for a 4 cylinder or just $600 for a 6 cylinder vehicle, the investment is returned within only 10 ~ 15 tanks of petrol. Think about it: how often do you fill your petrol tank? For me it only took 3 months to cover the conversion, and now I smile as I drive by the ever changing petrol price boards -- knowing that I’m still only paying $1.05 / litre.

To find out more about how you can convert to power your car on E85, click here and check out www.whitelightning.com.au for more details.
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Michelle braces herself. Six months ago, she paid $65 for 50 litres of petrol. Last week, this cost her $87; petrol had climbed to $1.64 per litre – the best price available in her Melbourne suburb.

She turns the corner and looks at the sign: $1.64 again. Michelle feels almost relieved: at least, the price hasn’t gone up. But mostly, she wonders when the prices will climb again, and worries about making ends meet. The newspaper said that, in Europe, petrol now costs $ AUD 2.50 / litre. Michelle knows this could happen here too.
 
What happens overseas affects Australia, full stop. Here’s the latest:

World oil prices held steady near record highs on 3 July, driven by supply worries and a weak US dollar, analysts said.

In London, Brent North Sea crude oil hit a record of $US146.69 / barrel.

Oil has broken a series of price records this week, continuing the momentum begun at the start of the year when it pushed through $US100 for the first time ever.

This has triggered fears over inflation and slower economic growth, while sparking protests around the world.

So far, discussions between consumer and producer countries show no sign of finding a solution to market tensions.Consumers blame supply shortage fears, while producers blame financial speculators and a falling US dollar.

Victor Shum, of Purvin and Gertz international energy consultancy in Singapore, said a spike to $US150 a barrel was possible. And the chief executive of Russian energy giant Gazprom forecast that prices would "very soon" hit $US250 a barrel.

Analysts say one of the reasons for higher oil prices is that production is failing to catch up with growing global demand. And now, it could get worse:

There are new concerns over supply in Iran, the world's fourth biggest crude producer: speculation has mounted that Israel might be planning a military strike against Iran.

Back in Australia…

The solution to rising prices is clear: Australians should be looking at alternate fuel sources. Ethanol is very affordable, better for the environment, and a renewable energy source (i.e. we can make more of it). E85 contains 85% ethanol, and this week cost only $AUD1.05 per litre.

Compare that to $1.64 (and climbing…).

Michelle won’t be paying $87 for 50 litres anymore. She’s switching to E85. » Read More

The United service station on Victoria Rd at Rozelle (Sydney) became the first in Australia to carry the new E85 blend, which contains just 15 per cent regular petrol. Others, like Shoalhaven Ethanol in Nowra (NSW South Coast), have followed suit.

There has been great interest from motorists as the price is considerably cheaper than regular unleaded petrol.

Since being installed two weeks ago, Mr Rao (in Rozelle) estimates he had sold about 600 litres, compared with 50,000 litres of regular unleaded.

"We may get more people using it [soon] because petrol may go up to $2 a litre," Mr Rao said.

However, Renewable Fuels Australia executive director Bob Gordon warns: "This is a major advance, but it wouldn't be worth the risk of using it without a retro-fit, which you could have done for about $500 to $700.

"However there are components that may need to be adjusted on your vehicle's fuel computer board so it can adjust the air fuel ratio to the higher blend levels."

The E85 bowsers will be rolled out to a single station in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide in the coming months and will continue to expand, depending on demand. » Read More