Ethanol In Germany: Education Is Not The Answer
TTAC has paid close attention to the fortunes of ethanol in the United States, where grossly wasteful subsidies have forced the corn-derived fuel into the fuel supply in growing percentages, drawing backlash from small but vocal portions of the population. But much of the ethanol ire is directed at higher blends like the recently-approved E15 and the increasingly-unpopular E85 mixtures. Meanwhile, most Americans regularly fill up their tanks with E10, which has become standard at pumps across the nation. But in Germany, where E10 was only just introduced, people are rejecting the low-ethanol blend that even the most vocal American ethanol opponents use every day. Initially, the biofuel industry in Germany blamed a lack of education for suspicion of E10, but according to Autobild, some 75 percent of German drivers now know whether their vehicle takes E10 (and most do)… but still, only 17 percent actually chose E10 for their last fill-up. And only 39 percent who know for a fact that their car can take E10 have ever used the ten-percent ethanol fuel. Why? Despite the high level of education, 52 percent of respondents still feared motor damage from the ethanol. Another 50 are opposed to “filling up with food.” Sometimes the more you know about something, the less you like it.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
Comments
Join the conversation
Its simple. Corn ethanol is NOT the answer or a "biofuel". Its a subsidized hoax, conspired by midwest processors, pols and Detroit. Biodiesel however, IS the real deal in Germany, the rest of Euro and should be here.
The only people who benefit from ethanol are the corn farmers and fuel pump manufactures.
Finding pure gasoline is like drinking beer right at the brewery. We The People were not consulted on watering down the fuel supply at greater cost, it was a cabal of lobbyists, the EPA, and lawyers. The adoption of ethanol as the only oxygenated additive came after MTBE was blamed for all sorts of ills. A concentrated campaign left refiners unable to use anything else. Big Corn celebrated the day Congress refused to offer legal protection for using MTBE after 15 years of mandating it under the clean air act. Essentially we are powerless to address this. When E20 then E30 rolls out and starts destroying your car, ask your representative if they plan to pay for the damage. Should be good for a few laughs.
We have a choice at some areas here. 87 octane is E0 while 89 octane is E10 for a dime less regardless of the price of gasoline. If it were 5% less for E10 I would probably run it, but since I get 3% worse mileage they had better make it worth my while to use it. Other stations here proudly proclaim the 92 octane hs no ethanol added so it is safe for your "toys" and lawn equipment.