About Bio Ethanol
Bio alcohol (Ethanol) is made of sugary, starchy and cellulosic vegetables, for example wheat, sugar beet or sugar cane. Advantageous fuel features are the high-level anti-knock properties during the combustion and the round about 90% reduction of all exhaust gas components, except sulphur dioxide which is not any longer generated in the process of combustion. Though the fuel consumption elevates due to the lower heat value, therefore with reasonable engine management the performance can be heightened thanks to the upper octane number of 104. In order to improve the disadvantageous cold start attributes when using pure bio alcohol a rate of 15 % gasoline is added to the bio alcohol. This mixture is called "E85". To achieve the bio fuel quota in Germany by 2010, we require 1,500,000 tons of bio alcohol which is equivalent to a tenth of the annually produced amount of Brazil. For this quantity 0.1 % of Brazil's plain (450,000 hectares) is needed to cultivate sugar cane. The basic price in Brazil is approximately 0,25 Euro (0.31 USD) per litre. The aim is to produce more economically, therefore reasonable approaches for further processing of the waste products are made.
In Brazil, the world's biggest producer of bio alcohol, bio alcohol is used as a fuel for more than 30 years now. Two thirds of all new cars are so-called Flex-Fuel-Vehicles (FFV) that are able to run on gasoline or pure bio alcohol - no matter in what kind of mixture. The rest of the Brazilian automobiles run on gasoline with a 20 to 24 % rate of alcohol added. The German car industry is the world's leader in the production of FFVs which have a market share of 60 % in Brazil.
The USA followed Brazils lead and offers more than 20 two-conditioned car models and provides E85 in numerous states. The USA is the world's second largest producer of bio alcohol. Naturally you can get a C- or E-Class by Mercedes Benz as a FFV. Interestingly, in many states 10 % bio alcohol is being added to gasoline. Clearance of all major car manufacturers and engine manufacturers exists for many years.
In Europe Sweden has been the precursor for more than 10 years now. Sweden already has a dense network of more than 400 E85-filling stations. Ford, Saab and Volvo offer several car types as FFVs. In addition, gasoline is mixed with bio alcohol in Sweden. On this account Sweden is Europe's leader concerning the use of bio alcohol. Sweden has the aim to become independent of mineral fuels by 2020.
In Germany it was planned to exceed the allegation made by the EU of a 5,75 % usage of renewable fuels by 2010. Despite the tax exemption of E85 (until 2015) the energy tax is at approximately 10,5 cent (EUR) per liter E85 (summer blend). The registration of public E85-filling stations comes across restraints in the process of approval. The Federal Government is anxious to create relief.
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