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Introduction to Ethanol:
There are several different kinds of fuels that are used in automobiles and they all have their pros and cons. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol is a commonly used fuel of automobiles that serves as a biofuel additive for gasoline. It is the same alcohol that is used in liquor or beverage drinks. Modern day vehicles are made such that they can run on 100% of ethanol without any addition of substance. This fuel is majorly extracted from sugarcane.
Advantages of Ethanol:
The first and most important advantage of using ethanol in vehicles are that it has a very less diverse effect on the environment. The emission level of greenhouse gasses is 37% less with ethanol which makes it a much cleaner and environment-friendly fuel for usage in vehicles. It is argued that perhaps ethanol is amongst the most efficient of fuels as its output exceeds its input. Unlike other fuels that are mineral based and require extraction from the soil, ethanol is much easier to harness because it can be grown in the form of plantation. It is convenient to do so because any plant can be used for the production of ethanol provided it contains starch and sugar. Hence, it can be produced anywhere in the world using the regional flora (Bioethanol, 2016).
Disadvantages of Ethanol:
Although theoretically, the fact that this form of fuel can be grown right in the backyard appears to be very advantageous, in reality, it is rather impractical to do so. In order to produce enough ethanol that can be used to run excessive vehicles and on a large scale, there would be required vast crop culture. This means that although it is efficient in use, it is not efficient to grow when it comes to covering the agricultural land. There are concerns for environmentalists and agricultural experts as well as for the economists that because ethanol is pricy, the farmers may find it more rewarding for themselves to sell their crop for conversion into fuel rather than food. This can lead to a shortage of food. Although the ethanol fuel is deemed very carbon efficient, which means that it has a very little direct adverse effect on the environment, considering the process of its production one can argue on its practicality. A lot more carbon is emitted in the process of ethanol production than what is saved from its use (Bioethanol, 2016).
Government Policy on Ethanol:
There have been made policies regarding the use of ethanol fuel for automobiles all over the world where there have been established certain measures for the ethanol producers to use ethanol in their vehicular fuel production. This has been done in the wake of the fact that the environment needs protection from hazardous fumes and that the use of biofuels can help in the preservation of the environment.
Recommendations:
Because common fuels are so readily available for affordable prices, people tend to use too much of it. This causes deterioration of the environment. It can be hypothesized that in the presence of ethanol fuel that is pricier, people may start cutting corners in its use and opt for other more suitable modes of transportation like public transport and cycling. This would require strict regulation of the production of ethanol and other fuels as well as their distribution. It is a difficult task to perform but for a determined government, it is very much plausible.
Reference:
Bioethanol, A. (2016). Bioethanol: Advantages & Disadvantages of Bioethanol. Bioethanol- np.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2 July 2016, from http://bioethanol- np.blogspot.com/p/advantages-of-bioethanol.html
