The Debate Rages: Hybrid E-85 vs. Hybrid Diesel vs. Biodiesel
Biodiesel proponents are eager to combine hybrid technologies with the environmental benefits and (sometimes) cost savings that biodiesel provides. They argue that diesel is easier to store and transport, cleaner blends are available, and biodiesel is far better for the world than ethanol-based fuels, which are hard to grow, give lower gas mileage, don't cost less, and require more fuel to produce than they save in the tank.Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Business Week disagrees. According to a recent special report, cellulosic ethanol E-85 hybrids are cleaner and cheaper than diesel hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Not all of their readers agree with their points, but they're worth considering. One point they make is that biodiesel blends higher than 5% void factory warranties. That's not a problem for a lot of green fuel enthusiasts, but for the mass market, it's critical, and E-85 doesn't void the warranty if the car is designed to use it. Another point is that plug-in hybrids take the batteries to higher and lower charges than they're designed to run on, which may shorten the life of the batteries (they last so long on gas hybrids because they maintain a charge of 40-60%). Business Week also looks at CO2 emissions, and provides a smart analysis concluding that E-85 emits far less than biodiesel hybrids or gas hybrids.
I'm sure that the debate isn't over yet, but the article is definitely fuel for discussion. [Source: Business Week, and thanks again to Joel A.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Me 11:55AM (5/11/2006)
"One point they make is that biodiesel blends higher than 5% void factory warranties. That's not a problem for a lot of green fuel enthusiasts, but for the mass market, it's critical, and E-85 doesn't void the warranty if the car is designed to use it."
That has got to be the worst argument ever. Of course E85 won't void the warranty if the car is designed for E85. If a car is "designed" to use biodiesel then biodiesel wouldn't void the warranty. I put designed in quotes, because most diesels would need any design changes, the manufacturer would just need to accept biodiesel as an acceptable fuel. How many vehicles on the road are "designed" to use E-85 anyway, and does anyone know what is different about them? My guess is the fuel lines are an ethanol compliant material and the fuel management uses wide band oxygen sensors.
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Bogey 8:27PM (5/23/2006)
Whilst poster #1 is correct, the point of the article is also correct. I own a 2005 Ford F250 diesel. I'd love to run more than 5% bio. BUT, if I do and *ANYTHING* goes wrong that Ford could pin on a fueling problem and *BINGO* - "pouf" goes the 100,000 mile warranty on the $5,000 option.
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