Ethanol Direct Injection engines: 30% better mpg @ $1,000 - $1,500 per engine - Does anybody in DC

[JohnWxy]

know these engines exist NOW?? ... and because of their relatively low cost compared to hybrids ($3,000 - $4,000 marginal cost) offer quicker adoption with attendant GHG reductions (much) sooner?

The MIT designed Ethanol Direct Injection engine uses about 5% ethanol and 95% gasoline. WHich means a 30% gain in mpg gets you about a 23% reduction in fuel consumption - therefor a 23% reduction in GHG emissions. But since only 5% of the fuel supply is ethanol this means your GHG emissions reduction is 20 times that on an ethanol per gallon basis, or 462% reduction vs gasoline.

Comparing Ethanol to gasoline on a Heat Value bais ignores how the fuel is used. What matters is what is the GHG emissions per mile driven.



http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/03/ricardo-boosts-ethanol-engine-technology-using-gm-motor.html">Ricardo Boosts Ethanol Engine Technology Using GM Motor

Contract engineering firm Ricardo Inc. is the latest company to announce a research breakthrough that’s said to optimize spark ignition engine performance to diesel-like levels of efficiency. Ricardo calls its new engine technology Ethanol Boosted Direct Injection. Its goal is similar or better fuel economy, with the same peak of 660 pounds-feet of torque, found in today’s GM 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel, but from a 3.2-liter flex-fuel V-6




http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/stories/engine-tech/ethanol-boost/can-ethanol-boost-engines-replace-diesels-1.html">Diesel's Replacement? Ethanol Turbo Boost For Gas Engines Same Fuel Economy, More Power, Lower Cost 5.0-Liter 500 HP / 700 LBS-FT V-8!!!


Ford, in partnership with a group of MIT scientists, may be closing in on a radical twin-fuel engine technology that could be production-ready in the next three to five years (currently available from Ford in MKS and Taurus SHO ..gasoline only though. Using Ethanol can get 20% more mpg (click on image below)__JW). According to officials, this engine can deliver diesel-like power numbers with a more reasonable initial cost and without using high-priced diesel fuel and its expensive emissions requirements.

The scientists formed a company called Ethanol Boosting Systems and developed the technology based on computer simulations. This virtual model starts with a small but highly turbocharged gas/ethanol engine with separate injectors for each cylinder. The gasoline system mixes fuel with air in a normal air/fuel ratio using port injection in the intake manifold. The second system injects ethanol directly into the combustion chamber to control detonation, or knocking.

According to EBS, such an engine has numerous advantages over hybrids and diesels, including lower cost, reduced emissions and improved fuel economy. More important, though, the design would be most beneficial in trucks and other high-torque applications.


http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/stories/engine-tech/ethanol-boost/can-ethanol-boost-engines-replace-diesels-2.html
EBS' strategy starts with a gas engine that would be smaller than a diesel or gas engine designed for the same power application. So a V-8 becomes a small V-6 or even a four-cylinder. A monster 11-liter diesel engine usually found in an 18-wheeler would become a 7.0-liter gas engine.

"The technology applies across the board," Cohn said. "It works with higher rpm motors as well."

The smaller engine provides better fuel economy during normal operation, is less expensive to produce and reduces vehicle weight.

[PJPhreak]

1. Direct Injection Engines as the kids say,

Are the Shit!

Heres another example of Direct Injection only this time using propane...



For the Gearheads...A "Street Drivable" low 9 Second,3400 lb 71 Chevelle with 1100 Hp,1300 Lb Ft of tourque!

This thing will slam one back into the seat hard enough to feel like you strapped a Stage 1 Saturn V Launch Engine to this critter!

And in under normal driving conditions it delivers the equivalent of 22 mpg

Not Bad for an old "Lead Sled"

Edit to add: Yes this thing not only meets emission standards for year of manufacture,it blows them outta the water! For what it is this critter is truly a "Clean Machine"

[cornermouse]

2. Why you might not want to go there.

http://www.fueltestkit.com/list_e10_engine_damage.html

Listed below are examples of problems and inconvenience that may occur from ethanol (alcohol) and contaminated E10 gas.

IMPORTANT: Most newer engines can run safely on E10 blends when gas is fresh and of high quality. Some engines are not designed for use of gasahol, and even following all precautions will cause damage. (Check your owner's manual for fuel recommendations).
However, E10 damage is most often due to gasoline "contamination", and would not have occurred had the E10 fuel met all ASTM quality standards.

E10 Contamination includes:
Gas at time of purchase contained over 10% legal limit for alcohol, excess water and/or tank not properly cleaned and dry prior to switch to E10.

Ethanol is a strong solvent and cleanser, and while small amounts will keep your engine clean, excess alcohol will wear down engine parts.
Ethanol's water-absorbing qualities are most problematic, but can be managed when fuel is stored properly and replaced often.

Ethanol Gasoline - General Problems/Issues:

1. Water Absorption!
Water Contamination (W/C) and Phase Separation (P/S) of gasoline;
Ethanol attracts, absorbs and holds moisture in fuel tank with increased occurrence of lean, water-diluted fuel.
2. Vapor lock or fuel starvation- Most common in carbureted engines, hot weather and/or at high altitude. (Ethanol increases gasoline's vapor pressure).
3. Drop in octane (after water absorption, P/S and W/C occurs).
4. Decreased fuel efficiency and mpg due to lower energy.
E10 Reformulated Gasoline = 111,836 BTU/gallon. Non-ethanol Gasoline = 114,000 BTU/Gallon. (Diesel and Kerosene Jet Fuel have about 129,000 BTU/gal).
5. Decreased life cycle of parts and engine.
6. Decreased shelf life of gasoline.

Engine/Parts Damage:

1. Wear and damage of internal engine parts.
2. Damage to metal, rubber, and plastic parts of fuel system.
3. Corrosion of metal parts in fuel system and engine.
4. Deterioration of elastomers and plastic parts.
5. Deterioration of non-metallic materials.
6. Fuel permeation through flexible fuel lines.
7. Drying, softening, stretching and/or cracking of rubber hoses,
seals and other rubber components.
8. Oxygen sensor damage.
9. Damage or premature disintegration of fuel pump.
10. Carburetor damage, including clogging.
11. Dirty and clogged fuel filters.
12. Clogging and plugging of fuel injectors.
13. Destruction of certain fiberglass fuel tanks.
14. Removal or fading of paint and varnish (both internal and external parts of engine).
15. Piston/bore failure through knock/pre-ignition.
16. Piston ring sticking.
17. Unsuitable ignition timing resulting in ignition failure.
18. Gumming-up of fuel injectors, carburetors, etc. due to release of accumulated deposits in engine from ethanol alcohol's solvent properties.

E10 Drivability Issues:

1. Engine performance problems, often simply due to lower energy of ethanol-blends.
2. Hard starting and operating difficulty.
3. Hesitation and lack of acceleration.
4. Stalling, especially at low speeds.

[JohnWxy]

3. all nonsense and urban legends. We are all using 6% blended gas

.. in some areas it's higher. Tests such as the following have been done with higher blends with no problems shown.

http://domesticfuel.com/2010/03/30/study-finds-benefits-of-20-percent-ethanol-blends/">A new study from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) finds benefits to the gasoline blended with 20 percent ethanol (E20)

The study by RIT’s Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies indicates that E20 reduces emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide compared with traditional gasoline or E10 blends. In addition, the research team found no measurable impact to vehicle drivability or maintenance in conventional internal combustion engines.

Using a 10-vehicle fleet owned and operated by Monroe County, N.Y., researchers fueled the vehicles – all with older gasoline engines not specifically designed to burn ethanol blends – over the accumulation of at least 100,000 miles per vehicle. Researchers found that the fleet showed an average reduction of 23 percent for carbon monoxide and a 13 percent reduction for hydrocarbon emissions, with no measurable stress on vehicle operation or mechanics.

“There have been concerns raised that any increase in blend would negatively impact standard internal combustion engines, however our data shows that vehicle performance remained constant, while carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions were decreased even over E10 blends,” said Brian Hilton, senior staff engineer at the center and member of the research team.
(more)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I realize this is the era where dreams and urban legends have as much currency as scientific research but we try to stick to empirically validated conclusions on this site. .. with apologies to oil industry propagandists.


The OP had you read it would have revealed to you the ethanol Direct Injection engine, designed by MIT scientists (fairly intelligent individuals) uses 5% ethanol and 95% gasoline which can be blended with ethanol like that being used by all cars today.

[cornermouse]

4. Actually, they have ethanol in the gas pumps around here.

Gas isn't that much cheaper and there was a series of rather in depth local articles about angry boat owners who were finding out that their motors didn't work any more because the engine was eaten up by the ethanol. I keep looking at my car and wondering how much longer its going to last.

[Mopar151]

6. It is difficult to stop fools

From screwing things up. Ethanol/gasoline blends are not straight gasoline, and they should not be treated that way. Seperate fuel systems for gas and ethanol will be more foolproof - but fools are quite ingeinous.
There are precautions that have to be taken with blends, because age and condensation tends to make them seperate. There are fuels availabel for off-road use that specifically address these issues. Also, for the record, straight gasoline has many similar problems - that's why Sta-Bil sells well in every auto parts store and marina. And the addative in pre-ethanol RFG is MTBE - engines like the stuff, but it is absolute hell on groundwater.
You should have little problem using RFG with ethanol, or E-10, in a modern car that is refueled regularly. Modern gasolines are not the straight distillates of the 20's and 30's, and fuel systems built for the old stuff may not stand the new stuff.

[JohnWxy]

7. test of a fleet of vehicles, logging over 100,000 miles on E20, found no problems with engines

"The fleet showed an average emissions reduction for carbon monoxide of 23 percent as well as a 13 percent reduction for hydrocarbon emissions, compared to conventional gasoline, with no measurable stress on vehicle operation or mechanics."


http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/e20-fuel-reduces-carbon-monoxide-and-hydrocarbon-emissions-automobiles.html


The RIT team, which was also led by Brian Duddy, a senior program manager at the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies, worked with the County of Monroe, N.Y., to test the use of E20 in 10 older gasoline vehicles that were not designed for ethanol fuel mixtures. The study utilized service vehicles used by the county, which logged over 100,000 miles on E20 fuel and were analyzed periodically both for emissions and overall wear and tear on the vehicle. The fleet showed an average emissions reduction for carbon monoxide of 23 percent as well as a 13 percent reduction for hydrocarbon emissions, compared to conventional gasoline, with no measurable stress on vehicle operation or mechanics.



on edit: OOPs, I didn't realize I'd already posted this, above. Your not likely to read it here anymore than when I posted above, but there's a chance (yeah, I know, a very small chance. lol).

[NorthCarolina]

5. Glad to hear Ford is on top of this. nt