Here is an update from me on power:
Rented a VW Gol for two weeks in Brazil, seems to correspond to an old version of VW Golf or a VW Polo from the interior. Drove 1,000 miles in cities and on rural roads. 4 adults and luggage. On the countryside no problems with speeds between 75 to 95 mph (maybe I broke some speed limits). This between areas of potholes, were I had to brake hard. No real disadvantage in acceleration that I could notice, but on the other hand I would compensate that with the gearbox without thinking. I do not read the data sheet before I drive a car, I only drive it. Was quite slow compared with the Porche 928, BMW 750 MB 500 and AUDI V8, that I had some years ago when I could have expensive company cars. I did not really notice any difference in the 24% ethanol mix and would probably noticed it less in the previous mentioned cars. Hakan At 11:12 AM 12/19/2002 +0900, you wrote: >Hi MM > > > >Fuel alcohol has returned to favor following a record cane crop, > > >sharp rise in oil prices this year > >Complicated, I wish I knew more about it - complex stuff about >subsidies and whether they were a "good thing" or not (not that the >petro companies ever get subsidies of course!), big success stories >and then negative ones, and pressure from the domestic oil industry. >Very hard to see the thing straight without going there and getting >mud on your boots at the local level. > >This is from the archives, two years ago: > >"In 1984 Brazil decided to go the anhydrous ethanol route. It set up >vehicle mix standards for manufacturers, and made available (until >1997) a subsidy of 140 million dollars to anhydrous ethanol (ae) >manufacturers.In a country with 140 million people this is mere >chickenfeed. > >"Since then Brazil has manufactured close to six million vehicles >that run on straight 100% ae. These include over seven hundred >thousand trucks and farm tractors, and some twelve thousand buses. > >"All manufacturers, and that includes Ford and GM, have a line-up of >ae powered vehicles... All Brazilian gasoline has a minimum of 24% ae >(v/v) content, and this will probably be upped to 26% in the near >future." > > >".... and development of new engine technologies to use ethanol." > > > >I wonder what this last comment is in reference to? Has there been > >real progress in efficiency or power levels in using ethanol in > >engines? > >Not that I know of. Maybe someone with Brazilian mud on their boots >will enlighten us. > >Best > >Keith Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
