Ethanol Overrated? Try some Diesel

After an initial bout of enthusiasm from Congress and the auto industry, doubts have been raised about current ethanol-based fuel.  Known as “E85” (it consists of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum), automakers responding to incentives created in the 2005 Energy Policy Act have embraced it.  Good news for the environment?  Not really.  The proliferation of E85 cars could help reduce the US’s dependence on foreign oil (minimally), but on the environmental side it looks to be a disappointment.  Some studies raise doubts about its energy efficiency, and it will likely have a miniscule impact on CO2 levels.   On the brighter side, there is another fuel option that many Americans are already familiar with.

While diesel may seem an unlikely “green” fuel, it produces only one third of the CO2 as petroleum.

The Europeans have been using it for years; in fact one in two cars on the continent runs on diesel.  Click here for more information from The Economist.