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ETHANOL AND ENGINE PERFORMANCE__
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Ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be produced from sugar cane and most
grain crops. When blended with petrol at levels of 10% (E10) it provides
a number of benefits to your car and to the environment. It has been used
extensively in other countries such as the USA for over 20 years. It is
recognised as a high quality low cost octane fuel that enhances engine
performance.
Higher Octane ______________________________
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Ethanol has a higher octane rating that unleaded petrol which is why it is
used in high performance fuels. When 10% ethanol is added to unleaded petrol
it will raise the octane rating from 92 to 95 (equivalent to Premium Unleaded).
Better Combustion________________________________________________Back
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Ethanol contains 35% oxygen and when blended with petrol (E10) results in
a more even and complete combustion of the fuels. Ethanol blended with
unleaded petrol will also reduce knocking or pinging in the motor which
provides better performance and helps the motor run more smoothly.
Cleaner Engines___________________
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Because ethanol blended fuel burns more completely and cleanly your motor
will accumulate less carbon deposits than from unleaded petrol without
ethanol. Continued use of E10 fuel will help to clean up your motor and
fuel system due to its cleaning characteristics.
Reduces Toxins and Carcinogens___________________________
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Another benefit of ethanol is that it is water soluble, biodegradable and
non-carcinogenic. Petrol contains a number of toxins and known carcinogens.
E10 petrol will contain less of these harmful substances.
Reduced Emissions__________________________________
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Ethanol is a renewable fuel produced from plants and compared with conventional
petrol reduces:
Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by up to 19%. (1)
Tailpipe carbon monoxide by as much as 30%.
Toxic emissions by up to 22%.
Fuel Economy_____________________________________________ ___ ___Back
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Fuel economy is affected by many variables. Carburetted vehicles that run
rich will experience an increase in fuel economy when using E10. Tests
on fuel-injected vehicles suggest that fuel economy may fall by around
2%. (2) This would result in fuel economy falling from 10 litres per 100km
to 10.2 litres per 100km, a difference that would not be detected by the
average driver.
Car Warranty_________________________________________________
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The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FDAI) has indicated that manufacturers
new car vehicle warranties would support an ethanol level in petrol of
up to 10%.
In Canada and the USA where ethanol has been widely used for 20 years ethanol blended fuels are approved under the warranties of all major auto manufacturers. In fact some recommend ethanol blends (E10) for its environmental benefits.
Made in Australia_______________________________________
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Ethanol is produced by sugar and grain grown in Australia. Approximately 70%
of petrol used in Australia is imported. By using ethanol blended fuels you
are supporting Australian farmers and Australian industry and helping the
environment.
ETHANOL AND THE ENVIRONMENT____________________________Back
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Ethanol is a renewable, sustainable bio-fuel that can replace fossil fuels
in vehicles and reduce air pollution from carbon monoxide and greenhouse
gasses.
Ethanol is one of the best tools we have to fight air pollution from vehicles.
Ethanol contains 35% oxygen. Adding oxygen to fuel results in cleaner and
more complete fuel combustion thus reducing harmful tail pipe emissions.
Greenhouse Gas_________________________
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Petrol and other transport fuels contribute significantly to Australia’s
greenhouse gas production. Carbon dioxide is the greatest component of greenhouse
gas produced from burning petrol in vehicles. Ethanol reduces the amount
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere because it is a renewable fuel.
Ethanol production from plants represents a carbon cycle where plants absorb carbon dioxide during growth, recycling the carbon released during fuel combustion.
The latest reports based upon ethanol produced from corn in the USA concludes
that a litre of ethanol produces some 19% less Greenhouse gas that a litre
of petrol. This is based upon the entire farming and production cycle (ref.
United States Department of Energy 1999.) Ethanol produced from by-products
such as molasses will result in even higher savings of Greenhouse gases.
Carbon Monoxide______________________________________________
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Carbon Monoxide formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels, is produced
most readily from petroleum fuels which contain minimal oxygen in their molecular
structure. Because ethanol contains 35% oxygen, combustion of the fuel is
more complete. Research shows that reductions range up to 30% depending upon
the type and age of the automobile.
Ozone__________________________________________________________Back
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Because of its effect in reducing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in exhaust,
adding ethanol to petrol results in an overall reduction in exhaust ozone-forming
potential. Ethanol has no significant effect on emissions of nitrous oxide,
another common contributor to atmosphere ozone. Emissions produced by burning
ethanol are less reactive with sunlight than those produced by burning petrol.
This results in a lower potential for ozone damage.
Toxins___________________________________________________
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Petrol consists of blends of hundreds of hydrocarbons. Many of these are
toxic. A number such as benzene are carcinogenic. Ethanol is non-carcingoenic,
biodegradable and water soluble. Blending ethanol in fuels reduces the
amount of toxins and carcinogens.
Sustainable Agriculture________________________________________ ____Back
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Ethanol production relies on sustainable farming practices to support the
reliable supply of grain and molasses to the ethanol plant. By focusing
on reliable and regular production of grains for the ethanol plant it is
expected this will help to even out the damaging boom and bust events of
Australian agriculture.
ETHANOL AND THE ECONOMY_____________________
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Ethanol is a renewable fuel produced from sugar cane and grain. When ethanol
is blended at 10% with petrol the fuel, E10, improves car engines performance
and reduces air pollution. Importantly an Australian ethanol industry will
produce important economic benefits such as a reduction in imports of oil
and the stimulation of regional agriculture areas.
Reduced Oil Imports_________________________________________
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Some 70% of petrol in Australia is derived from imported oil. A thriving
ethanol industry in Australia will replace imported oil and improve our
Balance of Payments. A 10% blend in Australia’s petrol would improve
Australia’s trade balance by more that $3 billion over 5 years.
Economic Stimulation____________________________
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Experience in the USA demonstrates that new ethanol plants provide substantial
economic stimulation to the nations economy. A report by Ernst and Young
on the direct economic benefits of Australian ethanol plants predicts that
the economic benefit to the economy is between 15 and 18 cents per litre.
This excludes jobs and economic benefits to the wider community.
Kyoto Targets____________________________
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Increased use of ethanol will help Australia to achieve a reduction in Greenhouse
gases required by international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol.
Regional Stimulation__________________
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Ethanol plants are usually sited in regional area adjacent farm areas. The
ethanol industry would assist in employment, creating added income and
value to farm products and reduce the boom / bust cycle.
National Security______________________________________
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The increased use of an Australian made fuel will reduce our dependence on
oil fro the Middle Ease and Indonesia. Australia imports oil for some 70%
of our petrol needs and this figure is increasing rapidly. Two thirds of
the worlds known oil resources are located in the Middle East.
Regional Economic
Issues______________________________________
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Ethanol plants provide a much needed boost to regional areas. Benefits to
regional Australia include:
Employment_____________________________________________
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Each ethanol plant will provide some 300 jobs in regions which lack skilled,
stable employment. In the US the production of over 7 billion litres of
ethanol per year has created over 190,000 jobs in rural communities.
Spin off Industries____________________________________________
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The ethanol plant will produce business opportunities in ancillary industries
from co-products such as cattle feed, fertilizers and transport.
Added Income and Added Value_______________________________
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Ethanol plants will add value to farmers production. US reports and
Agricultural figures show that ethanol plants have substantially increased
Farmers income.
Stable Income________________________________________________ _
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Ethanol plants will create a more stable and reliable income to farmers.
Stock Feed_______________________________________________________Back
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Much of Australia’s grains are used for feeding cattle and other stock.
The use of grain for ethanol production will not unduly effect this market
as the co-product from ethanol production is a higher value, high protein
product known as Distillers Dried Grain (DDG) which is used to supplement
cattle feed rations.
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