Thirsty Beast? The newest accessory for SUVs

By Ken Hoyt

Is the act of filling your big macho ride making you feel a little queasy? You may just need the newest accessory for luxury class vehicles.

Soon you'll be able to make your own fuel in the backyard with a home version ethanol maker. The E-Fuel 100 Microfueler is expected to make ethanol for around $1 a gallon (subject to the price of sugar). This luxury-oriented blog points out that it may make owning a gas hungry vehicle just a bit more affordable.

The New York Times article, Home Brew for the Car, Not the Beer Cup points out some pros and cons.

Pro:

Ethanol produces 1/8th the carbon of gasoline. *
Potential tax credits could cut the costs.
As fuel prices rise the upfront costs will seem more reasonable.

Con:

The cost, $10,000.
It's illegal in the U.S. to power a vehicle on 100% ethanol.
The cost of the raw ingredients could soar (think corn prices).

Sound like a long shot? Inventor Floyd S. Butterfield has been working on this project for decades, winning an award from California Department of Food and Agriculture for his design in 1982. He's partnered now with Silicon Valley entrepreneur Thomas J. Quinn's bet on quite a few in the past and grown wealthy in the process.

* according to Thomas J. Quinn.

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Tagged:
environment alternate fuels diy

April 29, 2008

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About: My small business, Interior Advocate, provides design solutions for interiors. And I write about living...