Ethanol rip-off & lies OR future miracle fuel?
If you read what Brazil did (using sugar) to make Ethanol, it has little application to the USA, which uses corn.
In Brazil where sugar cane is used, the yield is higher, and conversion to ethanol is MUCH more energy efficient than corn. In the USA corn is typically used which requires high land use (notice cost of cereals), and "energy balance" for ethanol is barely positive. Energy balance is the energy put into making ethanol verses a gallon of ethanol energy output. It takes almost as much energy to make ethanol from corn as you get out, as low as a 1.25 ratio!
Basically it cost more energy to make ethanol with corn than it produces. Also in the engine, ethanol fuel economy is less than gas, so the net result of energy conservation is pretty lousy (at this time). At this time its an "Alternative" fuel, but not a practical one, at least the way the USA is going at it. Still down the road new technology may improve all of the math and make it viable. However the hype is a little optimistic to say the least.
Sugar is more efficient, but of course fossil fuels are better still. Research into new crops and processes should be looked at, but before you get sold on it, do some serious research. My feeling is Corn farmers and their lobbyist are all for it, CHAA-CHING$$$.
Not compatible with fiberglass
Corrosion of ferrous components
Decreases fuel-economy by 15-30%
Questionable air and environmental benefit
Formation of jelly like salt deposits on fuel strainer screens
Can negatively affect electric fuel pumps, increasing internal wear
I'm not totally down on ethanol, but right now some of the propaganda is being driven by the Agriculture lobbyist. I want to develop all alternative energy: atomic power, solar, wind, hydrogen, fuel cells, hybrid-elec and even ethanol. I just want it to be driven by technology, science and sound economy, not greed and profit by powerful lobbyist.
To realize higher precentage of ethanol/gas blends, cars would require massive changes and cold start systems for anything over E85 (85%). If we just conserve and industry would make more fuel efficient vehicles, while developing ALL the alternatives (no single magic bullet), we will be better off in 18 years than all the ethanol we could make. However add into the mix ethanol and all other solutions, we could be off of foreign oil, which is my main issue. You want to hurt terrorist, stop buying their oil.
To answer the title question, its neither. Its just what it is, NO FREE LUNCH. Corn is a questionable crop to make fuel, but with new processes and crop/base materials who knows. Its going to be a multi-solution of all technologies and the dreaded "Conservation" of energy. Not in our life times or may be our kids or grand kids or great grand kids lives, but the day people don't unlimited gas, at any price, is coming.
The experts have shown that we are at a tipping point, production and oil supplies have peaked and will only drop in the future, as usage is exponentially going up. It does not take advance math to see supply going down, demand going up is going to be a problem.