Scientists say ethanol could boost gasoline engines

"Injecting small quantities of ethanol into car engines at moments of peak demand -- such as accelerating sharply or climbing a steep hill -- could improve the fuel economy of gasoline engines by 20 percent to 30 percent, a scientist said on Wednesday." (more)

Such technology would probably cost about $1000.00 per vehicle and could be mass produced by 2011. The technology would also enable vehicles to use smaller engines.

Consequently, some are calling the technology a hybrid challenger. Why?

By 2011, Toyota for example, believes its hybrid technology will not only be more sophisticated and half as heavy - making it significantly more fuel efficient - but half as expensive. Thus, by 2011 you can have a hybrid vehicle that increases fuel efficiency by 30 percent to 40 percent - at least - for $1500 more per vehicle, or you can have an ethanol vehicle that achieves 20 percent to 30 percent better fuel efficiency for $1000 more per vehicle (Of course, will ethanol be cost-effective versus gasoline and available?)

Or, why not have vision? Why not offer a flex-fuel hybrid vehicle that increases fuel efficiency by 50 percent to 60 percent for just $2500 more per vehicle? Geez, why not make it a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle and be 70 percent to 80 percent more fuel efficient.

But why shoot for the moon. Why dream the big dream when we can settle for complacency?

Instead we can stick with a 20 percent gain with ethanol and all of America can drive super-Hummers because they will be so damn fuel efficient. Suddenly, we'll realize we need just as much foreign oil as ever, plus as much as ethanol as we can find!! Then, not only will America be beholden to big oil and foreign governments, but big agri-business as well - a capitalist's dream!