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Space/Science » in reply to We could start with a 10% ethanol in gasoline mixture

And then reduce the average weight of vehicles on the road
SDF — (archived)

A simple mathematical formula for reducing fuel consumption is:

Relevant Formulas
A = Log((100 - Annual percent reduction in weight)/100)
B = Log((100 - Total percent reduction in weight)/100)
Years required = A/B

Calculations:
-If we reduce the average weight of vehicles on the road by 5 percent annually, it will take 27 years to achieve a 75 percent weight reduction and reduction in fuel consumption.

Introduction of Ethanol
Even if we are never able to produce more ethanol than we do today, reduction of vehicle weight will allow a gradual increase in the percent of ethanol in the mix versus gasoline. Let's assume that we start with a 10% ethanol mixture, since all cars can run on this mixture without any modification of fuel systems. The amount of ethanol in gasoline as a percent rises as the weight of vehicles is reduced by 5% annually.

% Ethanol in Gasoline = (0.10/((0.95)^Years))*100

So, after 27 years we have reduced vehicle weight, and fuel consumption, by 75 percent. We have simultaneously increased the percent ethanol in gasoline to 40 percent. And we have done this without expanding ethanol production at all.

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