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Posted By: stereobandito Mar 12, 2005 - 07:49 am

As you well know, ethanol is used as an alternative fuel in nations such as Brazil where crude oil is unaffordable. Instead, sugar cane is fermented to produce alcohol.

My question is, would it be possible for ethanol to be used around 500 years from now, when oil has run out and airships, mechs etc. need some form of fuel to keep them running?

This would obviously make sugar cane a valuable commodity, helping improve the economy of many third world nations who are able to sell their surpluses at a high price. This would fit the setting of my story very well, but would it be possible?

Thanks.

Posted By: Magus Mar 12, 2005 - 11:42 am

Hmmmm... I assume that it could be. But they could also try other fuel-methods, such as having it be solar powered and then have a battery store power for less then optimal weather. And the use of sugar as a fuel would drastically change the foods we'd eat, unless you were extremely wealthy.

Posted By: aldan Mar 12, 2005 - 06:49 pm

I think you used too high a number of years. Unless something drastic occurs very soon, third-world countries will run out of space to GROW such things

Posted By: stereobandito Mar 13, 2005 - 06:46 am

I got the idea from an article on such matters. It seemed to suggest alternative fuels for the next millenia. However, on reflection, maybe 5 centuries is too long. I was thinking of bringing it forward to around 2200.

Otherwise I read an article on Slush Hydrogen, very interesting stuff. The Americans, Russians and Chinese have all experimented with the stuff, perhaps this would be much more suitable for the time period I wish to set my epic in seeing as it is for use as a rocket fuel.

I think I will choose to follow this route rather than the ethanol one. That doesn't mean to say certain things won't run on ethanol, but larger, more advanced nations such as the Americans and the Chinese will have access to Slush Hydrogen Star Cruisers etc.

Thanks for all your help. I really do appreciate it. It's good to know I can count on you guys for support in the future.

Posted By: Magus Mar 13, 2005 - 11:18 am

Posted By: Spiderkeg Mar 16, 2005 - 10:16 am

Heh, about something along the lines of Soylent Green? A source of fuel to power all our transportation and such, but to discover the fuel is made from ground up human. So there's the delimma, do we stop using it effectively cutting our source of fuel or keep using it and deal with the moral issue. Hah hah, what a movie that would make.

"Soylent Fuel is made from people... made from people!"

Posted By: Magus Mar 16, 2005 - 04:34 pm

You'd think they'd have learned the lesson from the Greens.

Posted By: Aslan Mar 22, 2005 - 11:41 am

Try something older. Diesel engines were invented to run on a concoction derived from peanut oil! There's a small local community here in Wisconsin who use leftover grease from fast food restaurants to brew up fuel for their diesel cars. Apparently it works really well, is cost effective, and is a great way to recycle that oil.

Posted By: Magus Mar 22, 2005 - 03:21 pm

What, you meen we shouldn't sell it to the school's as lunch for the kiddies?