Old Idea Made New: Ethanol Fuel Gains Respect

With all the powertrain fuel technologies available for auto makers to develop today – diesel, hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell – another alternative is available: An old idea made new.

And that is ethanol. Derived primarily from corn and sugar, but also plant by-products, ethanol once was relegated to an experimental additive to make gasoline burn cleaner. But with today’s pressures on better fuel economy, less dependency on foreign oil and growing environmental concerns, ...