Fuel Ethanol - Spotlight on Ethanol in 2000

FUEL ETHANOL
Spotlight on Ethanol in 2000
By Ellen Klupfel, Public Information Coordinator, Canadian Renewable Fuels Association

The days between March and the end of June 2000 mark an especially active time for Ontario’s ethanol industry. A series of high profile events are taking place that are helping to highlight ethanol’s growing role in Canada and the world.

First, the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2000 took place March 28-31 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In this event, seven North American collegiate teams competed to design a snowmobile with the lowest emissions while maintaining performance. The University of Waterloo represented Ontario in this event, and used a 10 per cent ethanol blend as part of its emissions reduction strategy. This team placed second overall, and took the lead for teams using modified two-stroke engines. Waterloo’s Team EcoSnow achieved emissions of 50 per cent less carbon monoxide and 95 per cent fewer unburned hydrocarbons than the standard model. Unfortunately, the only other Canadian team in the event, the École de technologie supérieure (Montreal) had to drop out of the competition, due to lack of testing time for their advanced design.

The overall first-place winners were from the State University of New York at Buffalo. This team competed with a four-stroke engine to achieve superior overall results. Four-stroke engines are generally quieter and use less fuel than two-stroke engines, but they are typically heavier, costlier, and have more sluggish throttle response. Two-stroke engines are the standard for snowmobile manufacturers in North America. The modified snowmobiles were tested on emissions, fuel economy/endurance, acceleration, hill climb, noise and handling. Congratulations to all seven teams, who gave an excellent effort and achieved great results, especially for the first year of this event.

The month of May includes the many activities around the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge (EVC), a competition that -- for the first time in its three-year history -- will take place entirely in Canada. This event challenges 16 North American collegiate teams to optimize a vehicle to run on E85, a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline. In 2000, the event involves further modifying the Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks used in 1999. The EVC’s headline sponsors include General Motors, Natural Resources Canada, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Other sponsors include Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition, the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association and its members.

For the Ontario teams from the universities of Waterloo and Windsor/St. Clair College, the EVC begins with a send-off in Guelph on May 2. The University of Windsor-St. Clair College Team and a third Canadian team from the University of Alberta will be participating in the EVC for the first time this year, using demonstration vehicles. The University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team took second place overall in 1998, along with the award for the lowest emissions. In 1999, this team placed fourth overall, and won top honours for emissions reductions and for its oral design presentation.

From May 13-20, along a route that runs from Ottawa to Windsor (with stops in Oshawa, Toronto and Chatham), the 16 modified E85-fuelled Silverado pick-up trucks will be tested for emissions and performance (including fuel economy, off-road, driveability, acceleration and cold start). Past Ethanol Vehicle Challenges have demonstrated that significant environmental benefits and superior performance can be achieved from these E85-dedicated vehicles. It is anticipated that some of this year’s competing trucks will achieve Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. Good luck to all 16 teams as they strive to demonstrate ethanol’s potential.

In June, the spotlight turns again to Windsor, which will host the 16th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW), the first time in its 15-year history that this prestigious event will take place outside the U.S. FEW 2000, “Where Practical Application and Research Meet to Improve Grain and Biomass Ethanol Production Efficiencies,” and the associated trade show June 20-23 will focus on ethanol production, and will include technical tours of the Commercial Alcohols Inc. Chatham facility and Hiram Walker & Sons in Windsor. FEW offers plenary sessions on major current industry issues and interactive work groups on specific production and research topics.

On June 20, on the morning prior to the launch of the FEW, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association will be holding its annual meeting and convention in Windsor. This program will include topics related to the environmental and consumer aspects of fuel ethanol.

In addition, several important announcements around ethanol production are expected in spring 2000. This includes construction of facilities in Cornwall, Ontario and Varennes, Quebec. It is anticipated that Ottawa-based IOGEN’s cellulose-to-ethanol demonstration plant will also be operational.

For information on the Ontario and Canadian ethanol industries or the events described here, contact the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association at (519) 767-0431 or visit the Greenfuels web site at http://www.greenfuels.org.