Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 03/17/2011 9:22:03 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
03/17/2011
Germany's Eco-Trap
Is Environmentalism Really Working?
Germany is among the world leaders when it comes to taking steps to save the environment. But many of the measures are not delivering the promised results. Biofuels have led to the clear-cutting of rainforests, plastics are being burned rather than recycled and new generation lightbulbs have led to a resurgence of mercury production. A SPIEGEL survey.
As usual, ordinary Germans were to blame. Everything had been prepared for the green revolution: fresh supplies and new signs at the gas stations, and the refinery depots were full to the brim with the new wonderfuel. But then drivers turned their backs on the new era. They didn't want to buy E10, a blend of ethanol and gasoline, even through it cost almost 10 cents less per liter than conventional gas.
"It's annoying but there's no question of stopping the sale of E10," said Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen. E10, Röttgen said with a hint of threat in his voice, was a milestone of German climate control policy.
When it comes to the environment these days, all other interests must take a back seat, including possible engine damage from E10. After all, the United Nations has proclaimed that ensuring environmental sustainability is one of its "millennium goals," and greater importance is assigned to climate negotiations among the big industrial nations than to economic summits these days.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
P!
It sure ruins my outboard engines. And here you can not get real gas except a few places.
I recall that back in 1988 I was in Germany for a few weeks and I was surprised to learn you could not wash your car at home. By law, you had to go to a government approved wash-station.
At the time, I thought, ‘that’s great, they’ll have this planet cleaned up in no time!’ (Pre-Freeper me...)
At least you have a few places. I can’t get it anywhere near me.
The post-capitalist business model: get the government to pass a law that makes purchase of your product mandatory.
Here in SW Missouri 91 octane premium gasoline is $0.20 per gallon higher than E-10.
A small price to pay for addition protection for the 9 small gasoline motors I own.
Bingo!
Germans are about the most savvy automotive consumers on the planet. If you think they want to put ethanol in their new BMW, Audi, Mercedes or others - keep dreaming. they know what it does to engines.
Ford is able to hang in there because they compete in the German and European market and it is not easy. GM has Opel/Vauxhal but they are laggards anymore.
My auto mechanic says I should put Stabil Marine in my cars with every fill. Which I do, religiously.
He says that the largest (in numbers) single problem he has coming in is ethanol based.
When it comes to the environment these days, all other interests must take a back seat, including possible engine damage from E10.Isn't it bad for the environment to have to build all those replacement cars?
This is really encouraging. More people waking up to the fact that the Environmentalism emperor wears no clothes.
“...It’s annoying but there’s no question of stopping the sale of E10,” said Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen. E10, Röttgen said with a hint of threat in his voice...”
Never a good thing to threaten Germans, Mr. Rottgen, or whatever your name is... They’ll string your socialist Euroweenie ass up one day.
Long overdue, all across Europe...
A outboard motor repairman I know recommends adding SeaFoam that can be purchased at O’Riley Automotive even though I only use gasoline (not E-10) in my outboards.
It sounds as if they’re offering drivers a choice.
If they offered you a choice here, I would NEVER buy ethanol gas. But you have to buy it, because there’s nothing else.
We had a local gas station that trucked down ethanol free gas from Canada, and I used to pick up my gas there. But then the Gestapo told them they couldn’t do that any more.
So, no choice. My snowblower is kaput, and one of my weedwhackers needs to go in again for maintenance. Aaargh.
What exactly is E-10? I know that the pumps at the gas station indicate that there is up to 10% ethanol in the gasoline. Does this mean for all grades of gasoline, or is it just for regular?
As I said, I acknowledge that I'm an idiot ... just be merciful in your response.
Ve half vays to make you buy E-Zehn. You half relatives in Zilesia, nein?
Yes but doesn't the ethanol have a lower energy density that gasoline and therefore reduced fuel economy? The lower fuel economy means more trips to the pump which narrows the price differential between your 91 octane versus E10.
Supposed to be good stuff. Been recommended to me also.
Where are you finding real gasoline?
The water it causes is the main problem.
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