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Cleantech magazine, a Cleantech Investor publication
FREE CONTENT: BIOETHANOL BABES PDF Print E-mail

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Photo Fernando Barbosa
 

Bioethanol is recognised as a ‘clean’ fuel for its low levels of polluting emissions. Its environmental credentials depend upon the feedstock used in its manufacture. Perhaps less well known is that ethanol is a high octane fuel, which lends itself to motor racing – although it needs to be run at a richer mixture than gasoline.

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 First published in Cleantech magazine, November/December 2007. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2007

 

The US Indy Racing League championship, which has traditionally used an alternative alcohol, Methanol Racing Fuel, this year introduced a ’100%’ ethanol fuel. Meanwhile, in the UK this year’s GT Championship saw the second place position awarded to the bioethanol fuelled Barwell Aston Martin of Lord Drayson, the (now former) Minister of Defence. (Lord Drayson has subsequently taken a leave of absence from the Brown cabinet to compete in the American Le Mans series. The peer, who has an “eventual dream of success in the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race”, will compete in the US in a bioethanol fuelled car next year.)

However, the first full British championship to switch over to bioethanol was Formula Woman. The exclusively female championship, which competes in Caterham Cars, has just completed its third season – its first on an E85 bioethanol blend. The Formula Women concept, managed by Hyperion Motorsport, aims to address the issues of energy efficiency in motor sport and
to have a positive influence on climate change by influencing the behaviour of spectators.

The ethanol for the championship is supplied by the Anglo American Oil Company. Formula Woman has specified a controlled fuel because E85 is not available at pumps on the race tracks. Energy Efficient Motor Sports (EEMS), which has supported the introduction of E85, is lobbying for the installation of E85 pumps at race tracks, which would permit the women to switch to pump fuel – a much cheaper option – and might also encourage the use of bioethanol by other sports.

The Caterham Cars are converted to run on E85 with the aid of a kit imported from Brazil which ‘piggy backs’ on to a standard Caterham engine. The fuel pressure is increased to account for the extra fuel required – typically 25% to 30%, since ethanol is a lower energy fuel than gasoline. Minster Power, which prepares the cars for the Championship, has been monitoring the effect of the ethanol. Over the season, which amounts to eight races over four weekends (some 1,500 miles in total), the cars are rinsed through with unleaded fuel after each race. Graham Fuller of Minster points out that the fuel lines have held up well – although the rubber seals are suffering.

Formula Women Championship winner this year was 20 year old Jenny Garrett.

 
 
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