Micro Fueler Is First Ethanol Kit for Brewing Backyard Biofuels on the Cheap

[Sledgstone 8,672]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/science_news/4262690.html

NEW YORK — This morning, the E-Fuel Corporation, a Silicon Valley startup, introduced the first ethanol refinery system designed for home use. The Micro Fueler, a backyard fueling station, can create pure E100 ethanol from sugar feed stock. “It’s third-grade science,” says Thomas Quinn, founder and CEO of E-Fuel. “You just mix together water, sugar and yeast, and in a few hours, you start getting ethanol.” The $9995 Micro Fueler has a can fill its own 35-gallon tank in about a week by fermenting the sugar, water and yeast internally, then separating out the water through a membrane filter.

E-Fuel representatives claim that the initial cost of the machine can be offset by up to 50 percent by federal, state and local credits, and the cost of raw sugar can be brought down to $1 or below through a system of carbon trading coupons. The Micro Fueler can produce a gallon of ethanol from about 10 gallons of sugar.

Quinn dismisses many of the preconceptions about ethanol—lower gas mileage, long-term damage to automotive fuel systems and the need for a “flex-fuel” car—as just myths. Quinn claims that the E100 from the Micro Fueler can be mixed with ordinary gasoline, or even water to a 70/30 ratio—and still maintain a high-enough octane level to provide plenty of power for ordinary vehicles.

The Micro Fueler is for sale now, with deliveries expected by the fourth quarter. Obviously, there are a lot of unknown variables—fuel prices, sugar supply and distribution, and, of course, the machine’s basic reliability—that will determine the potential success or failure of the Micro Fueler. But Quinn, who has a background in the PC business, sees the personal nature of the Micro Fueler as its main selling point. “Ethanol is really the people’s fuel,” he says. “Anybody can make it.” —Glenn Derene

Nice. Now we can have our own refineries in our backyards.

[Ladywriter 7,783]

that would be sweet.

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

I saw that on the news the other day. The retail model is suppose to be even smaller than that. $10,000 isn't bad.

If it ever picks up though sugar prices would go through the roof.

[Myk JL 1,731]

How small is it?

*Edit*

Can it fit in the back of a truck?

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

The picture shown is a little bigger than a normal modern gas pump. Lets use Shell/BP/Cheveron size as an example just incase they all aren't the same size. I assume the final product is as big or smaller as an everyday gas pump.

Can it fit in the back of a truck? Maybe a full sized pick up. No smaller than a F150/Silverado 2500/Ram. I don't think it would fit in an S10/Dakota/Tacoma/frontier sized truck. Not only may it be too big, but that thing has got to be heavy. I think they ship it to you anyways. It might not be available in a store anytime soon... the question is, who would carry such a product... besides wally-world of course.