In the early 1920's the Standard Oil Company sold ethanol in the Baltimore area to test the fuel. When they tested ethanol, they found that it was quite expensive to produce, because the price of corn was so steep. That s why it wasn t salable. But it was brought back in the late 1970's when a Middle Eastern oil shortage made ethanol cheaper than regular gasoline. It s still used in several midwestern states.
Ethanol is often a good substitute for gasoline in times when the supply of crude oil is low.
Less oil needs to be imported when you re using ethanol, and more natural substances are used. The main downside to using ethanol is that it is using a food supply as a fuel rather than as food. This can be dangerous with the diminishing number of American farmers and the number of starving people across the globe. Studies have shown that ethanol actually improves the quality of air in major cities. With ethanol, fewer toxins are released into the air.