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4
Feb
By Bill Visnic
Ethanol derived from cellulosic “waste†sources –- rather than the corn-based stock that produces almost all of the ethanol used today –- takes a big step this week, as the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol plant begins production.
The cellulosic ethanol plant, engineered and operated by KL Process Design Group of Rapid City, S.D., is located near Upton, Wyo. The plant processes soft waste wood into ethanol and is the result of a 6-year cooperation between KL and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Cellulose is the primary structural component in all green plants.
A KL spokesman tells AutoObserver the new plant, which KL describes as a small-scale commercial operation, is designed to annually produce 1.5 million gallons of the renewable fuel.
The company said the facility also has successfully tested the process with wood-source waste materials such as cardboard and paper. KL said it employs proprietary technologies and newly developed enzymes that break down the cellulosic materials into the alcohol-based ethanol.
“In our experience with enzymes and ethanol production, we have incorporated proven technologies that have been utilized for years in other industries,†said Dave Litzen, VP of process engineering for KL Process Design Group, in a release. “Through these processes, we are releasing fermentable sugars hidden within the wood, without the use of environmentally unfriendly acids.â€
The ethanol from KL’s new Wyoming plant also will be part of another history-making event: E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) fuel will be officially sanctioned in racing competition by the American Le Mans Series. The Corvette Racing team will be first to use racing E85 at the Le Mans Series’ first event, the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 15.
It is the first time any racing series has made a commitment to use E85, said the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. The ALMS said at least one other team, Aston Martin Racing, will use the KL-supplied ethanol during the 2008 racing season.
“This is a groundbreaking achievement not only in motorsports, but also in the drive to relevant fuel technologies,†said Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the American Le Mans Series.
“The American Le Mans Series was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the only motorsports entity to meet the criteria for ‘green racing',†Atherton added.
The shift to cellulosic ethanol is gaining political and auto-industry momentum as many interested entities engage in the effort to eventually shift ethanol production away from corn, which has manifest economic liabilities. General Motors Corp. recently provided a giant boost for cellulosic ethanol supporters when it announced it is engaged in a significant joint venture to build a plant capable of annually producing 50 to 100 million gallons of cellulose-derived ethanol by 2011.
Photo by General Motors
Chevrolet’s E85-fueled Corvette ALMS racer, as shown at the recent Detroit auto show.
Source: First Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Begins Production; Will Fuel Sebring Race
4
Feb
KTM 300 XC and XC-W (e)
Published in Other Maxx Biker
Filed in: KTM | cross | offroad | KTM XC | KTM XC-W
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Page 1 : KTM 300 XC and XC-W (e)
Page 2 : Test Drive
Page 3 : SPECIFICATIONS
KTM’s biggest two-stroke XC motorcycles combine toughness with loads and loads of torque in order to keep on rolling towards the culmination of their careers. Power and handling are always key to bike’s successes and these two will stand by you at every speed range.
Introduction
No matter the model you choose to go for, the Austrian bike will become a true work horse with the racing abilities of a motocross two-stroker. This is a benefic consequence of the fact that KTM produces a wide range of off-road motorcycles that perfectly blend in the qualities of a trail bike with the ones of a motocross bike. It can sometimes be confusing and it doesn’t quite help you to decide on a model, but once you’ve swing a leg over one, you’ll not only be Ready to Race, but never willing to get off of it at all. In this case, the 300 XC is more of a motocrosser, while the 300 XC-W (e) with its revolutionary electric starter manages to require less effort from the rider having fun with its pals.
History
2002 KTM 300 MXC The two models aren’t strange to KTM’s lineup as the simple XC was first introduced in 2004 to replace the 300 MXC two-stroke motorcycle. Since then, this KTM model started becoming more and more popular and the addition of the 300 XC-W (e) in 2006 was a great choice for riders who orientate towards the off-road instead of motocross and still remained hooked to products offered by the Austrian manufacturer.
Competition
As I was saying, by offering a whole bunch of motorcycles both two-and-four-stroke, KTM offers diversity and manages to position himself in front of its contenders which in comparison with these models seem to have the purpose of filling up a gap in the specific manufacturer’s lineup.
2008 Husqvarna WR250 Anyway, the Husqvarna WR250 is an Enduro bike featuring a 249.3cc two-stroke Liquid Cooled Single w/ HTS Power Valve engine mated to a five-speed gearbox and this is enough to position it against the 300 XC-W (e). The displacement difference though is very important as we are dealing with two-stroke engines and this sets the KTM apart from the average 250cc two-stroke motorcycles.
2008 Honda CR250 But when it comes to Japanese motocross bikes, you know that it is all about performance and only these bikes could be compared with the 300 XCs if KTM wouldn’t have offered the 250 XC and 250 XC-W (e) which are competing with the Husky and all the other Japanese bikes, setting the 300s apart from any other model on the market today.
Exterior
2008 KTM 300 XC-W (e) Another chapter were KTM does a little magic is Design. How come? For instance, there is no difference between a four-stroke’s exterior elements and a two-stroke’s ones.
The 300 XC is slightly different from the 300 XC-W (e) as the first features black mudguards, a shorter exhaust and leaned back front number panel and the last comes equipped with orange mudguards, a longer exhaust, as a result of slight different tuning, and a front number panel positioned parallel with the fork.
But those are just details. If you don’t have the bikes near to compare them, you won’t distinguish the one from the other as both machines feature motocross-like orange front fender, black fork, as well as side panels covered in the “KTM” writing. The thick exhaust pipe underneath the side panels betrays it as being a two-stroke motorcycle, the rest of it looking just like what you would find on the largest bike in the same lineup only that in this case, the exhaust muffler isn’t painted black on the XC, like of the four-stroke KTM’s.
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Source: KTM 300 XC and XC-W (e)