Brazil's Aerospace Technical Center

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Because both the original design of—and the modifications made to—each auto's engine had been studied and recorded, the scientists learned exactly what parameters were desirable for alcoholpowered motors . . . and they applied that knowledge to their next phase of operations: developing an engine specifically for use with ethanol.

A MARRIAGE OFECONOMY AND PERFORMANCE

The national pro-alcohol program, as expected, stimulated many of Brazil's automakers to develop their own ethanol-fueled cars . . . but some of the early prototypes weren't entirely acceptable because—although they were very drivable and even more powerful than their gasoline-burning counterparts—the experimental cars often fell short of the economy limit set by the Brazilian government. (A loss of more than 15% in fuel mileage compared to that of a conventional auto was not allowable.)

Having gotten a head start on the industry, then, the engineers at CTA felt confident that they could put together an alcohol-burning powerplant of their own. design. The task took three years of building and testing, and involved setting up and monitoring some 730 cars . . . which—to date—have covered well over 13 million collective miles on the alternative fuel. So successful were the results of the project that the Aerospace Technical Center was given full responsibility for assaying and certifying the other new alcohol-powered models before they could be publicly marketed.

ALTERNATIVES AND THE FUTURE

According to Fernando Gama Rodrigues, senior engineer at the CTA test site, Brazilian alcohol-powered vehicles are now efficient enough that they no longer require the attention of his research staff. Any improvements from this date on will be those initiated by manufacturers from year to year.

Of late, CTA researchers have been working wholeheartedly to extend the ap plications of alcohol as an energy source and to come up with additional alternatives to diesel fuel. The South American scientists have successfully converted all types of turbines to burn ethanol. This means not only that jet aircraft can use the renewable fuel, but also that electrical generators—driven by stationary gas turbines—can burn the homegrown resource . . . to provide inexpensive power to the Brazilian public regardless of OPEC's dictates.

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