grouping other technologies into ethanol to paint the whole thing as bunk is ridiculous.
for example, the OP compares electric cars run from coal, as a bad alternative to ICE. it however, is a much improved system from an efficiency and a environmental standpoint.
sammy: high compression ratio means high efficiency in piston engines.
E85 makes a great race fuel, esp in turbo cars. it is however a bad fuel for transportation systems.