Do you believe that any rural farmer could have become an oil tycoon? As early as 1897, people knew the secret of clean fuel, and there was a chance for a completely different world—one without tycoons, corporations, logistics issues, environmental problems, sanctions, or oil cartels like OPEC. Henry Ford once said, *”Alcohol is a cleaner, cheaper, and better fuel for automobiles than gasoline”*—and he was 100% right. Emissions from an alcohol-powered engine are 84% cleaner than those from gasoline. Ford saw ethanol not just as an alternative fuel but as a tool for decentralizing energy.
The beginning of the end came with the U.S. Civil War (1861–1865). Rockefeller bought up all the oil wells in the country and began dumping gasoline prices, leaving ethanol no chance. The final nail in the coffin was the Prohibition Act of February 16, 1920, banning the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol. This law was lobbied by oil companies under the guise of “fighting alcoholism.” Had history taken the path of alcohol instead of gasoline, the issue of global warming and rising CO₂ levels might never have existed. Now, 125 years later, we see all the problems that came with following this imposed path.
Today, we’re being pushed toward electric vehicles (EVs). It’s already known that Ireland will ban the sale of diesel and gasoline cars by 2030. History is repeating itself—just like Prohibition, but under a new pretext: “fighting emissions”—emissions that might not even have existed otherwise. I dare say that once the transition is complete and competition is eliminated, electricity prices will skyrocket. Why are we ignoring an alternative clean fuel that any farmer could produce even today with a simple still? Instead, we’re once again becoming dependent on distant suppliers—with all the accompanying problems: sanctions, logistics risks, and energy wars.
Could China be the new Rockefeller?
On April 4, 2025, China imposed export restrictions on rare-earth magnets, which are widely used in electric motors and generators. This is the first warning sign: in the future, we may not be able to produce technology on our own, even if we want to. Internal combustion engines (ICE) will fade into history, while EVs could be remotely disabled, restricting our freedom of movement. By the way, the production cost of ethanol is currently €0.45–0.75 per liter.
Only diversification of the energy system can save us from a “prison without fences.” While there’s still time, let’s develop:
1. Mechanical heat pumps (pure mechanics, 42% efficiency, reliability like a refrigerator).
2. Biogas (produced from readily available materials).
3. Ethanol (fill up your car and drive wherever and whenever you want).
Only freedom of choice can ensure a bright future.