The TechMobility Podcast
Welcome to The TechMobility Podcast, your ultimate source for authentic insights, news, and perspectives at the nexus of mobility and technology. We're all about REAL FACTS, REAL OPINIONS, and REAL TALK! From personal privacy to space hotels, if it moves or moves you, we're discussing it! Our weekly episodes venture beyond the conventional, offering a unique, unfiltered take on the topics that matter. We're not afraid to color outside the lines, and we believe you'll appreciate our bold approach!
The TechMobility Podcast
Tesla Sentry Mode's Privacy Dilemma, Toyota GR Corolla's High-Octane Evolution, and Does Ethanol Have a Future?
Drop me a text and let me know what you think of this episode!
Can technology intended for protection turn into an invasion of privacy? Explore this intriguing question as we dissect Tesla's Sentry Mode, spotlighted by an incident in Ohio where it aided in recovering a stolen vehicle. While the car's camera system is undeniably effective in crime-fighting, it raises significant concerns about surveillance and the lack of legal safeguards for individuals being recorded without consent. Join us as we navigate the delicate balance between leveraging technology for safety and upholding privacy rights in an increasingly monitored world.
Shift gears with us as we take an exhilarating ride through the evolution of the Toyota Corolla into its high-performance GR variant. From its start in 1966 to becoming the world's best-selling nameplate, the Corolla has come a long way. Our review highlights the GR Corolla's thrilling turbocharged engine and sporty design while also addressing some minor drawbacks that come with this modern rally-inspired beast. Get ready to experience a blend of nostalgia and adrenaline-fueled excitement as we explore what makes this vehicle a standout in its class.
Finally, we delve into the promising world of virtual power plants as a powerful solution against climate change. These smart energy systems, exemplified by a case study from Houston, show how they can prevent blackouts and bolster grid stability during extreme weather events. Discover how utilities are managing energy demand through technology, leading to cost savings for homeowners and promoting energy independence. As the U.S. shifts towards renewable energy, we underscore the importance of battery storage in maintaining a steady energy supply, highlighting the transformative potential of virtual power plants in our journey toward a more sustainable future.
Be sure to tell your friends to tune in to The TechMobility Show!
Welcome to the Tech Mobility Podcast.
Speaker 2:I'm Ken Chester. I have a question Is there a Tesla spying on you? Is there a Tesla spying on you? I'm looking at an article. The headline says A Tesla camera in Ohio captures heist as police discover a new crime-fighting tool.
Speaker 2:Tesla vehicles are not just helping with climate change, they're also helping to solve crimes. When a Chevrolet Tahoe owner has SUV stolen while visiting his mother in Toledo, ohio, he was lucky that a Tesla Model Y belonging to his brother was parked next to it. The high-tech electric vehicle has exterior cameras that monitor surroundings using a security feature called Sentry Mode, which saves video footage to a memory stick when triggered by a nearby movement. Sentry Mode helps Tesla owners identify people who damage their vehicles while parked, such as in a hit-and-run. But increasingly police are finding the 360-degree footage helpful in crime investigations.
Speaker 2:My question to you, listener, is are you okay with that? Are you okay that that Tesla that might be parked in the street might be parked in somebody's driveway? Your neighbor's driveway may be actually recording you if you walk past it. Get near it, do anything near the vehicle. I don't know when it says proximity, I don't know what that proximity is A foot, two feet, five feet, ten, I don't know, but in this article it didn't just notice that the theft was taking place. It was able and remember this is dark taking place. It was able and remember this is dark. It was able to record the face of the person who stole it and, yes, they did recover this vehicle.
Speaker 2:My question, and there are so many one of the touchstones of this program is privacy and personal security, and I lament constantly how there is a lack of protections codified in state or federal law that protects the average American citizen from overreach by anybody wanting to survey on you. Your privacy should be your privacy. Yet cities and towns got cameras all over the place and now we've got vehicles like Tesla, and not just Tesla. There are other vehicles that have what we call surround view. What I don't know, and for the most part the vehicles that I have reviewed down through the years with surround view do not operate if the vehicle's not on. The thing you need to remember about these teslas is these cameras activate, even if the vehicle is not running and the owner is not in it.
Speaker 2:Let that settle for a minute. It's bad enough. We're dealing with ring videos and ring doorbell videos and okay, and I got a question. Either way, whether you're a Tesla owner or not, if your vehicle records a criminal act, regardless of who it is, one, are you obligated to surrender the information to the police, or two, would you? Are you comfortable with this either kind of way? If you are a resident, I mean, ring notwithstanding, there's pluses and minuses to that, but these stuff is doing a whole lot of recording of people minding their own business. This stuff is doing a whole lot of recording of people minding their own business. So what protection do you have as a consumer, as a citizen, when you're getting recorded somewhere, everywhere and we talked about license plate readers that you didn't know nothing about how different videos can capture information about you Minding your business, by the way, not doing anything illegal, information about you, mine and your business, by the way, not doing anything illegal. But theoretically, there's enough information out there between speed cameras and red light cameras and vehicles like the Teslas to capture information about you and your daily goings on. Are you okay with that? And if you're not okay with that, what would you propose we do about it?
Speaker 2:Me, I'm not comfortable at all. I am a believer in, you know, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and probably to be what they call a private citizen. There were privates there for a reason Private citizen, mine and my own business being law-abiding. And if I am law-abiding mine and my business they call a private citizen. The word private is there for a reason Private citizen Minding my own business, being law-abiding. And if I'm law-abiding, minding my business, then what is it to anybody else's business? So why are you recording me anyway? I got a problem with that Because anything that is often invented for good, particularly in the auto industry, particularly in tech, even though it may have been created with good intentions, it can be misused.
Speaker 2:And I'm reading this and I understand that and I need to add this to now the cameras, the Tesla cameras, at this time I'm going to add don't record audio, just video. But what's to stop them in the future? What's to stop them? There's no laws that say they can't and there are no laws that say they can, but what's to stop them? I mean, I can reasonably argue both sides of this One that the audio might help if in fact, somebody is damaging my car, to recognize a voice or a noise, or a vehicle or any other sounds associated with the act, or if it's something nearby, to record it.
Speaker 2:Because in one other case that this article talks about, they actually had to subpoena the film from a Tesla for use in a murder investigation. Yikes, I don't know, because this still comes down to the same type of challenges with ring footage Just because you have it, are you obligated to share it? And right now, I am assuming because the article talks about in the case of the other Tesla that a warrant had to be issued in order to seize the car, in order to get the video, so a court had to be involved. But right now, with no laws, what's to say that any video or audio that your vehicle records, or your ring doorbell, for that matter, records, gets shared automatically with law enforcement? No, I'm not saying that it is right now, but again, there are no protections as a private citizen and, really, in today's world, no expectation of the kind of privacy that most of us crave and deserve, because most of us are law-abiding citizens.
Speaker 2:Why do you need to record me at all? That's my question. That's my concern. I don't know, because there is no stated law. I don't know because there is no stated law. If I don't share it, do I have to? And what recourse does law enforcement have if they know that my, if I'm a Tesla owner and it was nearby? And how do you, since it's not just recording that, but it's recording a lot of other stuff, how do you know that? That's all they're looking at? And how long does the Tesla keep the information or the ring doorbell video Keep that information? They tell you one thing, but again, who's verifying it that they're actually not keeping it that long or sharing it or having a way to tap into it?
Speaker 2:The other company that's doing this right now is Rivian, and it's also using its cameras on its vehicles for driver assistance and security. It has something called GearGuard, which features, monitors surroundings and records video. And, of course, the Rivian and the Tesla vehicles also have interior cameras. And again, again, I ask you I'm not okay with any of this. The article was written to show you how far technology has come and something good came of it, but I see too much of the dark side. I see how it can be abused. I don't see any checks on this or any protections for innocent people getting caught up in this, and that bothers me because, again, no federal laws to protect you, and that needs to change. It totally does need to change. You've never driven a Corolla like this one. I will explain why.
Speaker 4:With AON Meetings, you can effortlessly communicate with clients, host virtual meetings and webinars and stay in touch with family and friends, all in one place and for one price. Here's the best part you can enjoy a 30-day free trial. It's time to simplify your life and boost your productivity. Aonmeetings. com where innovation meets connection. Get started today and revolutionize the way you communicate.
Speaker 2:Social media is the main place to be these days, and we are no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Facebook videos, from my latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary of a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight. You Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Facebook. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to our Facebook page. Social media is the place to be these days, and we're no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Instagram videos, from the latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary on a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight. You Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Instagram. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar.
Speaker 2:For those of you that listen to podcasts, we have just the one for you. Hi, I'm Ken Chester. Tech Mobility Topics is a podcast where I upload topic-specific videos each week. Shorter than a full show. These bite-sized programs are just the thing, particularly if you're interested in a particular topic covered on the weekly radio show. From Apple Podcasts to iHeartRadio and many podcast platforms in between, we got you covered.
Speaker 2:Just enter Tech Mobility Topics in the search bar wherever you listen to podcasts.
Speaker 2:Everyone knows that a new car depreciates in bad news, some more than others. The Complete Car Cost Guide says that over five years you can expect a Nissan Altima to depreciate about $1,000 more than a Toyota Corolla. And since the Corolla comes with all the standard equipment and costs about $2,500 less than the Altima, the lesson is clear Toyota Corolla costs less today, worth more tomorrow. Toyota, the cars worth owning, the dealers worth seeing worth seeing.
Speaker 2:That was from 1994, the Toyota Corolla, an important model in the automakers lineup since 1966, almost 60 years. By 1997, the Corolla became the best-selling nameplate in the world, passing the Volkswagen Beetle by the 2021 model year. Total Corolla sales since 1966 surpassed 50 million worldwide. The name Corolla is part of Toyota's naming tradition of using names derived from the Toyota crown for sedans, with Corolla Latin for small crown, currently marketed as a compact car. The 12th generation Corolla hatchback went on sale in the United States in July 2018 as a 2019 model. A high-performance variant of the Corolla hatchback, known as the GR, which is short for Gazoo Racing Corolla, was introduced in March of 2022 as a 2023 model, and I should mention Gazoo Racing is the racing arm of Toyota, so as Toyota Gazoo Racing, as its first wholly developed and manufactured model from the North American market, the GR Corolla carries a motorsport to road development spirit forward, with professional drivers, experts and master driver Hakeo Toyota at the wheel. The GR Corolla was tested repeatedly at some of Japan's leading circuits, including Fuji Speedway, suzaka and the Texupa circuit. In addition, the GR team carried out heavy-duty dirt and snow driving with the Japanese Rally Championship driver. No road was left untested in the process, so engineers and technicians could sharpen acceleration and control. Worthy of the GR name. Available at three trim levels. Worthy of the GR name. Available at three trim levels.
Speaker 2:Power for the GR Corolla is delivered by a turbocharged 1.6 liter three-cylinder gasoline engine. It delivers 300 horsepower at 273 foot-pounds of torque and is mated to a six-speed intelligent manual transmission with rev matching that is turned with a push of a recess button placed on the lower dash just below the steering column. The GR4 all-wheel drive system that delivers the power to all four wheels is standard. And when it comes to responsiveness and control, the base model is equipped with an open differential, while upmarket models are outfitted with front and rear Torsen limited slip differential gears. The 0-60 time is just shy of 5 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of just under 143 mph. Epa fuel economy numbers are 21. City 28. Highway Cargo capacity is 17.8 cubic feet behind the second row of seats.
Speaker 2:So here's what I liked about the vehicle. Without a doubt, the GR Corolla is the last of what I call the true world rally cars, in the mold of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, volkswagen Golf R32, and the Subaru WRX STI. Yeah, it was evident that the engineers put the time in they did. This thing is amazing. The hatchback was designed to be driven and driven hard, while the performance attributes of the GR Corolla required engineers to dial in a heavily dampened suspension, resulting in a firm ride. You will get used to it and be richly rewarded for your efforts. I'm here to tell you, the more you drive this vehicle, the more you're going to want to.
Speaker 2:This large three-cylinder turbo motor is a delight, because you hear three cylinders and you go. No, hey, technology has changed quite a bit. This thing is a delight. Hey, technology has changed quite a bit. This thing is a delight. And in combination with the 6-speed manual gearbox, I found that I could pull away from anybody quickly at speed and very often without downshifting. This thing has an incredible torque curve. The powertrain has gobs of power with performance that is driver-inspiring performance that is driver inspiring. A unique power knob allows the driver to even change the front to rear all-wheel drive bias from the standard 60 front, 40 rear to 30 front, 70 rear. Three drive modes eco, normal and sport. And trust me, I don't know why you would need sport. This thing in normal is awesome. Sport is awesome to the nth power and it only adds to the driver's ability to finely tune the driving experience for performance preferences and road conditions.
Speaker 2:The GR Corolla's low vehicle height improves the center of gravity for optimum handling and control. Here's a few additional points to mention. The rear split folding seats fold flat with the cargo floor. Rear windows are auto up down and they go completely down. Thank you very much. The front seats are comfortable and supportive. And finally, for this old Boy Scout, there's what I consider to be a very sophisticated eight-point cup of display within a dashboard presentation, something that I don't get a chance to appreciate that often.
Speaker 2:So here's what I didn't like about the vehicle. And yes, even in the midst of all of this incredible motor vehicle goodness, I got a few things to fuss about. The high liftover into the cargo area, for example, no spare tire, and I wasn't sure if the Michelin Pilot Sports are run flats, although they are Z speed rated tires, meaning this thing has tires that will go the distance Performance tires. There's no head up display, and it's really needed if you plan to drive this car the way the engineers intended. The passenger cabin floor is not flat and there's only one USB port for rear seat occupants. I think that's a strange omission. So here's the bottom line Over the course of a year every year to the last 30 plus I get to drive a variety of vehicles cars, pickup trucks, crossovers, suvs and minivans and while there are plenty of excellent vehicles to choose from and I can pick a lot I cannot remember when I had this much fun behind the wheel.
Speaker 2:If I was to add one point of concern, it is because of its low center of gravity that driving even in a modest winter in the upper Midwest would be out of the question. But boy, what a wonderful three-season car to have in your garage. And I was even okay with the attention-getting blue flame exterior color and I'm not much for extreme colors, but I'm okay with it. I really love this car. If you love to drive but you don't want to spend tons of money, and or you want a bulletproof ride that will give you years of enjoyment at a low operating cost, then the Toyota GR Corolla is your ride Full stop.
Speaker 2:Manufacturer suggested retail price for the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla hatchback starts from $36,500 for the core trim, $40,320 for premium and $45,140 for the circuit edition. Destination charges add $1,135. Msrp is tested. 2024 GR Corolla circuit Edition with the following extra cost options Carpeted floor mats, carpet cargo mat, door sill protectors, frameless home link mirror. Total cost of the options came to $643. Total MSRP, including options and destination charges, came to $46,478. And I'm here to tell you that's a steal at that price. You will not get that kind of performance at that money for anything else. Why homeowners are giving up control of their thermostats.
Speaker 2:This is the Tech Mobility Show.
Speaker 2:Do you listen to podcasts? Seems that most people do. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. If you've missed any of our weekly episodes on the radio, our podcast is a great way to listen. You can find the Tech Mobility podcast just anywhere you can enjoy podcasts. Be sure to follow us from Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and many platforms in between. We are there. Just enter the Tech Mobility podcast in the search bar. Wherever you listen to podcasts.
Speaker 2:Social media it's the place to be. We, no exception. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, TechMobility show. Several times a week. I post to TikTok several of the topics that I cover on my weekly radio show. It's another way to keep up on mobility, technology news and information. I've built quite a library of short videos for your viewing pleasure, so be sure to watch, like and subscribe. The TechMobility Show on TikTok. Check it out.
Speaker 2:The added ability to balance electrical demand with available power generation An opportunity to reduce a monthly electric bill by signing up for an energy saving program this year is a win-win that promises to be the next frontier for electric utilities across the United States. This is Topic B. So what's going on? Let me back up for a minute. Americans have been buying what they call smart thermostats. They've installed more than 25 million of them and are buying more millions more each year, and this is according to the market research firm S&P Global Market Intelligence. Since these devices control heating and cooling, that makes up most of the average US household's energy use. According to the Energy Information Administration. If you can manage that one asset, you can make a significant dent in somebody's overall climate footprint. This is Michael Lee, who heads the Octopus Energy US retail operations. We're going to talk about Octopus Energy in a moment. They're a Texas-based utility.
Speaker 2:The reason why I'm bringing this to you. It is a new concept called a virtual power plant, and it's probably the cleanest way to go in our battle against climate change, but yet it doesn't generate any electricity per se. It's a combination of a bunch of things, and I'm going to give you an example in a minute, a taxidermy example, where it literally saved a power grid from going down permanently. And no, I'm not talking about the freeze back a few years ago, I'm talking about last summer. Here's how it works With these smart thermostats it gives the utility the ability to control it from afar. A person signs up for one of these programs and what it does is basically they're giving the utility permission to modify the thermostat settings or the settings of the devices that are enrolled in the program, within certain parameters that the homeowner sets, in exchange for as much as 30 or 40 percent reduction in their utility bill. The flip side is that when demand reaches a certain threshold, a critical threshold that the utility can come in and slightly retard or reduce or temporarily turn off or turn down the power, either in your air conditioner or your batteries if you've got batteries in the home, from your solar panels or whatever and in some cases, will actually buy power from you, from your static batteries in the home, storing your renewable energy and your solar grid. Hence a virtual power plant.
Speaker 2:Here's an example this past September in Houston, in the final days of what was then the hottest summer in human history. Scorching temperatures threatened to knock out the Texas power grid again. As air conditioners around the state strained to keep homes and businesses cooled in 100 degree plus heat, the state's grid operator declared an energy emergency, asking all Texans to save electricity. Between 6 and 9 pm, this one Houston homeowner didn't have to touch her thermostat to pitch in. Her utility company remotely shut off her air conditioner nine times that day as part of a power-saving strategy that is already propping up grids around the country as they deal with booming demand and a growing share of unpredictable wind and solar power. Mm-hmm, that's what's going on Around the state of Texas.
Speaker 2:Octopus Energy and other power companies raised thermostats, paused car chargers and tapped into home batteries in thousands more of their customers' homes. They also paid stores, data centers and office towers to shut off lights and air conditioners and to slow down their computers. All told, because during that emergency, texas utilities made 2.6 gigawatts of electricity demand to appear in the critical moments when the grid was in crisis. That's the equivalent of one large nuclear power plant. And guess what? They didn't have to pay a single penny to build one. They didn't have to have one in hot standby. They didn't have to have one, they didn't have to buy expensive power from out of state. They were able to shed that much power through the agreements they had, which, by the way, remember what I just said earlier that the homeowners can set the parameters. So it's not as if suddenly, okay, we shut it off and the temperature got crazy and went from 72 in my house to 92. You can say you know what, I'll let you do it, but it can't cross 78 degrees. I'll let you do it, but it can't cross 78 degrees, something like that. You can set it. That is why these programs are called virtual power plants, and experts in the industry say that this will be crucial in helping the United States clean up the electrical grid without facing blackouts and without waiting years for new power plants and transmission lines to go through permitting and construction. They can be deployed very quickly using devices that are already in people's garages or in people's rooftops or in people's basements, and that said Mark Dyson, managing Director in the Electricity Program at the Clean Energy Think Tank, RMI.
Speaker 2:We've reported before, so this is nothing new. We've talked about how power grids across the country are currently straining to keep up with demand as new data centers and factories sprout up and drivers plug in more electric cars, and the demands of AI, which needs more and more power, strain the grid. Meanwhile, electric supply is becoming less predictable, as power companies replace polluting fossil fuel plants with wind turbines and solar panels that only make electricity when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. Let me stop right here, because this article doesn't deal with one important little fact relative to renewable energy that I'm going to help you with, because the red herring people want to throw. Well, what do you do if the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow? What do you do? Well, stop, hold it, stop.
Speaker 2:The difference between the grid and your renewable energy is static batteries, battery storage, big static banks of batteries that store gigawatts of electricity produced by renewable energy that's available to release into the grid when they're not blowing or the sun's not shining. And Texas has them, and Texas is adding them to their grid. Something I want you to know that I did not realize when the sun shines and the wind gusts through the states and I'm talking Texas collection of solar panels and wind turbines. And here's the thing I didn't know Texas has the biggest green energy fleet in the United States there are more solar panels, corporate and solar farms and wind farms than anywhere else in the United States of America. Yes, I said Texas, energy rich, petroleum rich Texas, the same Texas that has the Permian Basin, that Texas. Static battery storage is a missing link and Texas is building that into their grids.
Speaker 2:This thermostat program 20% to 30% discount on a monthly power bill. If they pull from your batteries at home, they will cut your power bill in half or pay you $40 a month plus market price for the electricity it uses. How can you go wrong? You're actually getting an incentive to be energy independent and to help the rest of the grid be that and get paid for it. I don't know if there was ever an incentive to be energy independent and sell power to the grid. I'm all in, absolutely, when it comes to biofuels and ethanol. Change may be in the air.
Speaker 2:We are the Tech Mobility Show. To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings of the Tech Mobility Show by visiting techmobility. show. That's techmobility. show. You can also drop us a line at talk at techmobility. show.
Speaker 2:Did you know that Tech Mobility has a YouTube channel? Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. Each week I upload a few short videos of some of the hot topics that I cover during my weekly radio program. I've designed these videos to be informative and entertaining. It's another way to keep up on current mobility and technology news and information. Be sure to watch, like and subscribe to my channel. That's the Tech Mobility Show on YouTube. Check it out.
Speaker 4:Are you tired of juggling multiple apps and platforms for meetings, webinars and staying connected? Look no further than AONmeetings. com, the all-in-one browser-based platform that does it all. With AON Meetings, you can effortlessly communicate with clients, host virtual meetings and webinars and stay in touch with family and friends all in one place and for one price. Here's the best part you can enjoy a 30-day free trial. It's time to simplify your life and boost your productivity. Aonmeetings. com, where innovation meets connection. Get started today and revolutionize the way you communicate.
Speaker 2:Social media is the place to be these days and we're no exception. I'm Ken Chester of the Tech Mobility Show. If you enjoy my program, then you will also enjoy my weekly Instagram videos From the latest vehicle reviews to timely commentary on a variety of mobility and technology-related topics. These short features are designed to inform and delight you. Be sure to watch, like and follow us on Instagram. You can find us by typing the Tech Mobility Show in the search bar.
Speaker 2:Is the Renewable Fuel Standard, better known as RFS, at risk as a result of the changing priorities of the incoming administration? Corn farmers in the upper Midwest that produce crops for corn-based ethanol want to know. This is Topic C. I live in a corn-producing state. We produce a lot of corn and we produce a lot of soybeans, hogs, beef and eggs turkeys too. But before I even talk about ethanol and all of this, I want to give you a little bit of background about how important corn is in the state of Iowa, and this is from the Iowa Corn Grower Association.
Speaker 2:Let me start with the number one thing. It's got me worried. Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, with 62% of the corn grown in Iowa going to create nearly 30% of all American ethanol. That is 1.6 billion bushels of corn produced in Iowa. 62% of the corn grown in this state, 6 out of every 10 bushels a little more than that goes to ethanol production and bushels a little more than that goes to ethanol production. Iowa livestock consumes about 370 million bushels, or 15% of Iowa corn goes right into livestock feed. In case you were wondering, one bushel of Iowa corn converts to about 8 pounds of beef, 15.6 pounds of pork or, if you love, chicken, that one bushel of corn 21.6 pounds of chicken. One bushel of corn produces something called dry distiller grains and that's 17 pounds of it, as well as 2.8 gallons of ethanol every bushel of corn. And in case you're wondering what ddgs is, which is dried distilled grains, it's used as a protein rich animal feed, which is a co-product from the production of ethanol from grain. If that's not enough, because I want to make sure you understand and the farmers that are listening to me right now in the upper Midwest, you understand, you know this. So I'm telling you something you already know. In the state of Iowa, in the state and where I am broadcasting from, there are 42 ethanol plants, both dry and wet milling ethanol plants, 42. 42. That take that 62% of the corn and turns it in ethanol. To take that 62% of the corn and turns it in ethanol, what you may not realize if you're not on the farm or you're not associated in agriculture, you may not realize.
Speaker 2:Since about 2005, the amount of ethanol created and blended into gasoline is governed by a federal standard known as the Renewable Fuels Standard. It is controlled by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and every year, in accordance with that law that was passed by Congress back in 2005, they determine how many million gallons of ethanol need to be blended into gasoline. The primary advantage, other than being a renewable source, which ethanol is, and other than the fact that it does help vehicles run cooler, is it lowers the amount of pollution emitted when gasoline is burned. For many years, since about 1990, we've been producing ethanol for a gasoline blend known as E10, which is 90% gasoline, 10% ethanol. In recent years they've expanded to something called E15. Fed's got some requirements on it that right now the Corn Growers Association would like to get year round Full disclosure.
Speaker 2:Being an Iowa resident, I burn E15. And for many years I burned E10. With Get this Now, no problems. Forget what you heard about ethanol, there's no problems with it. I've been burning it for years, years E15. If your vehicle is 2001 or newer, it can burn E15. And for those few vehicles that are flexible fuel or E85 enabled, there's an even more advanced fuel called E85. And in that case it's 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, and not every vehicle can run that. That has to be specifically designed because of the corrosion capabilities of ethanol. You have to have special fittings and special computer because it changes the timing of the engine. It has to be E85 capable. If it's not, you can't burn it can't burn it.
Speaker 2:The incoming folks to the EPA unfortunately the current designator, the person that's been recommended to lead, has been against the RFS has in the incoming administration when they were run last time also gave the oil companies a lot of waivers. And what I mean by waivers? Waivers to get around the blending requirements of adding ethanol to their blends. They were able to get waivers to reduce the amount of ethanol they needed. I said 62% of all corn grown in Iowa goes in ethanol, so this is pretty important to us. They would like to expand E15 year round. Right now you can't get it everywhere year round, but I'm telling you I've had no problems with it. I've had no problems with E10. I've had no problems with E15, so that we're clear.
Speaker 2:But I do want to point this out that, as we're making changes and for so many reasons and so much going on, that even though corn is used in more than 4 000 different grocery store items and it includes shampoo, toothpaste, chewing gum, marshmallows, crayons and even paper 62 percent of the corn grown in the Hawkeye state goes into ethanol. It's processed by those 42 ethanol plants, shipped by rail to wherever, so it's blended in ethanol to be burned in our vehicles. What happens if the standard is compromised, suspended or otherwise killed off? What does that mean to our farmers? What does that mean for the future of E10 and E15 and, to a lesser extent, e85? All motor vehicle fuels used today, and I've even talked about biodiesel. That's a whole other thing.
Speaker 2:Going on, where you've got B5 and upwards of B20 is a concern, and I wanted to ask it because it's a concern that you need to be aware of that this affects real people and would affect the upper Midwest in a major way, because, even though Iowa is a major state, you still grow this stuff in Illinois, in Indiana, to a lesser extent in Ohio. Major way because, even though Iowa is a major state, you still grow this stuff in Illinois and Indiana, to a lesser extent in Ohio, nebraska, kansas. We grow this stuff. Most of it goes to ethanol. Most of it goes to ethanol Because, if Iowa is only providing 30% of it, that other 70% is coming from contiguous states In the upper Midwest.
Speaker 2:We're talking billions of dollars of commerce and agriculture family farms, elevators, fertilizer companies, seed companies. There's a big old thing going on, billions of dollars going on. So I wanted to share this with you those of you that are not farmers so that you are aware of what's going on. 62% of all the corn grown in this state goes into ethanol. It is processed by 42 plants in this state. Winds of change are coming. We're going to see if the RFS is supported. We've come to the end of this visit. Be sure to join me again, right here next time. This has been the Tech Mobility Show.
Speaker 1:The Tech Mobility Show is a copywritten production of Tech Mobility Productions Inc. Any rebroadcast, retransmission or any other use is prohibited without the written consent of Tech Mobility Productions Incorporated.
Speaker 4:For those of you that listen to podcasts, we have just the one for you. Hi, I'm Ken Chester. Tech Mobility Topics is a podcast where I upload topic-specific videos each week. Shorter than a full show. These bite-sized programs are just the thing, particularly if you're interested in a particular topic covered on the weekly radio show. From Apple Podcasts to iHeartRadio and many podcast platforms in between, we got you covered. Just enter Tech Mobility Topics in the search bar.
Speaker 4:Wherever you listen to podcasts, social media, it's the place to be. We're no exception. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. Several times a week, I post to TikTok several of the topics that I cover on my weekly radio show. It's another way to keep up on mobility technology news and information. I've built quite a library of short videos for your viewing pleasure, so be sure to watch, like and subscribe. That's the Tech Mobility Show on TikTok. Check it out.
Speaker 4:To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings at the Tech Mobility Show by visiting techmobilityshow. That's techmobility. show. You can also drop us a line at talk at techmobility. show.
Speaker 4:Do you listen to podcasts? Seems that most people do. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. If you've missed any of our weekly episodes on the radio, our podcast is a great way to listen. You can find the Tech Mobility Podcast just about anywhere. You can enjoy podcasts. Be sure to follow us from Apple Podcasts, iheartradio and many platforms in between. We're there. Just enter the TechMobility Podcast in the search bar, wherever you listen to podcasts.
