I like that... but Ethanol is still a hydrocarbon, so in a fuel cell what happens to the carbon? Released as carbon dioxide I guess.
Yes, ethanol from fermentation is "new" carbon, so we are not burning fossil fuel.
And Ethanol works quite well in an ICE, it has a very high octane value and so it great in high compression racing engines.
Brazil has produced tonnes of it and 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline is available as E85 in the UK from Sunoco, at £4.16/litre....