Cellulosic ethanol, produced without nutritional cereal grains, is being tested by ETS students for use in the green snowmobile project
The Québec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ) is closely monitoring the tests conducted by the future engineers of the École de technologie supérieure de Montréal (ÉTS – Université du Québec) in the framework of their green snowmobile research and development project. During their meeting with Sébastien Chénier, of Grande-Rivière secondary school in Aylmer, the students, members of the QUIETS club, discovered cellulosic ethanol produced without nutritional cereal grains. This second-generation biofuel is manufactured using forest, agricultural and household waste. Many researchers are already building on this discovery.
"This may be a formidable step forward in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions produced by snowmobiles. For this reason, we are very proud that the ETS students are looking for ways to use it in their work," underlined Mario Côté, President of the FCMQ.
The FCMQ wants to sensitize snowmobilers and the whole of the industry to the importance of taking the environment into account in order to ensure the future of this recreational activity. The snowmobile sector, greatly represented at the social level (4,500 volunteers ensure the maintenance of the 33,000-kilometer trail network) and in the economic arena ($1.3 billion in economic spin-offs every year), must adjust to the current environmental issues. The search for new technologies is therefore essential.
"The Federation’s 5-year plan namely provides for sharing the existence of acceptable and promising technological and commercial solutions with all audiences, which is why we are bringing logistic and business support to the QUIETS club," stated Mario Côté. "Hopefully, cellulosic ethanol will allow them to continue to develop their green snowmobile project," added Normand Besner, General Manager of the FCMQ
