Biofuels left out as automakers go electric

In the race to replace oil, electric cars seem to be leaving biofuels in the dust.

Five years ago, biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel looked like the best bet for breaking the world’s addiction to oil. Biorefineries turning corn into ethanol sprouted across the Midwest, while startups trying to make fuel from wood chips or grass soaked up venture capital. Big automakers considered electric cars a lost cause.

Now the situation has been reversed. The buzz surrounding electric transportation has never been louder, while the biofuel industry struggles to regain momentum after two brutal years.

David R. Baker, Chronicle Staff Writer

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