The point? Alcohol, that has less latent energy in it, can be made to do the same amount of work as gasoline that has more latent energy. This savings in energy is almost like a little free energy from something as simple as ethanol.
No it can't, there are less bonds in ethanol than gasoline, which is primarily octane, decane and other long chain molecules.
The enthalpy of combustion can be calculated and verified with something as simple as a bomb-calorimeter where energy loss is minimal compared to something as stupid as an internal combustion engine on a motor cycle.
Gasoline 47.30MJ/kg
Ethanol 29.7 MJ/kg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_of_combustionThis is how much energy is required to bring the atoms together and assemble them. Hocus pocus, buzz words and marketing do not alter the molecular structure of a simple carbon chain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EnthalpyThis is literally first year chemistry of which you can verify yourself at home, a calorimeter is not difficult to assemble.
https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=ithfVI6DAeunmALWr4HwDQ#q=homemade+calorimeterComparing a poorly tuned gasoline burning engine to a properly tuned ethanol burning engine does not add more carbon-carbon bonds.
10:1 compression ratio is low if ones goal is as complete combustion as possible, an aluminium headed gasoline engine would run at 18:1 with proper anti-knock agents(tetra-ethyl-lead) and aggressive cooling.