What is the difference between sugar cane and maize?

Answer 1

Sugar cane is exactly what it's name implies - a species of cane plant that yields sugar when crushed. Maize is the Native American word for what is called in the Untied States "corn".

Answer 2

It's because sugarcane has a much higher sugar content than maize (which is used to grow sweetcorn), and so more ethanol can be produced. If more ethanol is produced from the sugarcane, then growing it from maize would cost more, because you're getting less from the same amount of plants.