Diesel Engines Go Vegetarian!

Many car shoppers choose diesel automobiles because of their excellent gas mileage. While these fuel-efficient engines may put less carbon in the air, they do more than their share of creating particulates and air pollution. However, a solution is becoming increasingly common , increasingly available, and increasingly affordable: biodiesel!

Biodiesel is fuel for diesel engines that is made from a variety of fats and vegetable oils (soybean oil or corn oil, for example). It can be used directly instead of petroleum fuel, or it can be a part of a fuel mixture.

How is biodiesel better? Let us count the ways.

• B20, a mixture of 20% biodiesel/80% petroleum fuel, puts out up to 30% less carbon, 20% less carbon monoxide, and 15% fewer particulates.
• Biodiesel is a renewable resource, it biodegrades quickly, and it's non-toxic.
• As biodiesel does not contain sulphur, it produces no sulphur dioxide pollution. It also produces fewer PAH's (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon), which are potent carcinogens.
• Biodiesel matches conventional diesel fuel in mileage and horsepower, and is far more efficient -- indeed, biodiesel has the highest energy return of any motor vehicle fuel.
• This fuel furthermore consumes domestic farm products and therefore reduces our dependence on foreign oil and our need to support the many corrupt and anti-democratic governments that provide us with petroleum fuel.

How to get a hold of this miracle substance? Fleets (school districts, government departments, or businesses, for example) can purchase bulk biodiesel or B20; homeowners can have individual drums delivered to their doors. A growing number of pumps are also available throughout the US (see an interactive map at the National Biodiesel Board's website for the location of these pumps, and for sellers and distributors).

Fleet prices are slightly to moderately higher than conventional fuel prices; individual car owners can expect to pay about twice as much for biodiesel . Prices have dropped steadily over the last 10 years as production has ramped up, and may plunge soon if a bill being considered in Congress is passed to reduce taxes on biodiesel. Even a small addition of biodiesel to a diesel gas tank produces big dividends for air quality and the environment.

One small caution: pure biodiesel can gel in cold temperatures, so drivers who live in cold climates are urged to use B20 or some other mix of biodiesel and petroleum diesel when the temperature drops in lieu of 100% biodiesel.

Reference:

• National Biodiesel Board, www.biodiesel.org
• "Scientists Seek to Cut Biofuels Price to Expand Use," Reuters, August 13 2002 (available at Yahoo! News).
• "Better Living Through French Fries: Is Biodiesel the Fuel of the Future?" Hal Clifford, Grist Magazine, August 22, 2002.