Biodiesel

Diesel Fuel

Biodiesel is made from biomass and is a renewable and domestically produced alternative fuel.  This fuel is being used as alternative fuel for many of the diesel engines on the road today.  This fuel can be made from used vegetable oils obtained from restaurants.  Another common source is soybeans where one bushel of these beans can make a gallon of fuel.

Biodiesel burns cleaner than regular diesel fuels and is slowly gaining acceptance and looking like a good option for the future.  Currently, it is being mixed with petroleum diesel, and the resulting product is given a name such as B20 or B50.  B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel, and most diesel engines on the road today can run on this mixture.  Newer diesel engines can manage just fine on B50.  Some of the newest engines can even operate on B100.

Diluting diesel with biodiesel reduces our dependence on foreign oil and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.  Using it 100% reduces emissions by 75% while using B20 reduces them by 15%.

The use of biodiesel has it's advantages and disadvantages.  On the good side we are using less foreign oil.  Also on the good side is the ability to manufacture the product from any location around the country, lessoning the travel expenses needed to get to the end user.  Biodiesel is biodegradable and non toxic.  The downside of this fuel is the limited supply.  The limited supply also accounts for a higher price.  In the near future we can expect many more production plants and lower costs making this a very viable source of renewable energy.

Diesel engines were once known to be dirty pollution causing things.  Today's diesel is just the opposite, part of the new era of clean diesels.  Two of the keys to these new engines are the common-rail injection system and the turbocharger.  Together they have added new power and cleaner emissions to an already powerful, but messy, engine.

When shopping for your next new car give the diesel engine a look.  If you like what you see make sure it will run on B50 or better and then push for more biodiesel production in your area.

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