Green Fuels

Biodiesel

Clean-burning and nontoxic, biodiesel, derived from new or used vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease, comes in a number of grades: B100 (pure); B20 (a 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel blend); B5 (5 percent biodiesel, 95 percent petroleum diesel); and B2 (2 percent biodiesel, 98 percent petroleum diesel). The fuel is safe to handle, store, and transport and has been used in cars, trucks, boats, and even cruise ships. Biodiesel has lower emissions than traditional petroleum gasoline: B100 offers a 75 percent reduction while B20 reduces emissions by 15 percent. The EPA estimates particulate matter emissions decrease by 10 percent and unburned hydrocarbons by 21 percent. Biodiesel has similar performance characteristics as traditional diesel in terms of consumption, horsepower, and torque but offers a higher ignition value than diesel fuel. Some consumers worry that biodiesel will clog filters, but actually, it is a solvent. As such it can dislodge deposits from previous diesel fuel use, which can clog filters. Currently, the United States has 600 B20 fueling sites. As of 2004, 1,900 stations offered biodiesel in Germany for a total of 323,000 compared to 30 million tons of petroleum-based diesel. In addition to commercially available biodiesel, some individuals and cooperatives manufacture their own biodiesel fuel. Like that of ethanol, the production of diesel requires significant land outlays for the growth of crops. Most devastating might be the impact on tropical rain forests and their inhabitants, like orangutans, where the natural vegetation is wiped out for palm tree production.

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