The biodiesel choice
Case Pesentation
The production and use of biodiesel is on the rise across the United States as car manufacturers are offering a greater variety of clean diesel choices. While initially there were performance issues related to diesels and biodiesels, even these are being resolved. Nonetheless, two issues of concern remain — price and availability.
Question: Does it make sense to switch to biodiesel?
Answer: For business fleet owners – yes. For individual consumers — maybe.
Biodiesel v petrodiesel
Switching from petroleum-based diesel fuel (petrodiesel) to biodiesel is a wise environmental choice and a good public relations move. It may not be the economic choice for everyone – yet.
The major downsides are price and availability.
First, biodiesel generally costs more than petrodiesel. Part of the price may be offset, depending on how long you keep the vehicle, by the fact that biodiesel reduces wear on fuels systems and extends engine life,
Second, your closest biodiesel supplier may be inconveniently located or may not offer the biodiesel blends you want. If you are an individual consumer, these factors may keep you from switching. If, however, you are a business owner of a fleet of diesel cars or trucks, you may have more purchasing power and storage options and can, therefore, reduce or eliminate the downsides.
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative to petrodiesel made from domestically produced renewable oils, such as soybean oil, recycled cooking oils or animals fats.
Biodiesel is a legal motor fuel registered with the EPA. It comes in different blends: B100 is 100% biodiesel or pure biodiesel, B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel, and B5 is 5% biodiesel, 95% petrodiesel.
Biodiesel in WA
Advantages of biodiesel
The advantages of biodiesel over petrodiesel are:
1. Biodiesel is virtually free of sulfur,
2. Biodiesel has zero aromatic content (toluene and benzene),
3. Using biodiesel significantly reduces in particulates (soot) in the atmosphere
4. Using biodiesel reduces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions
5. Because of its lubricating qualities, biodiesel reduces fuel system wear and extends engine life.
6. Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable;
7. Biodiesel can easily be used in late model diesel engines. (Older models may require modifications.)
Disadvantages of biodiesel
Most of the older literature on biodiesel lists what seem to be insurmountable disadvantages. Over time, most of these disadvantages have been solved or solutions are close at hand. Disadvantages like price and availability remain, at least for the short term.
1. Biodiesel prices are higher than petrodiesel.
The major disadvantage of biodiesel is its price. Biodiesel costs more than petrodiesel. The biodiesel market, however, is changing. Supply is growing and that may cause prices to fall.
However, as the economy improves and the price of a barrel of oil increases, petrodiesel prices may rise again. That may lead to a good news/bad news scenario. There may be a point where the price of both petrodiesel and biodiesel are both high, but the difference between the two may be minimal.
2. Biodiesel may not be conveniently available in your locale.
Although biodiesel is available nationwide, you may be unable to find a supplier convenient to your home or business. Or, your local distributor may only supply B5 and not B20 biodiesel blend.
3. Biodiesel production may cause competition with food supplies.
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of crops, including some crops that are also used for food. Using traditional food crops for fuel can bring about a competition that raises prices for food and may result in food shortages, particularly in poorer countries.
A possible solution is to make biodiesel using only waste vegetable oil, jathropa or algae
4. Biodiesel produces higher nitrogen oxides emissions then petrodiesel.
Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) contributes to smog formation and biodiesel has slightly higher NOx emissions then regular diesel. There is, however, a newly developed additive that reduces biodiesel NOx emissions.
5. Biodiesel degrades rubber.
Higher blends of biodiesel tend to degrade natural rubber compounds and elastomers found in some fuel hoses and fuel pump seals. Blends of B20 or lower have not resulted in degradation. Newer vehicles use biodiesel compatible materials. So the impact may only be on older vehicles.
6. In the past, biodiesel performed poorly in cold weather.Both petrodiesel and biodiesel fuels gel in cold temperatures. Petrodiesel contains naturally occurring wax that crystallizes as the temperature drops and affects the fluidity of the fuel. This problem is exacerbated with biodiesel as it tends to gel at higher temperatures than petrodiesel. There are, however, new formulations and additives to winterize all diesels (petro and bio) for the region in which they are sold.
7. Pure biodiesel has lower power than regular diesel.
The energy content of 100% biodiesel is about 11% lower than that of petrodiesel fuel. That results in a power loss in engine operation. Biodiesel blends, however, minimize power loss.
8. Using biodiesel blends greater than B5 voids a new vehicle manufacturer warranty.
Most new diesel vehicle manufacturers only approve the use of a biodiesel blends of B5 or less. Using a higher blend the manufacturers warn will void its fuel system and engine warranties. The biodiesel trade associations are working with vehicle manufactures to obtain approval for the use of blends of up to and including B20.
Conclusion
The environmental benefits of biodiesel are clear. The production and use of biodiesel is rising across the US. Car manufacturers are offering more and more clean diesel cars choices. The performance issues related to diesels and biodiesels have been resolved or are being resolved. Biodiesel’s price and availability are the only major remaining issues yet to be solved, at least in the short term.
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Copyright 2009 KJ Collins
