Two Million Mile Haul testing fuel efficiency of biodiesel vs. diesel
Photo by C.P.Storm. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
Let's see, two million minus 400,000 is ... carry the two ... 1.6 million. Alternately, eighty percent of the total. That's what we're dealing with with the current status of the Two Million Mile Haul being undertaken by groups like the Iowa Soybean Association, the National Renewable Energy Lab and the National Biodiesel Board. Over the course of those
The Two Million Mile Haul started in 2006 and should be finished before 2008 is up. Other partners in the test include Iowa Central Community College, Decker Truck Lines Inc., Caterpillar Inc., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Twenty semis running between Minneapolis and Chicago make up the test fleet.
[Source: eTrucker]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 5:48PM (8/24/2008)
Why didn't they try B100 100% green algae biodiesel instead of B20 food soybean? They are making a study in starvation instead of a study in cheap renewable fuel. It must be subsidized by goverment madscientists, people specialized in unresolving problems.
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Chris M 8:33PM (8/24/2008)
Because soybean oil is available now, algae oil is still under development and is not being mass produced. The energy content is similar, so the results of this test might still be applicable once algae oil is mass produced and on the market.
Besides, only the oil portion of the soybean is being used for biofuel. The rest, including the nutritious proteins and vitamins, are still available for feeding people, pets, and livestock.
gulags 7:54PM (8/24/2008)
Are there any companies that are producing B100 algae biodiesel in any worthwhile amount? The only company I'm aware of that's gotten anywhere is Solazyme, and they're not doing mass production yet. Plus they're being "backed" by Chevron, so you might as well kiss that particular technology goodbye.
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Chris M 8:46PM (8/24/2008)
Not yet, there is a lot of research to be done on the best way to grow and harvest the algae, the best way to extract the oil, and what to do with the residue left over.
Chevron has no motivation to supress this technology, their oil wells don't produce nearly enough and they have to buy most of the oil they need at high prices. Algae oil is likely to be much cheaper than imported oil, and might eventually become cheaper than pumping oil out of their own wells! If it saves Chevron a fortune, they will indeed push it. Besides, the best "greenwashing" for a company is something that really is green!
Amtoro 8:28AM (8/25/2008)
It seems like all the partners in the test are closely related to the biodiesel industry... in their own interests, I don't think the result will be other that "comparable to that of petroleum diesel".
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vw junky 9:17AM (8/25/2008)
I have used B20 when I can get it and noticed no difference than strait diesel.
Michael Hippenhammer 4:55PM (8/25/2008)
I believe that Green Star Products Inc. is producing algae Biodiesel in limited amounts. They have been testing new proceedures on growing, extracting and producing bioD. They also provide non petroleum lubricants for autos and chainsaw bar oil.
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