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Biodiesel


CleanFlex Power System finds a way to burn ethanol in diesel engines

Diesel engines like to burn diesel fuel. Most, especially older ones, will also run just fine on biodiesel. But ethanol? You can't put ethanol in a diesel engine, right? According to National Corn Growers Association chairman and Nebraska corn farmer Bob Dickey, there actually is a way to mix ethanol into a diesel cycle right at the point of combustion, resulting in a diesel engine that runs cooler and is more efficient. Called CleanFlex Power System, the unusual process was developed as a way to burn more ethanol in the U.S. Currently, ... Read more →

Biodiesel myths and facts, simplified Sebastian Blanco

It's not an easy time to be a biofuel promoter. Plug-ins are getting all of the automaker and government support, and lingering questions about biofuel's impact on the environment and food prices ...

KU EcoHawks turn 1974 Volkswagen Beetle into a biodiesel-electric hybrid [w/VIDEO] Sebastian Blanco

At the University of Kansas, a group of students is working small and thinking big. The EcoHawk students are part of a mechanical engineering senior project that is building small, 1/8th scale ...

VIDEO: Jay Leno explains his biodiesel-powered EcoJet, races a private plane Jeremy Korzeniewski

In a garage full of ultra rare, highly desirable cars and trucks, Jay Leno's EcoJet still manages to stand out as one of the coolest. Part of the vehicle's claim to fame comes from its ability to ...

Should I switch to straight veggie oil? What is holding SVO back? Sebastian Blanco

We like to answer reader questions with our Greenlings series whenever possible, and thought that Timothy H. had a good topic. He sent in the following question/suggestion about straight vegetable ...

Beware the biodiesel-ready Scorpion! 2011 Ford Super Duty gets all new 6.7-liter diesel V8 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ford's ongoing issues with its long-time heavy duty diesel engine supplier, Navistar, will soon be coming to an end. The 2011 edition of the Ford Super Duty pickups will get an all-new, in-house designed diesel V8 code-named Scorpion. So, now, if Ford has any durability issues with its big ...

GM will have first factory-certified B20 diesels vehicles next spring 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

One of several interesting little surprises to come out of this week's GM product technology showcase was the upgraded 6.6-liter Duramax V8. Unfortunately, the 4.5-liter diesel developed for the light duty applications remains on the shelf for now, but the big diesel is getting a significant ...

VIDEO: SunEco and JB Hunt test algae biodiesel, 82% particulate reduction 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

SunEco Energy has been working with partner Global ReNergy Systems for several years to develop algae biodiesel and the company has been operating a pilot facility in Chino, California for two years. During this time, the company has been growing algae in open ponds and has had 18 harvests. ...

A truly renewable vehicle comes to the Philippines: coconut oil-fueled bamboo taxi 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Making powertrains more efficient is only one part of reducing the environmental impact of vehicles. The energy required to mine and process raw materials into the components that comprise a vehicle and then transport it to the end customer can often amount to a significant fraction of the ...

What is the difference between biodiesel and SVO? 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

if you're used to filling up your car with standard gasoline, the difference between biodiesel and straight vegetable oil (SVO, but it also has other names) might be a clear as mud. Here's a cheat sheet. Important Point #1: SVO: is pure vegetable oil, just like what you use to cook with. ...

Bloom is off the biodiesel rose: Berkeley says "no" to soy biofuel 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Often in the lead in progressive causes, the City of Berkeley started using biodiesel in more than 100 city vehicles six years ago. For a while, the biofuel came from recycled waste grease and everyone was happy. The source shifted to crop soybeans when not enough grease could be found but, due to ...

Biodiesel's water footprint? 14,000 liters per liter of biofuel 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

We recently heard that, according to one group of researchers at Environmental Science & Technology magazine, corn ethanol has a water cost of 50 gallons per mile. Now, a team working from the University of Twente in the Netherlands has calculated the water cost of ethanol and other biofuels ...

Jay Leno takes EcoJet out for a spin (w/VIDEO) 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Now that Jay Leno's retired from his duties hosting The Tonight Show, he may find himself with a bit more time on his hands to devote to his many automotive passions. Jay often leans towards the green end of the interesting vehicle spectrum, and that tradition looks secure as the comedian has ...

Homebrewing not the only danger in making biodiesel: plant catches fire in Minnesota 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

We talked about the uncommon but still serious cases of fires caused by biodiesel enthusiasts making the biofuel in their back yard just the other day. Even at industrial facilities, though, making fuel isn't exactly safe, and a fire at the Minnesota Soybean Processors Plant in Brewster, Minnesota ...

No Brainer of the Day: Making biodiesel at home is dangerous 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

While fuel prices are nothing like they were last summer (but they are climbing), there are still plenty of reasons to want to make your own biodiesel. Homebrew biodieselers are, on the whole, a careful bunch and there are plenty of classes available to make sure your mixing of vegetable fat, lye ...

Polystyrene can be dissolved in biodiesel, boosts power and emissions 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

Polystyrene is pretty much an environmentalist's nightmare. It's difficult to recycle in most areas and does not biodegrade if simply thrown away. But, because the stuff is so incredibly useful, it is produced and used in tremendous quantities. There's good news for biodiesel fans who want to ...

Try B100? Not in your new diesel engine 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

Manufacturers of diesel engines make it clear that small amounts of biodiesel are usually fine (most say B5, or diesel with five percent biodiesel mixed in, is OK), but they won't make any promises about higher concentrations. Popular Mechanics has a good article that explains that these companies ...

Earthrace could go whale hunter hunting 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Earthrace biodiesel boat made headlines last year during an around-the-world trip using biodiesel - it wasn't an easy journey. The ship's future could also be fraught with difficulty. The Earthrace website says the boat is for sale with an asking price of $1.5 million but we hear reports that ...

It's Friday: a peek at the truck stop of the future 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

What's the price of gas going to be in 2021? Specifically, what will the gamut of transportation fuels cost on March 16, 2021? WIRED recently published one of its artifacts from the future: a truck stop 12 years from now. As you can see in the imaginary scene, a full tank of hydrogen will cost a ...

Saudi oil minister: you be careful with those dangerous alternative fuels, OK? 7 months ago on Autoblog Green

Saudi Arabia's oil minister, Ali Al-Naimi, is nervous. Speaking earlier this month, he said that alternative fuels should be called "supplemental" and that "These sources cannot contribute meaningfully to the world's energy mix until they have attained levels of affordability, accessibility, ...

Biodiesel industry running into trouble at every turn, but the cold may no longer be an issue 7 months ago on Autoblog Green

That press release that went out earlier this month that read "The Biodiesel Industry Is Struggling And We Need Your Help!" wasn't kidding. With a new European Union tariff on biodiesel that comes from the U.S. and layoffs at some big (well, formerly big) players in the industry, things aren't ...

Explosion shows Biodiesel rockets might not be ready for prime time [w/video] 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

It's no secret that biodiesel can be used in airplanes (see BioJet I and, sort of, Virgin Atlantic). To use the biofuel in rockets might take a bit more work, as the 11-second video at the bottom of this post makes clear. The good news, though, is that an explosion during a recent test launch ...

Tesoro drops anti-ethanol lawsuit against CARB 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

A lawsuit brought by the Tesoro Corporation last fall to prevent California's new ethanol blending mandate has been dropped. Tesoro dropped its suit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) last week after their request for a temporary injunction was denied. The CARB mandate will increase ...

Biodiesel Board meets with Vilsack, pleased with results 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Officials from the National Biodiesel Board are meeting with the USDA and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack over the California Air Resources Board's proposed Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the ramifications that the legislation would have on the biodiesel industry. Biofuel proponents have ...

CARB's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, EPA rules might put the hurt on biofuels 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

The proposal from the California Air Resources Board for a Low Carbon Fuel Standard that we mentioned the other day might deal a blow to the biofuels industry. The LCFS might be one way for California to meet its stated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through lowered carbon in California ...

"The Biodiesel Industry Is Struggling And We Need Your Help!" 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Well, how's that for truth in advertising? The headline above is exactly what SRS Biodiesel wrote on a press release yesterday. Apparently, with all of the economic disaster headlines going around, biodiesel isn't getting the attention it deserves, and SRS wants to change that. Their tactic is to ...

What is biodiesel? 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

What is biodiesel? In short, biodiesel is a fuel that's suitable for use in diesel engines that is not based on petroleum. Biodiesel is often made from plant sources. It's also possible to mix biodiesel with petroleum-based diesel fuel in any ratio. Since most any engine designed to run on diesel ...

2009 Jetta TDI Cup to run on B5 biodiesel 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Volkswagen's Jetta TDI Cup series will be returning to the racetracks of North America at the end of April with 30 diesel-powered sedans in the hands of young up and coming drivers. For this year's sophomore season Volkswagen will be filling the tanks of the Jettas with B5 biodiesel. Houston, ...

Carl's Corner biodiesel truck stop finally reopens; Willie Nelson is on hand 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

It's been a long time coming, but the Carl's Corner Biodiesel Truck Stop is finally up and running. We heard about the plans to add serious biodiesel infrastructure, a hotel and a golf course (all for a cool $5 million) to the iconic Texas refueling station back in 2006. The station already sold ...

U.S.-EU biodiesel "splash and dash" tariff fight escalating 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

While biodiesel advocates go about setting up sustainability principles, the EU and the U.S. are in a growing dispute over the biofuel. The problem is that the Europeans see the $1-a-gallon tax credit that the U.S. provides for B99 (made up of 99 percent biodiesel and one percent petro-diesel) as an ...

Biodiesel can't void your warranty? 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Most manufacturers, including heavy-hitters like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, allow the use of a 5 percent biodiesel blend (aka B5) without violating the terms of the car's original factory warranty. What happens if you use a higher biodiesel concentration? That's a good question, and the answer ...

Let controversy reign: study says biofuels will speed up global warming 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

While the general consensus is clear that corn ethanol isn't as great as once proclaimed, biodiesel has somewhat escaped the criticism swarm (palm plantation biodiesel being the big exception). That may change now that a new study from the Woods Institute for the Environment has found that ...

Glenn Beck forgets to keep mouth shut on issues he's wrong about, like biodiesel 9 months ago on Autoblog Green

What's more exciting, the news that school buses in Minnesota were stalled, and that schools had to shut down, because of biodiesel and way too cold temperatures, or the reality that it wasn't the biodiesel that was causing the problem after all? The former, obviously, which is why that was what ...

Yes, she did it again: Daryl Hannah shows off her new biodiesel El Camino 9 months ago on Autoblog Green

If you love something, do it again. After Daryl Hannah sold her first biodiesel El Camino for $15,600 a year ago, she said she would convert the Trans Am she drove in "Kill Bill" to electric power. That never happened, and at the recently-concluded National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, ...

College students turn dining hall fry oil into biodiesel 9 months ago on Autoblog Green

College students probably tend to veer toward the more environmentally aware end of the spectrum than the population in general. As a result, it should come as no real surprise to see said students working on producing biodiesel from the waste fry oil from the dining halls during chemistry class. A ...

Who wins federal dollars race? Ethanol does, by a long shot 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Undeterred by the fact that ethanol is the worst type or alternative energy, the federal government is in love with corn ethanol, perhaps a bit too much. Over the years, the American farm lobby has worked and worked to get subsidies for corn growers and, more recently, ethanol producers. The ...

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