ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
Did You Know?
The amount of fuel consumed in family vehicles in the United States each year is enough to cover a regulation-size football field to a depth of about 40 miles.
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Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a diesel replacement fuel made from new and used vegetable oils or animal fats that have been chemically reacted with an alcohol. Using either blended or pure biodiesel in a diesel (compression ignition) engine will reduce emission of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, and particulate matter. Emissions of nitrogen oxides can increase with the use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine. Biodiesel blended with conventional petroleum derived diesel at concentrations up to 20 percent (B20) is currently used in some diesel engines. Only pure biodiesel (100 percent) is designated as an alternative fuel.
Since the feedstock for biodiesel can be domestically produced, it reduces the nation's dependence of foreign oil. At this time biodiesel is mainly used by fleet operators such as the U.S. Postal Service, school districts, utility companies, garbage and recycling companies, agricultural vehicles, construction equipment, and marine applications.
Biodiesel in blends of 20 percent of less can be handled with the current fueling infrastructure. There is some limited availability for general public use. However, individual consumers can purchase biodiesel, by the drum, directly from suppliers.
Links:
National Biodiesel Board
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