Gas2.0, a website focused on biofuels, has published a very interesting set of 22 dispelled biodiesel myths. Some of them are dispensed with very straightforwardly and all are in favor of using biodiesel.

The, um, busted "myths" range from common confusions between ethanol and biodiesel to the real impact of biodiesel in the environment and how easy or difficult is to find. Common questions about its use directly in cars, its impact on power and consumption, exhaust smell and emissions are also answered.

One issue which, in my opinion, is not clearly answered is what happens to warranties on new cars whem biodiesel is added to the mix. Sure, only a few carmakers clearly state which blends of biodiesel are accepted (PSA, for instance), a little more info on this topic would've been nice.

[Source: Gas2.0 (h/t to Clayton)]

Blue Sun Biodiesel, the company that supplies B20 to the top biodiesel municipal fleet in the nation, has got at least one wealthy friend. An anonymous "private individual" has given the company a $3 million unsecured term loan for building up to ten new biodiesel blending and terminal locations this year. The facilities will handle B20 (branded as Fusion biodiesel) and B100. The $3m is not the only good financial news the company is announcing: an undisclosed amount of credit is also being finalized "to support continued infrastructure development" (full text pasted after the jump). After a possible merger with M-Wave fell through earlier this year, Blue Sun must be glad to have at least one major financial deal notched up for 2008.

Back in October, an L-29 military aircraft named BioJet I powered by nothing but B100 biodiesel made a successful flight over Reno, Nevada. That short jaunt has now set the stage for something bigger: the first round-the-world flight powered by biodiesel. The pilot behind this undertaking is Doug Rodante, and he's assembled a team called Green-Flight International to help him use the cheaper and more environmentally-friendly biofuel in his quest. The team is currently working on an FAA fuel test, according to this article from WFTV. The next step should be a cross-country flight in May before heading off around the globe sometime next year.


[Source: WFTV]

San Francisco has plans to covert the city's entire fleet of diesel vehicles to run on B20 biodiesel by the end of this year. Now there's a commercial gas station ready to sell B20 to any vehicle that can digest the fuel. Located in the industrial neighborhood known as Dogpatch, the Olympian station sells the fuel partially made out of grease collected from city restaurants. So far, about 39 percent of city's fleet have made the switch to B20. The city also wants to convert the public bus system to B20. The Olympian station was the first station to in North America to offer B100 and also one of the first to offer ultra-low sulfur diesel.

[Source: Erica Ogg / CNET News]

The Australian Supertruck teams will give biodiesel a go in their racing rigs this weekend as they compete as part of the V8 Supercars event being held in Adelaide. The five tonne trucks race each other at speeds up to 160 km/h / 100 mph which creates a significant amount of emissions. Biodiesel will be used in an effort to be more environmentally friendly and to reduce the black diesel smoke.

Ironically, National Supertruck champion Bob Middleton was quoted by the ABC Rural as saying that the clouds of black smoke can be an attraction for the public when you can't see what's happening, "You've got five or six of them spinning around in a black cloud and then all of a sudden five of them will emerge in all different angles."

Analysis: I love motorsport, and there's something quite special about the momentum a five tonne truck has when its hurtling around a track at 160 km/h, but the diesel smoke generated really is appalling. Using biodiesel to cut the clouds and embrace a renewable alternative is the right way forward and I'd like to see the Australian Supertruck competition move to B100 permanently.

Related:

• Nation's largest ports attend "Faster Freight - Cleaner Air" conference
• LA and Long Beach ports look to convert truck fleets to LNG
• Honda F1 confirms plan to promote environmental awareness with 2007 livery

[Source: ABC Rural]

One of the less desired characteristics of biodiesel produced from natural and renewable substances is that it is more readily susceptible to oxidative degradation than petroleum diesel. Degradation of biodiesel leads to the formation of lower molecular weight acids, peroxides and gums that can result in unwanted changes in both the properties and performance of biodiesel. These impurities can result in injector fouling, filter plugging and excess engine deposits - all problems which have been exploited by biodiesel's critics.

Biodiesel fuel quality standards, such as the U.S. ASTM D6751 and the European Standard DIN EN 14214, call for biodiesel to maintain its quality during storage, handling and use. To combat oxidation problems and assist in biodiesel producers maintaining their fuel quality, Ciba Specialty Chemicals has introduced Ciba IRGASTAB BD 100, which is an additive designed to protect against degradation and oxidation and help extend the storage life of biodiesel.

Ciba advertises that IRGASTAB BD 100, a 100 percent active liquid stabiliser, offers excellent oxidative stability and added metal protection with a variety of biodiesel feedstocks such as those based on rapeseed, recycled cooking oil, palm, soy and jatropha.

Analysis: Biodiesel typically can not be stored for more than six months and ideally should be used as soon as possible after manufacture. For a majority of situations, this works fine but being able to guarantee the fuel's stability in transport and storage has a lot of benefits. Ciba's success here will come down to pure economics I'm guessing - if the price is right, they should have a popular new product on their hands.

Related:

• Tampa Bay to get largest biodiesel plant in the US
• Fifty Pamplona buses to run on B100 biodiesel
• AGB POLL: Best way to spend the DOE's money

[Source: Ciba via Renewable Energy Access]

While I do not question that biodiesel is a cleaner fuel than standard diesel, I don't think I'd dive right in to the smell of it burning in an engine the way that Portland, Oregon construction safety coordinator Dane Brewer (of Anderson Construction) does in this article. Libby Tucker, wrting in the Daily Journal of Commerce, starts with the image of Brewer going up to a forklift's exhaust and "taking a big whiff." I sure hope it was burning B100.

But the point of the article is not biodiesel's well-known French fry smell, but that more and more construction firms in Oregon are turning to biodiesel as an alternative fuel for their equipment. Brewer is working on the site for an expansion of Portland's hospital where patients and staff used to complain about diesel exhaust odors. The anti-odor solution was to switch to biodiesel (after the workers tried to pump the exhaust through a "jury-rigged metal conduit" away from the building. That didn't work).

Another company, Portland's Walsh Construction Co., uses B20 in its delivery trucks.

[Source: HeraldNet]

By now, we know all about the new ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel widely available throughout the States, but where does biodiesel fuel stand in relation to new emissions policies and technologies?

At the beginning of October, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) released a new specification for biodiesel fuel in an effort to ensure its wide acceptance. The new standard specifically limits the levels of calcium and magnesium that could potentially clog particulate filters which are needed to meet 2007 EPA emissions standards.

The new specification, D6751-06a, covers pure biodiesel. However, these changes were deemed necessary for the eventual approval of a new B20 specification that will hopefully gain universal acceptance. Already, all major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) support B5 and lower blends as long as they meet ASTM standards. A vote on a new B20 specification is scheduled for December and depending on the outcome a final approval could come as early as spring of next year.

[Source: National Biodiesel Board via Earthtimes.org]

While still in Madison, WI Amanda Congdon visited the PrairieFire BioFuels Co-op. The co-op, like many others springing up around the United States, is a member owned group working to build infrastructure and create access to biofuels for drivers. The co-op is located in a former garage near downtown Madison. Along with selling biodiesel to members (at a discounted price} and non-members, they also provide support for doing biofuel conversions on older diesel engines as well as helping drivers buy suitable diesel vehicles.

The co-op is currently selling B100 fuel to members at $3.33/gal and $0.35 more for non-members. Amanda met with the owner of a late '80s Mercedes 300SD that is currently running on B100 and saw that it emitted no soot and smelled like french-fries. She also met with Sean Michael Dargan, one of the founding members of the co-op who provided a tour of the facility. You can see the video at AmandaAcrossAmerica.com.

[Source: AmandaAcrossAmerica]

San Diego (home of the multi-fuel pump and the 300 mpg prototype) could soon be the home of a B100 biodiesel production facility. The Board of Vision Energy Group, Inc. has requested a financial feasibility study on the facility, which would be able to produce 7 million gallons a year in the beginning. The plan calls for a final goal of 50 million gallons a year. That's a lot of B100. The biodiesel will be made from a variety of biomass sources, including "soybean oil, cottonseed oil, rapeseed oil and residue pulp from winemaking", according to the Los Angeles Daily Business website.

[Source: Los Angeles Daily Business]

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) would like everyone to know that there is more to Austin, Texas than live music: it's also the town with the most retail stores selling biodiesel (B20) in the United States. Coincidentally, there are twenty B20 pumps in Austin, most of them recently-biodieseled Shell stations. There are also three stations that sell either B100 or B99. The NBB estimates there are over 800 public biodiesel pumps across the country.

Cindy Yates, an AutoblogGreen reader and Austinite who drives a diesel Jeep Liberty, sent the release to us and said, "I think this totally rocks!" Sure does. Keep it rockin', Austin. You can read the press release PDF here.

[Source: National Biodiesel Board. Hat tip to Cindy]

As biodiesel coops spring up across the country, some of the "old timers" are ready to share what they've learned thus far. A biodiesel coop in Duluth, MN will host an open house June 6 to mark the organization's one-year anniversary. The group is excited to share their accomplishments from the past year, including using 4,000 gallons of Midwest-grown biodiesel in about 40 vehicles and educating others on biodiesel in Canada and Northern Wisconsin. The group focuses on B100. They also met Willie Nelson and filled up his tour buses with biodiesel.

For directions to and time of the open house, follow the link to Business North. The coop's website is temporarily down, which isn't a good sign.

[Source: Business North]