Biodiesel: From the Deep Fryer to Your Tank!
MP3 RadioVegetable oil…whoever thought you could fry it and drive it? The pursuit for a clean burning, non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable fuel source to power our vehicles has lead to an innovative development known as biodiesel.
Made from animal fat or vegetable oil, biodiesel is created by separating out glycerin from oil to create “methyl esters” (bio-fuel) which can then be blended at any level with petroleum diesel. Unmodified diesel engines in cars, buses, trucks, tractors and boats can all benefit from biodiesel. Not only does the fuel burn clean, but it elongates engine life as a result of the built-in lubricant.
I know. It’s hard to believe…Vegetable oil, in a car engine? But believe it or not, biodiesel is a viable fuel alternative that is being used around the globe. Europe has been manufacturing biodiesel for over 10 years. In 1991 Germany began producing biodiesel on a commercial scale. There are now over 1700 filling stations in that country and Austria alone. In the United States, biodiesel usage is beginning to expand. Tax exemptions, incentives and statutes are encouraging consumers to blend biodiesel into various diesel fuels. Over 350 service stations sell biodiesel blends in the U.S while, in Canada, the biodiesel industry is about to launch with the aid of the federal government which committed to producing 500 million liters of the fuel by the year 2010.
In this program, ekosRadio co-hosts Starr Munro and Rick Searle chat with Victoria B.C. based, biodiesel home brewer and advocate Don Goodeve and Karel Roessingh, who’s converted his music mobile Mercedes over to biodiesel, about their experiences and challenges in converting their vehicles to this innovative eco-fuel.
For more information about Bio-Diesel visit the following links:
National Biodiesel Board
http://www.biodiesel.org
BC Sustainable Energy Association
http://www.bcsea.org
Wise Energy
http://www.wiseenergy.ca
Journey to Forever
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html
Biodiesel Now
http://www.biodieselnow.com
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