BIO-DIESEL FACTS
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"Bio-diesel is a safe, non-toxic, bio-degradable, renewable fuel that can be easily used in unmodified diesel engines, and for a variety of other fuel applications. It is not a new fuel; when Dr Rudolf Diesel developed his diesel engine in 1912, he designed it to run on peanut oil."
- Bio-diesel in British Columbia - Feasibility Study Report What is Bio-diesel? Bio-diesel is a renewable, bio-degradable and non-toxic fuel, that is produced using waste cooking oils, vegetable oils, animal fats or tall oil (a by-product from pulp and paper processing). Bio-diesel is created through a process called transesterification, where the oil is reacted with an alcohol (usually methanol, although ethanol can also be used) and a catalyst (such as potassium or sodium hydroxide). This process causes the oil to separate into two parts: glycerine, and methyl esters (also known as bio-diesel). Bio-diesel may be used alone (B100) in most diesel engines, or in any percentage mixed with petro-diesel, for example 10 percent bio-diesel (B10) or 5 percent bio-diesel (B5). |
How to Use it?
Any diesel engine can use bio-diesel with little or no modification, and it blends easily with regular petroleum fuel. Check with your manufacturer or on one of the many bio-diesel forums for vehicle-specific information. In winter, it is recommended to use an 80% regular diesel and 20% bio-diesel mix. Other than that, just gas up and go!
For a detailed read and study of bio-diesel use guidelines please click here.
Benefits of CB-DC Bio-diesel
Who Uses Bio-diesel?
Our Co-op members come from a diverse background, they are teachers, scientists, computer programmers, musicians etc. Operators of any vehicle with a diesel engine can use bio-diesel, including commercial trucks, buses, marine, rail, agricultural vehicles, industrial equipment, generators, and consumer vehicles.
Since its first production on a commercial scale in Germany in 1991, global production has increased rapidly. Bio-diesel is now the fastest growing alternative fuel in Europe. In 2003, Germany, France, Austria and Italy produced over two billion litres of bio-diesel, and in Germany and Austria, around 1700 service stations now sell bio-diesel. Many European car manufacturers, including VW and Mercedes Benz, have approved bio-diesel use for their engines. In Germany, over 19,000 jobs have been generated growing the feedstock, processing the raw materials, and marketing the resulting bio-diesel. Two German bus companies run their entire fleets on bio-diesel, and most major bus networks in France run on bio-diesel blends.
In the U.S., a blend of 20% bio-diesel with 80% petro-diesel (referred to as B20) is quite widely used, and 15 states have passed legislation favorable to bio-diesel. In North Dakota and Minnesota, all diesel fuel is required to include 2% bio-diesel. In Washington State, the Intercity Transit Authority uses a B20 bio-diesel mix in its entire fleet and is moved to B40 in 2004. In 2003, there were 123 gas service stations offering bio-diesel. Almost all of the bio-diesel that is used in Europe and the US comes from agricultural crops grown specifically for this purpose.
Any diesel engine can use bio-diesel with little or no modification, and it blends easily with regular petroleum fuel. Check with your manufacturer or on one of the many bio-diesel forums for vehicle-specific information. In winter, it is recommended to use an 80% regular diesel and 20% bio-diesel mix. Other than that, just gas up and go!
For a detailed read and study of bio-diesel use guidelines please click here.
Benefits of CB-DC Bio-diesel
- Our renewable bio-fuel is made from waste cooking oil, so it doesn't compete with food crops
- Reduces life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- Reduces particulate and other harmful diesel emissions (up to 90% reduction of toxins)
- Burns cleaner with increased lubricity and combustion, extending engine life
- Requires less energy to create than equal units of petroleum based fuels
- Is 10x less toxic than table salt and bio-degrades faster than sugar
- Supports local green initiatives and businesses
- Keeps money in the community
- Exhaust smells like french fries, not pollution!
Who Uses Bio-diesel?
Our Co-op members come from a diverse background, they are teachers, scientists, computer programmers, musicians etc. Operators of any vehicle with a diesel engine can use bio-diesel, including commercial trucks, buses, marine, rail, agricultural vehicles, industrial equipment, generators, and consumer vehicles.
Since its first production on a commercial scale in Germany in 1991, global production has increased rapidly. Bio-diesel is now the fastest growing alternative fuel in Europe. In 2003, Germany, France, Austria and Italy produced over two billion litres of bio-diesel, and in Germany and Austria, around 1700 service stations now sell bio-diesel. Many European car manufacturers, including VW and Mercedes Benz, have approved bio-diesel use for their engines. In Germany, over 19,000 jobs have been generated growing the feedstock, processing the raw materials, and marketing the resulting bio-diesel. Two German bus companies run their entire fleets on bio-diesel, and most major bus networks in France run on bio-diesel blends.
In the U.S., a blend of 20% bio-diesel with 80% petro-diesel (referred to as B20) is quite widely used, and 15 states have passed legislation favorable to bio-diesel. In North Dakota and Minnesota, all diesel fuel is required to include 2% bio-diesel. In Washington State, the Intercity Transit Authority uses a B20 bio-diesel mix in its entire fleet and is moved to B40 in 2004. In 2003, there were 123 gas service stations offering bio-diesel. Almost all of the bio-diesel that is used in Europe and the US comes from agricultural crops grown specifically for this purpose.
