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B20
and other users' experiences
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Forestry Commission - favourable results. More...
Biodiesel end-user survey - majority favour Biodiesel.
More...
B20 saves money. More...
Biodiesel in St Louis. More...
Deer Valley School District - Phoenix Arizona. More... |
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Forestry Commission - favourable results
The Forestry Commission first used a mix of 5% biodiesel
with 95% ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) in 40 vehicles
operating in the North East of England in 2002. Since
then its use has been extended to various locations throughout
Great Britain and in mid 2005 it was being used in 120
vehicles.
Trials are being conducted in Scotland with one vehicle
using 100% biodiesel and another 100% used cooking oil
that has simply been filtered to remove food particles.
These vehicles had power outputs and emissions measured
periodically with favourable results.
A 25% mix (B25) is now being used in some vehicles. Citroen,
whose vehicles make up 48% of the Forestry Commission’s
fleet, endorse use of up to 30% biodiesel mix. Other manufacturers
are more cautious but Mechanical Engineering Services
has had no problems to date and have decided that the
low risk of mechanical failure attributed to the use of
biodiesel is more than offset by the environmental benefit.
Biodiesel is made from soybean or rapeseed oils, animal
fats, or waste vegetable oils. It has a lower calorific
value than diesel produced from mineral oil but it has
the desirable effect of enhancing the lubricant qualities
of the fuel, which compensates for the removal of harmful
sulphur. The basis for biodiesel being sustainable is
that vehicle exhaust emissions of co2 are balanced by
the take up of co2 by the plants used in its production.
Ready
blended B20 grade now available! |
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Biodiesel end-user survey - majority favour Biodiesel
Extract
from ASG Renaissance report February 2004 commissioned
by National Biodiesel Board of America. |
Survey
Response: Overall Disposition Toward Biodiesel
Majority of Users/Potential Users are Favorably Disposed
to Biodiesel:
o Over 4 out of 10 (45%) of the fleet operators surveyed
are presently using Biodiesel.
o All of the present users are favorable with regard
to their Biodiesel experiences.
o Over 4 out of 10 (46%) were non-users of Biodiesel,
and were favorably disposed to using
the fuel.
o Among the total sample of fleet operators, over 9
out of 10 (91%) had favorable impressions of
Biodiesel, with about half this number (45%) the result
of positive experience.
o Less than I out of 10 (9%) had a negative impression
and did not want further information.
Comments from this group suggested that cost was the
major roadblock to further consideration.
o Because this was not a random sample of all fleets,
the results cannot be portrayed as
representative of all diesel users. It would appear,
however, that there is a significant majority of
diesel-powered fleets that are having positive experience
and an even larger group who are
interested in using the fuel.
Survey Results: Biodiesel User Footprint
Fleets presently using biodiesel
o Among Biodiesel Users: (45% of the fleets interviewed)
o Multi makes encompass the Biodiesel user fleets, which
collectively number almost 4,300 vehicles
o 88% of these end-users run on B20 or higher blends:
- 71% use B20, 4% B60, 13% B 100
- Only 16% use B5 or less
- Note: Above includes multiple blend users
o 54% have two years or more run time on Biodiesel:
o Two-thirds (67%) have experienced virtually trouble
free operation
o 29% had minor problems (solvent related)
o Only 4% had fuel quality difficulties
o 71% did not have to make modifications to their storage
or maintenance procedures
- Storage tank cleaning, more frequent fuel filter changes
were the most frequently mentioned
changes to routine
o Almost all (96%) would recommend Biodiesel use to
other fleets (The lone holdout was concerned about price,
not performance)
Ready
blended B20 grade now available!
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Michigan School District Reports that using B20 Saves
Money
The first Michigan school district to switch its entire
bus fleet to B20 has logged one million miles on the alternative
fuel, and maintenance records reveal that the district
has saved money as a result.
The district's 31 school buses, including 13 powered by
Cummins, 2 powered by Mercedes, and 16 powered by International,
have achieved this milestone "with no challenges and no
modifications," according to Wayne Hettler, garage foreman
and head mechanic. The district also uses B20 in nine
support vehicles including a foodservice truck and a Toro
Diesel 3-wing mower.
Part of the incentive leading to the switch to B20 was
the receipt of a grant in 2003 through the Michigan Department
of Consumer and Industry Services which funded St. Johns
for the incremental cost difference of the B20. Even though
the grant ended in December of 2003, Hettler's been able
to show his staff and the school board that they are still
saving money by using B20. The main cost savings is on
the extended intervals between oil changes.
"I'm convinced that we are able to extend the oil changes
because the B20 burns cleaner and isn't dirtying the oil
as quickly," said Hettler. "We're using oil analysis to
determine the oil change times. We solely credit biodiesel
for cleaning up the oil, thus saving the district the
costs of oil, filters, labor and the like. We have our
records for each bus before a single drop of biodiesel
was ever put in the tank, up through our present usage.
I challenge other fleets to 'read' their fleet records
and make these cost-saving changes after switching to
B20."
Hettler also reports an increase in miles per gallon,
and improved lubricity, leading to longer fuel pump life.
"Prior to April '02 we averaged one fuel pump change in
our fleet per year. We haven't had to change any fuel
pumps since April '02," he said.
According to the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee,
Hettler has used the oil from more than 15,000 bushels
of soybeans to fuel his fleet with biodiesel. "There is
much less smoke at the B20 level and both the mechanics
and bus drivers have noted the difference, not to mention
the kids," Hettler said. "We're using soy biodiesel for
the health benefits for all of us, the environment, and
to support America's soybean farmers."
Ready
blended B20 grade now available! |
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Bi-State Transit Agency - BioDiesel in St. Louis
For over ten years, the Bi-State Development Agency, a
mass transit provider for the St. Louis area, has done
extensive testing of BioDiesel for the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Lab
(NREL).
Test results have been very favorable with the agency
noticing a significant reduction in vehicle emissions
without an impact on fuel economy and performance. Use
of the fuel posed no operational problems and conversion
was simple because no infrastructure or engine modifications
were required.
Bi-State conducted the tests using a fuel blend known
as B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel) in
some of their transit buses. Besides reducing vehicle
emissions and particulate matter, Bi-State also noticed
that the high lubricity of B20 increased injector life
and decreased the need to maintain their vehicles.
Passengers riding the B20 transit buses appreciated this
alternative fuel because the acrid smell and black smoke
from exhaust, normally associated with diesel buses, was
no longer present. When told that the buses were fueled
with biodiesel, customers also liked the fact that the
transit agency was using a renewable fuel that reduces
the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
Bi-State Development Agency has been very satisfied with
their experience using biodiesel and is currently pursuing
a plan to incorporate B20 into its entire fleet on a long-term
basis.
Ready
blended B20 grade now available! |
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Deer Valley School District - Phoenix Arizona
The Deer Valley School District in Phoenix, Arizona, began
using biodiesel in 1999 following a state mandate that
school districts use alternative fuel vehicles to curb
air pollution.
In a total fleet of 250 vehicles, 140 school buses and
5 maintenance trucks run on biodiesel.
These vehicles will travel 2.5 million miles annually
in Deer Valley. The buses use a B20 blend of biodiesel
mixed on site by school district staff; the other vehicles
run on B100. Vehicles run on both reused oil and virgin
biodiesel, depending on suppliers and availability, with
no apparent differences in performance.
While the school district spends more money on fuel, its
alternative fuels program receives state grant money.
The district also encourages surrounding school districts
to use biodiesel so they can order bulk quantities at
a reduced price.
A blind pilot study in Deer Valley revealed that school
bus drivers noticed performance increases with biodiesel.
Ready
blended B20 grade now available! |
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Biodiesel
from BioRoute...Benefits the Operator...Benefits the Environment
