| You've had enough of rising gas prices and it's | | | | conventional diesel. That's more than most auto |
| just about time to trade your old car in anyway. | | | | manufacturers can say, but it takes no psychic to |
| So you're thinking about getting a biodiesel car, | | | | predict that they'll have to catch on sometime, |
| hoping that it will take some of the pressure off | | | | adopting that or a similar stance if they are to |
| your pocketbook. Well, we have good news for | | | | keep their diesel businesses alive. |
| you. Not only will a biodiesel vehicle save you | | | | Now, the biodiesel car isn't the only vehicle being |
| money, but it will also help you take better care | | | | redesigned to support and encourage use of the |
| of the environment - with 78% lower emissions | | | | alternative fuel. Look at John Deere, who has |
| than a standard vehicle running petroleum-based | | | | plans to start shipping out all of its combines and |
| fuel. But where do you get a biodiesel car, you | | | | tractors already filled with B2 (2% biodiesel, 98% |
| wonder? Well, hold on to your driver's license | | | | diesel) blend. The Maltby Company is another, |
| because the good news continues. Any diesel car | | | | using 18,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel in their dump |
| is already a biodiesel car. Nothing has to be done | | | | trucks, bulldozers, and other equipment for |
| to the vehicle at all except fill the tank with | | | | moving earth. |
| biodiesel fuel instead of regular diesel. | | | | According to the National Biodiesel Board the |
| The first American company to release a | | | | single, largest consumers of biodiesel are fleets |
| "biodiesel car", specifically designed to run best on | | | | that are fueled at a central location, such as: city |
| B5 or 5% biodiesel, 95% conventional, | | | | fleets, bus systems, military bases, school |
| petroleum-based diesel, was Chrysler with their | | | | districts, and national parks. Part of the reason |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty. The other "blends" of biodiesel | | | | why could be the 1992 Energy Policy Act which |
| fuel you'll most commonly find are B20 (20% | | | | mandates that state and federal fleets purchase |
| biodiesel, 80% diesel) and B100 (100% biodiesel), | | | | vehicles that run on alternative fuels, such as the |
| though it's possible to make any mixture spanning | | | | biodiesel car. |
| the gamut. Interestingly enough, both B20 and | | | | According to he U.S. DOE (Department of |
| B100 get the same great mileage, though the | | | | Energy), biodiesel fuel can potentially replace as |
| cost is slightly less for B20. The fuel emissions, | | | | much as 10% of the country's conventional |
| harmful to both humans and our environment, | | | | (petroleum-based) diesel diesel supply. No wonder |
| however, are much lower in B100 than in B20 or | | | | so many service stations around the nation aren't |
| any other blends, for that matter. | | | | starting to offer fill-ups to the biodiesel vehicle. |
| Showing outstanding support for the biodiesel car | | | | The Great Lake states seem to have the most |
| revolution (so to speak) Volkswagen, maker of | | | | biodiesel fill-up stations, with the East Coast, the |
| many fine diesel vehicles (like the Beetle, Jetta, | | | | Carolinas, and Tennesse following close behind. |
| Touareg, and Golf TDIs - that's for Turbo Diesel | | | | California and Texas have their fair share and, |
| Injection), says that they will not void the | | | | from there, every state in the U.S., barring Alaska |
| warranty on your vehicle simply because you | | | | and West Virginia, has at least one establishment |
| poured biodiesel fuel into the tank instead of | | | | where a biodiesel car can get its tank filled. |
