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- inactive, on 04/11/2008, -2/+29Biodiesel tends to be lumped into the broader 'biofuels' category which has gotten a lot of bad press lately (for good reason). This post tries to address those issues and also the practical issues about using biodiesel, by putting all the answers in one place. Whatever your stance on the issue, I think it has something to offer...
- sustainablogger, on 04/11/2008, -5/+29This is a fantastic resource... there's still going to be controversy surrounding biofuels, but this goes a long way towards answering the biggest questions. Nicely done...
- dsmx, on 04/11/2008, -1/+18Here's the only fact worth mentioning in regards to diesel engines:
Diesel engines run on almost any kind of oil, the original diesel engine was designed to run on peanut oil however due to the fact oil was cheaper to produce they used that instead. I wasn't the least bit surprised when on mythbusters they "discovered" that there diesel car would run equally well on filtered used chip oil. - inactive, on 04/11/2008, -2/+17Ethanol from HEMP! Food from HEMP! Plastics from HEMP! Clothes from HEMP! LEGALIZE HEMP!
- dvsbastard, on 04/11/2008, -2/+14Redundant title contains redundant word redundancy...
- madfrogurt, on 04/11/2008, -1/+13I like the way the author put it: don't let perfect become the enemy of good. Unless we're ready to switch over to hydrogen tomorrow, we need some intermediate way of prolonging our oil reserves. I see biofuel as a tool like hybrid cars: it isn't sustainable in and of itself but it does help buy us time to develop and perfect other fuel sources.
- inactive, on 04/11/2008, -1/+10I like that in #16 he says biodiesel causing deforestation is a myth... and he continues to say it's a myth because in the USA it doesn't cause deforestation. The fact still remains that it currently DOES cause deforestation eslewhere... so how can he label this a myth?
"What’s true there is not true in the United States."
Does Clayton Cornell assume that other nations aren't going to want to get in on this new economy? You can't live in a bubble. Biodiesel currently does cause deforestation, and it will continue to do so in the future, and you can't write that off as a myth just because it doesn't cause deforestation in the USA.
"Most people really aren’t interested in importing biodiesel from parts of the world where it’s questionably produced." Who are "Most people"? Does the author really think Central and South America and Malaysia share his white middle class american viewpoint?
I have a feeling that this "gas 2.0" site is biased in favor of biodiesel... I mean really, the url kind of gives it away. - krnldmp, on 04/11/2008, -0/+9Hemp seed oil and you got a deal. Don't burn ehtanol. Ethanol is for drinking. Make a ***** fuel.
- inactive, on 04/11/2008, -1/+9Mythbusters Cooking oil episode
http://2.0web.tv/index.php?option=com_seyret&task= ... - Fordi, on 04/11/2008, -1/+81) Electrolysis is < 50% efficient
2) Hydrogen fuel cells are < 50% efficient
3) You may imagine that your hydrogen comes from electrolysis, but more commonly, it comes from cracking of light petroleum - very high CO2 production
4) Given the choice between overall 20% efficient electrolyzed hydrogen to electricity to torque and overall 80% efficient mainline to battery to torque, which do you think is worth your money? - lowerfootprint, on 04/11/2008, -1/+8"...a little refining." - Nice pun. ;)
- cap11235, on 04/11/2008, -1/+7Mythbuster 2.0? Could anyone explain what version 1.3 was? And is there an alpha build for 3.0?
- Spuy767, on 04/11/2008, -0/+6Unfortunately, the author shows that the fails to do very good research when he declares that OEM stands for Original Engine Manufacturer.
- inactive, on 04/11/2008, -1/+7True to a certain extent (namely for electrical power generation plants) but internal combustion engines aren't going anywhere soon.
All-electric cars have plenty of their own problems: batteries contain harmful heavy-metals and other substances, are expensive, and do no nearly approach the energy density of combustible fuel (in terms of joules/kg). The last point especially is a major stumbling block for a vehicle (which needs to transport the mass of it's fuel using said fuel); and so focusing on cleaner burning fuels is something that we *do* need to do, since the basic problem of "moving ***** from A to B" will always exist, and we will be using self-powered vehicles to do that for quite some time to come. Centrally powered track-based transport can alleviate some of this need, but it has limited locational flexibility, and high infrastructure overhead. - inactive, on 04/11/2008, -0/+4Unfortunately the article misses the important point: biodiesel from crops will likely have a negative environmental impact because a) expanding the current agricultural base will destroy large areas of habitat causing species extinctions and b) opening up new areas to agriculture will release more carbon from soils than will be saved by not burning the equivalent amount of fossil fuels. The answer is algae. The biofuel potential of algae is thousands of times greater than from crops like soybeans. Essentially all biofuel startups are going the algae route. People need to know: algae yes, crop-based biofuels no.
- vtbarrera, on 02/03/2009, -2/+6I really like the prospect of a viable way to actually produce biodiesel; because as a fuel it works wonderfully, it's just the techniques used to produce it need a little refining.
- iggy2012, on 04/11/2008, -3/+7I don't think the writer grasps the meaning of "Fact"...
- Antwan718, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3You have never driven a diesel. Granted they are heavier, and they don't redline at 13k like a little RX-7 would, BUT from the 800 RPM Idle- 3200RPM redline but in that period you generate a ***** ton of torque. Torque is what enables the car to move, Horsepower is about the same as a gasoline engine at the same RPM and in actuality the Diesel is more efficient than a gasoline engine, it also has less parts to break spark plugs and ignition for example. Also because the diesel engine is heavier it is more durable meaning with the same matinence you need for a gas motor with the exception of changing the fuel filter more often the diesel motor will last you at least 4 times as long.
- rossw, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3sunlight, like all plants
- DinosWillDie13, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3Also there is more to be said about managing the freezing problem of biofuels. Anyone interested in converting can head to http://www.greasenotgas.com
There is an entire how to section. It also shows how to adjust the engine coolant line to run along side the fuel line to keep the biodiesel above freezing temperatures as it heads to the engine. - MacEnvy, on 04/11/2008, -1/+4You seem to be confusing biodiesel with ethanol (which is what Brazil uses). Good job not reading the article before commenting. This was addressed.
- MacEnvy, on 04/11/2008, -1/+4Except that the hydrogen is produced by using (a lot) of electricity from the power grid, which is largely fueled by coal. If we go all nuclear (and properly contain/utilze the waste) or renewable then hydrogen is okay, though still very inefficient compared to advanced supercapacitors or other alternative storage methods.
Internal combustion engines are certainly backed by large subsidies to fossil fuel extractors/processors, but perhaps more importantly they are entrenched in American culture. I'll admit it - though I proclaim myself "green" in many ways, I own a Mustang GT that sucks fuel and does poorly on emissions tests. However, I love to hear that V8 purr. Until we change the car culture in this country we'll still have a lot of people who want that traditional internal combustion feel in their vehicles.
Do we need to cut back on petroleum use? Absolutely, and as oil becomes more scarce we will. But the issue is much more complex than simply "big oil is causing all of our environmental problems". - konspence, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Not modern diesels, which is why you don't just throw veggie oil into the engine. The fuel delivery system (pump, injectors, etc) are now all designed on petro diesel, which relies on having a thin and low viscosity fuel, which veg. oil isn't, hence the necessity of removing the part of veg. oil that makes it thick (which is the biodiesel process).
- Hillsfar, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2I'm not as worried about peak oil now as I was before I read this really informative article. I am gonna look into a diesel vehicle for my next vehicle purchase.
- askuja, on 04/11/2008, -4/+6This is very informative critical analysis of an important issue. Well done.
- konspence, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2#13 is unfortunately wrong.
I just paid 4.999 for 100% biodiesel. It's easy to rationalize with a car that gets 45 mpg, since you're getting double the fuel economy of most cars, so it's the same as paying 2.50 a gallon.
But 4.999 is hard for many people to see. - Pixelpaws, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2I'm a driver for a major truck driving company. This article makes me wonder why we're not using the stuff. If it really is as good as the article claims - especially the price benefits - it could easily save the corporation a hundred million dollars a year. Just from an economic standpoint, it would make sense to use a fuel that were 50 cents a gallon less expensive; it could save a big company half a million dollars a day (assuming 14,000 trucks are using 75 gallons each). And, frankly, I'd like to see some of that in my wallet instead of my truck's fuel tanks.
- 007brendan, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Well, informative, but definitely biased, and only partially critical.
- macwac, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2For the next one cover biobutanol.
- DinosWillDie13, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Also there is more to be said about managing the freezing problem of biofuels. Anyone interested in converting can head to http://www.greasenotgas.com
There is an entire how to section. It also shows how to adjust the engine coolant line to run along side the fuel line to keep the biodiesel above freezing temperatures as it heads to the engine. - brufleth, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2What makes it sillier is that deforestation is a global problem. If a country like Brazil destroys its forests the effects can be wide spread. So saying "What's true there is not true in the United States" is just stupid. Do we live in a hermetically sealed bubble?
- andreegal, on 04/12/2008, -0/+2http://www.hempcar.org/ford.shtml
and don't forget that hemp being a herb restores the soil.... - Fordi, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Well, it's "easy" to make at home (that is, easier than making an authentic Twinkie at home).
- Fordi, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2You're either stupid, or simply not funny.
- misimiki, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Nice article, well done!
As I commented above, Diesel did intend peanut oil to be used to power the engine. My thoughts are that the recycling of cooking oil everywhere could be an answer to providing more biodiesel for use. Sadly in Hungary where I live it is unlawful to manufacture your own biodiesel for tax reasons - there simply is no mechanism for the state to collect taxes on the stuff, even if an honest individual kept a tally and "volunteered" to pay the tax. I can drive to Austria and buy the stuff in a petrol station - but at 250km each way it sort of defeats the point. Nevertheless I still plan to manufacture my own as I can buy a kit in the UK for about 1000 dollars. Then just gonna collect the raw material stuff from friends' restaurants. At a grassroots level this is an answer that many libertarians may enjoy. Make your own and pay no tax on it and feel proud to help the environment. Bear in mind that at least in Europe most of the cost of fuel is paid as tax in the first place. - Fordi, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2mmmmm.... Weed wine.... good stuff.
- KdogTN, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2I am a homebrewer and actually made a beer for a friend of mine using "buds" instead of hops and they enjoyed it ALOT!!!! hehehe
- Antwan718, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2And Drag.
- kd1s, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2And I'll mention the problem with bio-diesel form another perspective. That perspective is tax revenue. Right now the federal government gets 16 cents a gallon, while states get a varying amount, in RI it's 32 cents.
That money is theoretically supposed to go into roadway improvement. Yeah, right.
But lets say 10% of the people out there start using bio-diesel. That's a reduction in tax revenue and it won't take a legislator long to figure that out. - MacEnvy, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Except for Indy Car racing.
- MacEnvy, on 04/11/2008, -1/+3Yup, rapeseed. While it has a funny name, "rape" is a farily common crop whose seeds produce a lot of oil.
Didn't we already go over this on a front-paged story in the last 24 hours? - ronin691, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Making your own bio diesel is gaining momentum here in Texas, beyond rural area farmers, in to suburbia. Tons of info and resources here:
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor.ht ...
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html
Check your local laws about making and storing bio diesel first. - brufleth, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1"Fewer particulates mean its better to be used for jet fuel as well (enemy will have a harder time locking onto the heat signature)"
No. Wrong. - fuzzybeard, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Kind schwag that's greener than a seasick leprechaun & stickier than super glue from HEMP!
...duuuuude... ;) - da_bradler, on 04/11/2008, -1/+2He mentions algae like 10 ***** times.
- da_bradler, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Still bio diesel not a big seller in Canada, at least in the parries where it gets down to -40 pretty regularly during the nights. although i'm sure it's not going to be long before they start adding something to the fuel to increase its cold weather resistance. If they do that before i get my next car I might actually take a look at a diesel.
- nbcaffeine, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Also, note Audi's R10 for the latest in high performance diesel. Peugeot has one now too.
- roseap, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1FTA: "Last time I checked, biodiesel was $3.30 per gallon. With a tax credit offered in Oregon, the final price was $2.80 per gallon."
Sadly, this is not the case. It's as (if not more) expensive as diesel currently is right now.
Having said that, my VW Golf TDI has burned nothing but biodiesel, and I love it. - RyeBrye, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1They are definitely infringing on a trademark with the "mythbusters part" and abusing a cliche with the "2.0" part.
- misimiki, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1This is totally true that Diesel originaly intended peanut oil to be used for the engine. Just goes to show the power of the petro chemical companies even in the early 20th century.
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