“Biodiesel has proven emission and health benefits,” said John DeRosa, Director, American Lung Association in Illinois. “You get a lot of bang for your buck just by switching to a cleaner-burning fuel, and it’s something that can be used in existing diesel engines.”
In Minnesota, Rochester Public Transit moved from B10 to B20 in warm weather months at the recommendation of the state’s American Lung Association.
“We decided to start using B20 because we know the mayor and the city want Rochester to be environmentally friendly,” Knauer explained. “Also, the fuel performs well. It has not been detrimental to our engines.”
Farther north, near the Minnesota-Canada border, the federally run Voyageurs National Park has been using B20 blends—winter months included—in its diesel fleet since 2000.
“In every decision we make, everything we do, we try to be as sustainable as we can,” said Bill Carlson, the park’s Facility Manager. “That’s our top goal.”
A Ford F-450 clears snow to create an ice road on a frozen lake in Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. The park has used biodiesel blends since 2000 as part of its efforts to protect the environment.
Tips for Marketers: Learn the sustainability goals for government fleets in your area—many post their plans on their websites—and educate them on how biodiesel can help to meet their objectives. If they are already using a lower blend, show them how blends from B10 – B20 can bring even greater environmental benefits. Tout yourself as a provider of clean-burning biodiesel, which could help you win bids as more government entities consider sustainability in their requests for proposals.
Performance Benefits
The financial and environmental benefits of biodiesel wouldn’t matter much if the fuel didn’t perform. However, that’s not an issue. Biodiesel has its own ASTM specifications, and the industry also has higher standards for producers and suppliers who are members of the voluntary BQ-9000® quality assurance program.
Not only does biodiesel not harm fleet performance, it also provides a boost in a couple of important categories:
- Cetane: The ASTM specification for biodiesel requires a minimum cetane number of 47. That’s higher than the ASTM diesel spec of 40. Higher cetane equals a shorter ignition time.
- Lubricity: The change to ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) not only reduced the sulfur in diesel fuel, but also removed lubricity. Adding as little as 2% biodiesel can double the amount of lubricity in the fuel. Modern diesel engines rely, in part, on fuel to aid in the lubrication process.
Then there’s ease of use. Biodiesel blends don’t require vehicle or infrastructure upgrades, and nearly all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) support blends of up to B20.
As the DOE reported, “Fleets from every corner of the country … are discovering firsthand that biodiesel is an easy-to-implement, renewable and economically viable alternative to conventional diesel that can yield almost immediate results.”
Tips for Marketers: Some fleet managers still believe myths about biodiesel when it comes to performance, cold weather usage and OEM acceptance. Educate them on the facts. Data and case studies are available through REG.
Jon Scharingson is Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, at REG. Headquartered in Ames, Iowa, REG is an international producer of biomass-based diesel, including biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel, and is North America’s largest producer of advanced biofuel. Contact Jon at 515-239-8042 or [email protected]. For more information about REG, visit REGI.com.
