When people talk about off-roading and how much fun it is, it's highly likely that you'll also hear them mentioning the famed Jeep in the same breath, as Jeep is world-renowned for its mud-plugging potential.
Now the iconic off-roader comes in an even more fun package, not to mention a survivalist gear that's guaranteed to make any zealous outdoorsman jump with glee.
EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicles, says its website, are designed to travel to four-wheel drive accessible, remote locations and provide a comfortable year-round camping experience without dependence on external power or utility hook ups.
EarthRoamer has recently introduced a tweaked Wrangler - one that will definitely be the object of desire for off-road enthusiast yet. The XV-JP comes equipped with the usual upgraded suspension, winch, high-intensity lighting and other necessities for a serious off-road excursion, but there's more. There's also the complete camping setup, including a tent mounted atop the roof offering users three different material choices to match the elements, along with a queen-size bed, a solar power battery backup, an engine-heated hot water tank and a cassette toilet. Now that makes for a dream camper, doesn't it?
Here are more details from the company's website (www.earthroamer.com/):
EarthRoamer XV-JP
The Jeep Rubicon Unlimited based EarthRoamer XV-JP is designed to carry two adults on technical four-wheel drive trails to remote camping locations. Once in camp, the XV-JP's Loftop™ can be deployed to provide nearly 9 feet of interior stand up height and a queen-size bed in the loft. Underneath the cantilevered loft, the rear tent can be dropped down for an additional bug free living space. The XV-JP comes equipped with 25 gallons of fresh water capacity, an inside cassette toilet, inside shower, sink and cooking facilities. Plenty of light and ventilation is provided by an abundance of screened windows. An electric fan provides additional ventilation when needed and the forced air furnace will keep you cozy on cold nights and when winter camping.
About EarthRoamer The company says its website, places high importance in preserving the environment for generations to come. This is the primary reason why they design renewable energy sources like solar and biodiesel into their systems. All of their vehicles utilize solar energy as a primary power source for lights and appliances.
About Jeep Jeep is an automobile marque (and registered trademark) of DaimlerChrysler. The marque, like all other Chrysler subsidiaries, became part of DaimlerChrysler when Daimler-Benz merged with the Chrysler Corporation in 1998. Jeep is also maker of top of the line Jeep parts like the Jeep catalytic converter.
About the Author
Jason Moore, a 35 year old freelance writer from Austin, Texas. He also works as a marketing analyst for an established auto parts store in the country.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
McDonalds UK Shows Mother-Nature Love with Biodiesel for its Delivery Vans by Rain Stockton
In the old days it used to be that you just drove your Nissan Sentra and perhaps its brand new Nissan Sentra parts over to McDonalds to get some of those yummy French fries and Mcburgers.
Now can you imagine getting your car fueled in McDonalds? How about a fuel pump sticking out the drive thru window to gas up your car?
No? Maybe literally these scenarios are far-fetched, but, to get fuel to power your car from the world-famous food chain's kitchen isn't as remote a possibility as you think.
In the UK just recently, McDonalds has announced that it will be converting all of its UK delivery vans to run on cooking oil-based biodiesel. This means that aside from getting to enjoy that delicious smell of double cheeseburger 'n' fries as a delivery truck drives by our British friends can do so rest assured that the truck may be carrying sinful food but it isn't at least, making the dreadful environmental transgression we call pollution.
So how does it work?
According to a report by Topgear, once the oil has been used to make your Freedom Fries turn into a tasty state of crispiness, it'll be combined with rapeseed oil to power McDonald's 155 Lorries, saving some 1,650 tonnes of carbon each year. Which is something, if you think about all the folks calling for delivery everyday, right?
Here in our shores, we are also not lacking in environmentally-sound burger-delivering companies. In 2006 it was reported that Burgerville, a Vancouver, WA-based "fast casual" restaurant chain, has begun converting its used cooking oil into biodiesel. Through an agreement with Portland company MRP Services, the used oil is picked up and transported to a processing plant where it is converted to biodiesel.
Before the two companies arranged to do good for Mother Nature, the oil was shipped to Asia and typically used in the creation of cosmetics and soap.
This isn't the first foray into sustainable business practices for Burgerville though. Last August, the company announced it would pay for its electricity by purchasing wind power, a move that saved a staggering 17.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released to the region annually.
About Biodiesel Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. (source: http://www.biodiesel.org/)
About the Author
Rain Stockton is an engineer by profession. He is a motorsports fanatic, especially F1 and NASCAR. He seldom fails to attend major car racing events. A frustrated race car driver, he spends some of his free time working in one of the largest automotive shops in Indianapolis.
Now can you imagine getting your car fueled in McDonalds? How about a fuel pump sticking out the drive thru window to gas up your car?
No? Maybe literally these scenarios are far-fetched, but, to get fuel to power your car from the world-famous food chain's kitchen isn't as remote a possibility as you think.
In the UK just recently, McDonalds has announced that it will be converting all of its UK delivery vans to run on cooking oil-based biodiesel. This means that aside from getting to enjoy that delicious smell of double cheeseburger 'n' fries as a delivery truck drives by our British friends can do so rest assured that the truck may be carrying sinful food but it isn't at least, making the dreadful environmental transgression we call pollution.
So how does it work?
According to a report by Topgear, once the oil has been used to make your Freedom Fries turn into a tasty state of crispiness, it'll be combined with rapeseed oil to power McDonald's 155 Lorries, saving some 1,650 tonnes of carbon each year. Which is something, if you think about all the folks calling for delivery everyday, right?
Here in our shores, we are also not lacking in environmentally-sound burger-delivering companies. In 2006 it was reported that Burgerville, a Vancouver, WA-based "fast casual" restaurant chain, has begun converting its used cooking oil into biodiesel. Through an agreement with Portland company MRP Services, the used oil is picked up and transported to a processing plant where it is converted to biodiesel.
Before the two companies arranged to do good for Mother Nature, the oil was shipped to Asia and typically used in the creation of cosmetics and soap.
This isn't the first foray into sustainable business practices for Burgerville though. Last August, the company announced it would pay for its electricity by purchasing wind power, a move that saved a staggering 17.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released to the region annually.
About Biodiesel Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. (source: http://www.biodiesel.org/)
About the Author
Rain Stockton is an engineer by profession. He is a motorsports fanatic, especially F1 and NASCAR. He seldom fails to attend major car racing events. A frustrated race car driver, he spends some of his free time working in one of the largest automotive shops in Indianapolis.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
How compatible are ethanol and biodiesel? by Malc Baxter
To understand the relationship between ethanol and biodiesel correctly, you must in the first instance learn about them independently, only then will you be able to fully understand the connection that is between these two biofuels. Ethanol and biodiesel are very similar in many ways, so they should both be taken into consideration as an alternative to fossil fuel.
So what is ethanol?
Ethanol is a mildly toxic,flammable and colorless mixture of chemicals with a very noticeable perfume like smell, it is also the same type of alcohol that you will find in your nice cool beer, however, it is simply referred to as alcohol.
Ethanol has been used by humans as far back as when the dinosaurs were on the planet, and even though it has been used for more negative reasons, such as explosives because of its volatile nature, it has also been though of as positive when made into alcohol drinks and other products. Ethanol has also been used as an essence to help illness for many thousands of years, and so this is also recognized as being a positive use.
Another point to consider is, ethanol is the fuel which is at present being considered to replace fossil fuels, this is a very important topic, particularly when we consider that we are in a crazy war with Iraq and this is a country where we get most of our fuel from.
So what is biodiesel?
A fuel that is being considered as a replacement for diesel, is biodiesel. This is fuel that is made from crops like corn, oilseed and sugar beet. Both ethanol and biodiesel are mixed with fossil diesel and gasoline in order for older cars to be able to run on it, however some of the newer car designs are able to run on biofuel with just a few small modifications.
Because of consumers lack of understanding with regard to ethanol and biodiesel, they are not convinced that using this fuel is the right way to go as a alternative to fossil fuel. Although it has to be said that this is starting to change in the US and in the world at large.
Ethanol and biodiesel relationship:
There are many important things to question when pondering the relationship of ethanol and biodiesel, one thing for sure though is they seem to be the main two options when looking at creating a cleaner environment. Ethanol is seen as the better option my many people at this time. However, the biodiesel option should be looked at very carefully because it also as many benefits to offer the alternative fuel debate.
Biofuel production is benefiting the US farming community by putting millions of dollars into the industry, therefore this should be taken into account as well.
About the Author
www.ecoholistic.com for articles, tips and more information about ethanol and biodiesel.
For more about ethanol and biodiesel
So what is ethanol?
Ethanol is a mildly toxic,flammable and colorless mixture of chemicals with a very noticeable perfume like smell, it is also the same type of alcohol that you will find in your nice cool beer, however, it is simply referred to as alcohol.
Ethanol has been used by humans as far back as when the dinosaurs were on the planet, and even though it has been used for more negative reasons, such as explosives because of its volatile nature, it has also been though of as positive when made into alcohol drinks and other products. Ethanol has also been used as an essence to help illness for many thousands of years, and so this is also recognized as being a positive use.
Another point to consider is, ethanol is the fuel which is at present being considered to replace fossil fuels, this is a very important topic, particularly when we consider that we are in a crazy war with Iraq and this is a country where we get most of our fuel from.
So what is biodiesel?
A fuel that is being considered as a replacement for diesel, is biodiesel. This is fuel that is made from crops like corn, oilseed and sugar beet. Both ethanol and biodiesel are mixed with fossil diesel and gasoline in order for older cars to be able to run on it, however some of the newer car designs are able to run on biofuel with just a few small modifications.
Because of consumers lack of understanding with regard to ethanol and biodiesel, they are not convinced that using this fuel is the right way to go as a alternative to fossil fuel. Although it has to be said that this is starting to change in the US and in the world at large.
Ethanol and biodiesel relationship:
There are many important things to question when pondering the relationship of ethanol and biodiesel, one thing for sure though is they seem to be the main two options when looking at creating a cleaner environment. Ethanol is seen as the better option my many people at this time. However, the biodiesel option should be looked at very carefully because it also as many benefits to offer the alternative fuel debate.
Biofuel production is benefiting the US farming community by putting millions of dollars into the industry, therefore this should be taken into account as well.
About the Author
www.ecoholistic.com for articles, tips and more information about ethanol and biodiesel.
For more about ethanol and biodiesel
Aura Green Line Added To 3 Federal Fleets In Kansas by Anthony Fontanelle
Three Kansas City area federal agencies added Monday the new 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid vehicles to their fleets. Two vehicles were delivered by the federal General Services Administration (GSA) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 office in Kansas City, Kan. One is for EPA and one for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in Kansas City, Mo. A third will be added to the GSA fleet in Kansas City, Mo.
Regional Administrator for the NHTSA's Central Region Romell Cooks received the keys to a new Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid. "While safety of the motoring public is a key concern of the NHTSA, we are equally concerned about the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks," Cooks said. "These types of vehicles will make a difference."
GSA ordered fifty Saturn Aura Green Line vehicles this year to be delivered nationwide. The Saturn Aura Green Line hybrids are assembled at the General Motor Corp.'s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan. The Aura Green Line is a mild hybrid, following the VUE Green Line as the second vehicle in Saturn's lineup incorporating GM's belt alternator starter system.
Same with the Vue, the Aura Green Line features the 2.4L Ecotec engine mated to an electric motor or generator and the 4T45-E four-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is rated at 164 horsepower and 159 pound feet of torque. The electric motor or generator bolsters the gasoline engine during launch and under wide-open throttle.
The Saturn Aura Green Line also flaunts trusted auto parts from the automaker such as the Saturn clutch kit, body parts, filters, spark plugs, radiators, cold air intake and more. The hybrid has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, which the automaker claims is up to a 30 percent improvement over the Aura XE. The Saturn Aura Green Line is eligible for a $1300 US Federal tax credit, as well as several state tax credits. The hybrid has been on sale since late March this year.
The Green Line is a variant of Saturn Aura. The Aura is a crucial product line for both Saturn and General Motors. Its production is part of a product rejuvenation for Saturn to push the company into the black at the same time to compete tightly with European imports. So far, feedback to the Aura has been positive, both in terms of sales and reviews.
Executive Order 13423, signed by President Bush in January, compels federal agencies to raise alternative fuel use by ten percent annually. GSA's fleet management division has delivered 3,581 bi-fuel and 20 biodiesel vehicles to regional federal agencies. Executive Order 13423 is aimed at strengthening federal environmental, energy, and transportation management of the nation.
EPA Region 7 Administrator John Askew accepted the vehicle for the environmental agency. Askew said, "Using fuel efficient vehicles like the Saturn hybrid we're receiving today just makes sense. Not only does it protect the environment by reducing emissions, but using less fuel strengthens our energy security."
GSA Heartland Region Administrator Bradley Scott said, "GSA is proud to join EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as government leaders in using and supporting environmentally friendly vehicles, and we look forward to providing energy efficient vehicles and alternative fuel-use cars to more federal agencies in the future."
Executive Order 13423 also directs federal agencies with more than 20 motor vehicles to reduce petroleum consumption by two percent annually through 2015. The Saturn Aura's estimated fuel mileage is 35 miles per gallon. With the alarming global warming concerns, lawmakers and automakers are enduring the burden.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Regional Administrator for the NHTSA's Central Region Romell Cooks received the keys to a new Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid. "While safety of the motoring public is a key concern of the NHTSA, we are equally concerned about the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks," Cooks said. "These types of vehicles will make a difference."
GSA ordered fifty Saturn Aura Green Line vehicles this year to be delivered nationwide. The Saturn Aura Green Line hybrids are assembled at the General Motor Corp.'s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan. The Aura Green Line is a mild hybrid, following the VUE Green Line as the second vehicle in Saturn's lineup incorporating GM's belt alternator starter system.
Same with the Vue, the Aura Green Line features the 2.4L Ecotec engine mated to an electric motor or generator and the 4T45-E four-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is rated at 164 horsepower and 159 pound feet of torque. The electric motor or generator bolsters the gasoline engine during launch and under wide-open throttle.
The Saturn Aura Green Line also flaunts trusted auto parts from the automaker such as the Saturn clutch kit, body parts, filters, spark plugs, radiators, cold air intake and more. The hybrid has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, which the automaker claims is up to a 30 percent improvement over the Aura XE. The Saturn Aura Green Line is eligible for a $1300 US Federal tax credit, as well as several state tax credits. The hybrid has been on sale since late March this year.
The Green Line is a variant of Saturn Aura. The Aura is a crucial product line for both Saturn and General Motors. Its production is part of a product rejuvenation for Saturn to push the company into the black at the same time to compete tightly with European imports. So far, feedback to the Aura has been positive, both in terms of sales and reviews.
Executive Order 13423, signed by President Bush in January, compels federal agencies to raise alternative fuel use by ten percent annually. GSA's fleet management division has delivered 3,581 bi-fuel and 20 biodiesel vehicles to regional federal agencies. Executive Order 13423 is aimed at strengthening federal environmental, energy, and transportation management of the nation.
EPA Region 7 Administrator John Askew accepted the vehicle for the environmental agency. Askew said, "Using fuel efficient vehicles like the Saturn hybrid we're receiving today just makes sense. Not only does it protect the environment by reducing emissions, but using less fuel strengthens our energy security."
GSA Heartland Region Administrator Bradley Scott said, "GSA is proud to join EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as government leaders in using and supporting environmentally friendly vehicles, and we look forward to providing energy efficient vehicles and alternative fuel-use cars to more federal agencies in the future."
Executive Order 13423 also directs federal agencies with more than 20 motor vehicles to reduce petroleum consumption by two percent annually through 2015. The Saturn Aura's estimated fuel mileage is 35 miles per gallon. With the alarming global warming concerns, lawmakers and automakers are enduring the burden.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Federal Agencies Expands Hybrid Fleet by Anthony Fontanelle
Three federal agencies in Kansas recently added hybrid vehicles to their fleet. The hybrid vehicles included in the fleet of the federal agencies are the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line vehicles. Two units of the hybrid car were already delivered to different federal agencies in Kansas.
Two units of the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line were delivered by the General Services Administration (GSA) to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 in Kansas City, Kansas. One of these will be used by the EPA while the other is for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) office in Kansas City, Missouri. The third vehicle will be delivered to the GSA fleet in Kansas City, Mo.
Romell Cooks, the regional administrator for the NHTSA's Central Region, was given the keys to the hybrid Aura. "While safety of the motoring public is a key concern of the NHTSA, we are equally concerned about the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks," said Cooks. "These types of vehicles will make a difference."
Aside from the three hybrid vehicles, the GSA has ordered 50 units in all of the Saturn Aura Green Line. The vehicles will be delivered by GSA to different federal agencies across the country. The Aura Green Line became an obvious choice for the federal agencies in Kansas City Kansas due to the fact that these vehicles were built in General Motors' assembly facility in Kansas City, Kansas.
The deliveries of the hybrid vehicles is in connection with the Executive Order 13423 signed by President George Bush which mandates federal agencies to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles on their fleet by ten percent every year. To date, GSA's fleet management division has already delivered 3,581 units of alternative fuel vehicles and 20 biodiesel vehicles to federal agencies.
Administrator John Askew accepted the keys to the Saturn center shoulder seatbelt-equipped Aura Green Line for EPA Region 7. Askew has this to say after receiving the hybrid car: "Using fuel efficient vehicles like the Saturn hybrid we're receiving today just makes sense. Not only does it protect the environment by reducing emissions, but using less fuel strengthens our energy security."
Meanwhile, GSA's Heartland Region Administrator Bradley M. Scott has this to say: "GSA is proud to join EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as government leaders in using and supporting environmentally friendly vehicles, and we look forward to providing energy efficient vehicles and alternative fuel-use cars to more federal agencies in the future."
Aside from mandating a ten percent increase in alternative fuel vehicle use, the Executive Order also directs federal agencies across the country with more than 20 motor vehicles to reduce petroleum fuel consumption by as much as two percent every year. The directive will stand until the year 2015.
The Aura Green Line is the hybrid version of the current North American Car of the Year. The Saturn Auras delivered by GSA to the three federal agencies are seen as a good step for the government to take in the present situation. Environmentalists have been lobbying for the widespread use of alternative fuel vehicles because these vehicles are more environment friendly than conventional vehicles which run on petroleum fuels. The Saturn Aura Green Line, according to General Motors, has a fuel mileage of 35 miles per gallon. That figure means that federal agencies will be consuming less fuel as compared to none-hybrid vehicles.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Two units of the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line were delivered by the General Services Administration (GSA) to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 in Kansas City, Kansas. One of these will be used by the EPA while the other is for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) office in Kansas City, Missouri. The third vehicle will be delivered to the GSA fleet in Kansas City, Mo.
Romell Cooks, the regional administrator for the NHTSA's Central Region, was given the keys to the hybrid Aura. "While safety of the motoring public is a key concern of the NHTSA, we are equally concerned about the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks," said Cooks. "These types of vehicles will make a difference."
Aside from the three hybrid vehicles, the GSA has ordered 50 units in all of the Saturn Aura Green Line. The vehicles will be delivered by GSA to different federal agencies across the country. The Aura Green Line became an obvious choice for the federal agencies in Kansas City Kansas due to the fact that these vehicles were built in General Motors' assembly facility in Kansas City, Kansas.
The deliveries of the hybrid vehicles is in connection with the Executive Order 13423 signed by President George Bush which mandates federal agencies to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles on their fleet by ten percent every year. To date, GSA's fleet management division has already delivered 3,581 units of alternative fuel vehicles and 20 biodiesel vehicles to federal agencies.
Administrator John Askew accepted the keys to the Saturn center shoulder seatbelt-equipped Aura Green Line for EPA Region 7. Askew has this to say after receiving the hybrid car: "Using fuel efficient vehicles like the Saturn hybrid we're receiving today just makes sense. Not only does it protect the environment by reducing emissions, but using less fuel strengthens our energy security."
Meanwhile, GSA's Heartland Region Administrator Bradley M. Scott has this to say: "GSA is proud to join EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as government leaders in using and supporting environmentally friendly vehicles, and we look forward to providing energy efficient vehicles and alternative fuel-use cars to more federal agencies in the future."
Aside from mandating a ten percent increase in alternative fuel vehicle use, the Executive Order also directs federal agencies across the country with more than 20 motor vehicles to reduce petroleum fuel consumption by as much as two percent every year. The directive will stand until the year 2015.
The Aura Green Line is the hybrid version of the current North American Car of the Year. The Saturn Auras delivered by GSA to the three federal agencies are seen as a good step for the government to take in the present situation. Environmentalists have been lobbying for the widespread use of alternative fuel vehicles because these vehicles are more environment friendly than conventional vehicles which run on petroleum fuels. The Saturn Aura Green Line, according to General Motors, has a fuel mileage of 35 miles per gallon. That figure means that federal agencies will be consuming less fuel as compared to none-hybrid vehicles.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
The Biomass Program and Possibilities for the Future by C. Ozcan
Researchers are working on new technology that will be able to do hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass to sugars and lignins and also the thermochemical conversion of biomass to synthesis gas for fermentation and catalysis of these platform chemicals to produce slates of biopolymers and fuels. To expand the role of biomass in America's future, the DOE Office of the Biomass Program fosters biomass technologies with a balanced portfolio of research and development. the following graphic shows the technology and anticipated process that the Biomass Program is concentrating on.
Biomass Feedstocks
The feedstocks are essentially the plant and plant-based material that are used to produce biomass energy. Currently, this consists mostly of easily processed agricultural crops and low- or negative-cost industrial residues. Future plans focus more on the use of agricultural and forestry residues. These can be used not just for power, but also for production of fuel, chemicals, and materials. Research is being done now to improve the collection, transportation and harvesting of these residues. It is estimated that there is about 512 million dry tons of biomass that is now available for less than $50 per dry ton. One of the major problems, however, is collecting and transporting the biomass. U.S. scientists are focusing on solving these problems with current and planned research. These feedstocks are then converted into either sugars or thermochemicals.
Sugar and Thermochemical Platforms
Most plant material is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The U.S. Department of Energy's Biomass Program is at the forefront of a national effort to develop technology to break cellulose and hemicellulose down into their component sugars. Anticipated biorefineries will then be able to biologically process these sugars to fuel ethanol or other building block chemicals. Lignin can either be burned to provide process heat and electricity or can itself be converted to fuels and chemicals.
Possibly the oldest way of converting biomass to energy was burning wood. Unfortunately burning wood is not very efficient. If this solid biomass is converted to liquid or gas before combustion, the process becomes much more efficient. This conversion is achieving by heating the biomass (wood in this example) with oxygen. Not only is the efficiency increased, but the biomass can alternately produce chemicals or materials. American researchers are hard at work perfecting this process.
Products
Renewable biobased products (bioproducts) are products created from plant- or crop-based resources such as agricultural crops and crop residues, forestry, pastures. Currently these bioproducts are created using petroleum, due to the hydrocarbons that exist in petroleum. If bioproducts were produced with biomass materials carbohydrates, proteins, and plant oils would be used instead of the hydrocarbons. Regardless of which are used, many products are produced in this manner. Some examples are paint, drugs, plastics, and solvents. With the continuous decrease of petroleum resources, it is becoming imperative to manufacture an increasing amount of these products with the plant and crop based materials. Today they account for about 5% of the bioproducts produced. It is estimated that about 12.4 billion pounds of biobased products are produced with renewable resources per year, out of the hundreds of billions of pounds that are produced each year. This discrepancy and the limited amount of petroleum reserves for the United States show that the potential for renewable bioproducts is basically limitless.
Biorefineries
In addition to reducing dependence on foreign oil, fostering a domestic biorefinery industry modeled after petrochemical refineries is a primary objective of the Biomass Program. Existing industries such as wet-mill corn processing and pulp and paper mills fit the multiple-products-from-biomass definition of a biorefinery, but the goal is to foster new industries converting lignocellulosic biomass into a wide range of products, including ones that would otherwise be made from petrochemicals. As with petrochemical refineries, the vision is that the biorefinery would produce both high-volume liquid transportation fuel (meeting national energy needs) and high-value chemicals or products (enhancing operation economics).
Possibilities for the Future
It has recently been announced that a $50 million biodiesel manufacturing plant will be built in North Dakota. It will be the largest plant of its kind in the United States, and produce about 100,000 tons of biodiesel each year.
Biomass is produced here in the United States rather than being imported from overseas. Since it is produced at home, new jobs will be created, and the agricultural market will be improved. The rural American economy will also receive a much-needed boost. As mentioned, increased biofuel production means reduced dependency on foreign oil. Also the use of toxic fuel additives is totally avoided. An increased role for biomass in America's energy landscape is an intriguing idea, and probably a good one. It can help to conserve what little fossil fuels we have left, while at the same time avoiding all the pollution problems that fossil fuels give us. The fields that biomass crops could use now lie fallow because of the decreased role of farming in today's economy. Biomass can revive the economy in rural areas. Unlike solar and wind power, these crops are not a sore spot in the landscape. Opponents of hydroelectric power claim that it disrupts the river environment, killing fish and marine plants alike. This problem does not exist with biomass. Biomass is quite possibly the best renewable source of energy this country has, and that is reflected by the fact that it has become the leading source of renewable energy in this new millennium.
About the Author
C. Ozcan - is the author for Site Insaat Inc. Please visit Site inşaat projeleri for more information about Turkey architects contractors and construction companies in Istanbul, Turkey.
Biomass Feedstocks
The feedstocks are essentially the plant and plant-based material that are used to produce biomass energy. Currently, this consists mostly of easily processed agricultural crops and low- or negative-cost industrial residues. Future plans focus more on the use of agricultural and forestry residues. These can be used not just for power, but also for production of fuel, chemicals, and materials. Research is being done now to improve the collection, transportation and harvesting of these residues. It is estimated that there is about 512 million dry tons of biomass that is now available for less than $50 per dry ton. One of the major problems, however, is collecting and transporting the biomass. U.S. scientists are focusing on solving these problems with current and planned research. These feedstocks are then converted into either sugars or thermochemicals.
Sugar and Thermochemical Platforms
Most plant material is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The U.S. Department of Energy's Biomass Program is at the forefront of a national effort to develop technology to break cellulose and hemicellulose down into their component sugars. Anticipated biorefineries will then be able to biologically process these sugars to fuel ethanol or other building block chemicals. Lignin can either be burned to provide process heat and electricity or can itself be converted to fuels and chemicals.
Possibly the oldest way of converting biomass to energy was burning wood. Unfortunately burning wood is not very efficient. If this solid biomass is converted to liquid or gas before combustion, the process becomes much more efficient. This conversion is achieving by heating the biomass (wood in this example) with oxygen. Not only is the efficiency increased, but the biomass can alternately produce chemicals or materials. American researchers are hard at work perfecting this process.
Products
Renewable biobased products (bioproducts) are products created from plant- or crop-based resources such as agricultural crops and crop residues, forestry, pastures. Currently these bioproducts are created using petroleum, due to the hydrocarbons that exist in petroleum. If bioproducts were produced with biomass materials carbohydrates, proteins, and plant oils would be used instead of the hydrocarbons. Regardless of which are used, many products are produced in this manner. Some examples are paint, drugs, plastics, and solvents. With the continuous decrease of petroleum resources, it is becoming imperative to manufacture an increasing amount of these products with the plant and crop based materials. Today they account for about 5% of the bioproducts produced. It is estimated that about 12.4 billion pounds of biobased products are produced with renewable resources per year, out of the hundreds of billions of pounds that are produced each year. This discrepancy and the limited amount of petroleum reserves for the United States show that the potential for renewable bioproducts is basically limitless.
Biorefineries
In addition to reducing dependence on foreign oil, fostering a domestic biorefinery industry modeled after petrochemical refineries is a primary objective of the Biomass Program. Existing industries such as wet-mill corn processing and pulp and paper mills fit the multiple-products-from-biomass definition of a biorefinery, but the goal is to foster new industries converting lignocellulosic biomass into a wide range of products, including ones that would otherwise be made from petrochemicals. As with petrochemical refineries, the vision is that the biorefinery would produce both high-volume liquid transportation fuel (meeting national energy needs) and high-value chemicals or products (enhancing operation economics).
Possibilities for the Future
It has recently been announced that a $50 million biodiesel manufacturing plant will be built in North Dakota. It will be the largest plant of its kind in the United States, and produce about 100,000 tons of biodiesel each year.
Biomass is produced here in the United States rather than being imported from overseas. Since it is produced at home, new jobs will be created, and the agricultural market will be improved. The rural American economy will also receive a much-needed boost. As mentioned, increased biofuel production means reduced dependency on foreign oil. Also the use of toxic fuel additives is totally avoided. An increased role for biomass in America's energy landscape is an intriguing idea, and probably a good one. It can help to conserve what little fossil fuels we have left, while at the same time avoiding all the pollution problems that fossil fuels give us. The fields that biomass crops could use now lie fallow because of the decreased role of farming in today's economy. Biomass can revive the economy in rural areas. Unlike solar and wind power, these crops are not a sore spot in the landscape. Opponents of hydroelectric power claim that it disrupts the river environment, killing fish and marine plants alike. This problem does not exist with biomass. Biomass is quite possibly the best renewable source of energy this country has, and that is reflected by the fact that it has become the leading source of renewable energy in this new millennium.
About the Author
C. Ozcan - is the author for Site Insaat Inc. Please visit Site inşaat projeleri for more information about Turkey architects contractors and construction companies in Istanbul, Turkey.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Get Ready for a Biodiesel Weekend
Get Ready for a Biodiesel Weekend
Girl Mark is in town this week and will be teach two biodiesel homebrew classes in Ft. Lauderdale. In the biodiesel community, Girl Mark is a celebrity. She even written a book, Biodiesel Homebrew Guide.
You have an option of one of two courses, a short 1-day course this Friday, December 1 from 10 am - 4 pm, or a comprehensive 2-day course this weekend, Dec 2-3 (also from 10 am - 4 pm).
Here's what she told me about the courses:
Learn to make your own high-quality biodiesel fuel from waste restaurant fryer oil, and build the equipment to do so at home.
In the two-day weekend class, we'll cover the basic process, safety, the chemistry of quality control, quality testing, fixing emulsions made in washing, dealing with bad quality/high free fatty acid oil, dewatering oil and biodiesel, ethanol biodiesel, disposing of wash water and glycerine, and techniques to improve your process (glycerine remix prewash, two-stage production). If you have already experimented with making biodiesel, we'll cover a lot of troubleshooting and problem-repairing techniques.
The Friday class is a shorter version of the two-day class and will include less hands-on time and may skip a few the advanced topics, for those who can't attend a weekend class.
At the very end of the two-day class, we'll also build some processors similar to the Appleseed processor.
Sign up for the classes here: 1 day $60 (Friday, Dec 1), 2 days $120 (Saturday-Sunday, Dec 2-3). They are located in Ft. Lauderdale right off of I-95 on Stirling Rd. When you register you will receive an email with the exact location, suggested reading materials, and even what to wear.
Still not sure? Read what some past class participants have to say. You can see more about Girl Mark and Biodiesel at GirlMark.com and BiodieselCommunity.org.Burning Biodiesel in the winter wonderland of Buffalo, NY
[More on biodiesel]
Michal's 1981 Datsun truck has logged over 20,000 miles on 100% biodiesel, with excellent emissions, power and reliability performance, and fuel economy of 30-38 mpg. The truck successfully started at 24 F (-4 C) on 100% biodiesel and at -11 F (-24 C) on 25% biodiesel.
[More on cold weather performance]
Presentations for download
Paper on diesel, biodiesel, vegetable oil (SVO) emissions - CRC 2004 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Biofuels intro - Bluegrass Energy Expo 2004 (PDF, 3.8 MB)
Effect of zenmaster driving and individual choices on emissions - BEE 2004 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Please support your local farmer. Grow your own fuel.
Please drive safely and with love. [Why?]
General Motors' Challenge X by Iver Penn
Three years ago General Motors has conducted a contest, Challenge X with the theme Crossover to Sustainable Mobility. The main objective of Challenge X is to encourage students to re-engineer a crossover sport utility vehicle that would minimize energy consumption, emissions, and lessen the hazardous greenhouse gases while being able to maintain or exceed the vehicle's utility and performance.
This extreme competition was participated by seventeen university teams. The Challenge X will provide future engineers an opportunity to partake in a hands-on research and development that utilizes cutting edge technologies. These futures engineers in order to achieve their goals of significantly reduce emissions while improving fuel economy has integrated advanced automotive technologies and alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel.
For the first two years of the competition participating teams have worked on simulation, development and testing while undergoing an extensive judging and evaluation throughout the process. General Motors is hoping that in the final year of the competition students together with their advisers will learned how to refine their vehicles to near-showroom levels especially in terms of performance, quality, and consumer acceptability. Three winning teams are to be awarded with $90,000 cash plus trophies.
The Challenge X competition is sponsored by GM and the US Department of Energy. Aside from the aforementioned awards, Challenge X also offer a real world bonus and since the start of the program General Motors has already hired over 40 students and still plans to increase this by over a dozen as the competition concludes.
About General Motors General Motors Corporation or GM for short is the world's 2nd largest automaker in terms of sales revenue as of the first sales quarter of 2007 lagging behind its Japanese competition Toyota Motors. Founded in 1908 in Flint Michigan, GM employs approximately 284,000 people around the world.
GM's global headquarters are at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA. But it manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. GM the producer of high quality GMC grille guard has also European headquarters based in Zurich, Switzerland. In the year 2005, 0.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold worldwide under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, and Vauxhall.
GM is also the majority shareholder in Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of South Korea and has had collaborative ventures in technology and manufacturing with other world's automakers.
Iver Penn is a Mass Communications graduate who hails from Wyoming. She is at present an associate editor of a publishing company in Colorado.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Eastern New York Chapter Test Drives Biodiesel
Mount Kisco, NY—November 5, 2004—The Nature Conservancy's Eastern New York chapter announced that they recently have begun a pilot program using the alternative fuel Biodiesel for running the chapter’s Stewardship truck and tractor, the first such Conservancy program in New York State. The truck, a 2002 Chevy Silverado required no modifications to run on this fuel blend, which is stored in a 270 gallon tank at the chapter’s Stewardship office at the Arthur W. Butler Memorial Sanctuary in Bedford, Westchester County. The many benefits to using Biodiesel, a methyl ester of soy bean oil, include replacing foreign fossil fuels with a renewable, American-grown energy source, realizing a 40-60% reduction in unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter as compared to regular diesel, and offering support to an emerging alternative fuel industry. Staff will be using the pure Biodiesel in a 25-30 percent blend with regular diesel and, if all goes well this year, plan to export the practice to other parts of the chapter and presumably to other chapters of the Conservancy.
Stewardship Operations Coordinator Matt Levy added that "When we first began using Biodiesel, the cost of petro diesel was about $1.80 per gallon compared to the $2.60 for Biodiesel. We felt that this was an acceptable cost given the environmental benefits. Now, with diesel selling for about $2.50 per gallon, it is clear that we made the right decision for the chapter both financially and environmentally."
Eastern New York's Stewardship Operations Coordinator Matt Levy tops off
the chapter's truck with Biodiesel.
© D. Salaverry
What's cooking in place of gasoline
Ketchikan, Alaska - Something's cooking in place of gasoline for Joseph Prows' Chevy greese car! Prows is just one of a small growing network of drivers who are responding to environmental concerns, rising gas prices and dependence on foreign oil by finding ways to steer clear of gas pumps.
Joseph Prows' Chevy greese car...
Photo by Dick Kauffman
Under the hood of the greese car, extra hoses and
units installed for vegetable use...
Photo by Dick Kauffman
Greese car's dashboard...
Photo by Dick Kauffman
Prows, a resident of Ketchikan for the past year, recently converted his diesel Chevy pickup to utilize waste vegetable oil as fuel. Prows said he obtained this waste vegetable oil that only days before made French fries sizzle from local Ketchikan restaurants.
The conversion of the Chevy to a veggi powered greese car was done by Prows using a conversion kit. The conversion kit which includes a fuel tank for the oil, hoses and some other miscellaneous items costs around $1100-1200.
Prows said he starts his engine on diesel fuel to let the engine warm up, then he switches over to the vegetable oil - also called BioDiesel. When it's time to shut down, he said he again switches to diesel fuel for a few minutes before turning the engine off. Prows said if vegetable oil is hard to come by on a certain day, the diesel fuel is his backup.
Prows left Ketchikan on July 9th to attend medical school in New Orleans and he planned to traveled the entire trip powered by veggie oil.
units installed for vegetable use...
Photo by Dick Kauffman
On the Web:
Willie Nelson Biodiesel - Source of Farm Fresh BioDiesel
wnbiodiesel.com
Biodiesel Benz
Pros and Cons of Converting a Diesel Engine to Run Vegetable Oil
 |  | |
| Lyle Pearl of Santa Fe, NM and his wife Tatiana pose beside their 1980 Mercedes that they recently converted to run off of used cooking oil. | "This is technology that is here now, not a technology of the future like hydrogen..' - Lyle Pearl |
The future of biodiesel in hawaii
I am in Hawaii for the week working on our refinery here. On friday I went out to see the future of biodiesel feedstocks: jatropha. While the current biodiesel industry has been built on the back of industrial scale food crops like soy, palm and canola, the future is energy specific crops like Jatropha, mustard, camellina, castor and others. So I drove out into the red fields and got my picture taken with the future.
Going Biodiesel for my comuter car
While Rich is optimizing for bike and large family hauling, I am optimizing for around town economical driving with biodiesel. So fter reading the TDI forum alot: TDIClub forums: Viewing forum: New Beetle TDIs, I had the Beetle TDI itch. Have been itching to buy another TDI (after the Touareg). Sunday I decided to get the New Beetle and called all over town (Seattle). Found a great one at University VW, Platinum Grey, DSG Auto, leather, Xenon, MonSoon, etc. Being the end of the month they were dealing and I just went down and picked it up.
After some searching here, I ordered the following upgrades:
Weathertech rubber trunk liner black (TVA)
VW Splash gaurds (TVA)
fog lamp covers - the metal mesh, are the solid orange ones better?(TVA)
Clear G2 tail lamps (TVA)
TVA aluminum sport locks (an impulse) (TVA)
and the RocketChip (rocketchip)
Just filled it up at Dr. Dan. He had a cool chrome "Biodiesel" emblem to put on instead of a TDI emblem. I like it...
here are the pics.
Introduction To Biodiesel
Biodiesel is the name given to any diesel equivalent biofuel which can be used in an unmodified diesel engined vehicle.In general biodiesel is most commonly made with a mixture of vegetable oil and methanol. With a flash point of 160 degr
ees C it is classified as non-flammable, and it is also biodegradable and non-toxic. On its own biodiesel has much lower emissions than petrodiesel, and it can also be mixed with petrodiesel to reduce emissions. B20 for example is a fuel containing 20% biodiesel and 80% petrodiesel.
Pure biodiesel is B100.Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 78%, and carbon monoxide emissions by 50%. It also completely eliminates sulphur emissions.For vehicles made before the early 1990's there is a problem with the use of biodiesel. The rubber hoses and gaskets used before that time can degrade in the presence of biodiesel. Newer cars have synthetic hoses and gaskets, and of course older cars can have their hoses and gaskets replaced before biodiesel is introduced. Biodiesel is also more solvent than petrodiesel and so it will rapidly break down any deposits of old residue in a vehicle's fuel lines and fuel tank and clog the fuel filter. Therefore, after making the transition to biodiesel it is important to change the fuel filter around 1000 miles after switching.
Study Reveals Record Number Of Alternative Fuel Autos by Mike Bartley
According to a study conducted by research firm R.L. Polk, a record-breaking number of alternative fuel vehicles were sold during the first quarter of this year. The study reported that there were 434,000 alternative fuel vehicles sold for the first three months of this year. The said figure is 27 percent more than the number of alternative fuel vehicles sold for the first three months of 2006. Today, it is estimated that the number of these vehicles in active service reaches 11 million.
E85 capable vehicles posted the highest sales gain according to the "premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions to the automotive world and its related industries". For the first quarter of last year, 159,882 units of flex-fuel vehicles were sold in the United States. For the first three months of this year, car manufacturers sold 266,859 units of E85 capable vehicles. That shows an increase of 40 percent.
Hybrid vehicles are still increasing in popularity among car buyers as sales for the first quarter jumped by 31 percent compared to the first quarter sales last year. Last year, 51,285 hybrid vehicles were sold for the first three months of the year. For the first quarter of this year, car manufacturers combined to sell 74,056 units of hybrid vehicles in the first quarter alone.
Another alternative fuel vehicle increasing in popularity are biodiesel engine-equipped vehicles. The popularity of diesel is increasing as car buyers become more aware that the new generation of diesel engines is cleaner than their predecessors. With the use of emissions filter and aftermarket parts like the Bosal exhaust system, emission of back soot is reduced significantly.
For the first three months this year, 108,100 units of clean diesel engines were sold by car manufacturers. This figure shows a slight decrease from 108,100 units for the first quarter last year to 93,012 units for the same period this year.
"Gas prices, consumer incentives, and the increasing number of AFA models available to consumers all play a role in the rising popularity of these vehicles," says Dave McCurdy, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "However, while interest in AFAs continues to grow, we still need more gas stations to offer biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel," he added further.
The lack of refilling stations offering biofuels has led some to criticize the government and the auto industry. In a recent study, it was found out that 99 percent of flex-fuel vehicles on the streets today are using gasoline. This is because of the scarcity of refilling stations which offers E85. This trend beats the purpose of these E85 capable vehicles.
Currently, there are sixty models of alternative fuel vehicles offered by different car manufacturers. In the hybrid segment, Toyota leads all car manufacturers. Aside from hybrids, clean diesel, and E85 capable vehicles, other AFAs include electric cars like those produced by ZAP.
In conclusion, McCurdy has this to say: "Automakers believe that the best way to enhance energy security and reduce carbon dioxide emissions is through the use of alternative fuel autos. While consumers value fuel economy, they also want other attributes in today's vehicles. Our goal as manufacturers is to offer fuel-efficient vehicle options, with a wide range of attributes, at an affordable price."
Mike Bartley, 49, is a professional automotive journalist domiciled in Irvine, CA. He travels from one state to another to cover the hottest auto shows, racing events and automotive revelations. His penned compositions cover press releases, reviews, and suggestions.
EXPERT GREEN BLOGGERS COMMENT ON SPECULATION THAT FORMULA ONE MAY REQUIRE BIOFUEL BY 2011 by Inveslogic Editorial Staf
The adoption of green technology in the world of motor sports sets an example for consumers all over the world. With this in mind, Max Mosley and the FIA have outlined their goals related to sustainable fuels in Formula One racing.
One of the industries best sources is the widely read Biodiesel Investing blog. Their latest post openly speculates as to what type of fuel would be used, specifically "so far they have not indicated the type of biofuel they plan to require, but biodiesel is likely since Audi and Peugeot have used it successfully in their LeMans prototypes."
Green Car Congress offered some top-notch insight with some additional comments made by Fia President Mosley. Their latest post outlined proposed sustainable fuel rules would apply to "all car manufacturers involved in the sport 2.2-liter turbocharged V-6s running on biofuel and developing around 770 horsepower would replace the current 2.4-liter V-8 engines that develop around 100 hp more," while quoting Mosley directly, "Maximum revs would be restricted to 10,000rpm, down from 19,000rpm, which would make the new generation of cars much quieter than the current machines."
Autoblog, a widely-respected green vehicle blog, provides some additional commentary, "the FIA wants to reduce costs and make the engines more environmentally friendly." This post also to concurs with Biodiesel Investing's perspective by adding, "since a switch to ethanol could end up with even more powerful engines due to the turbocharging, maybe they will make the jump to biodiesel instead."
Formula One is widely considered to be the most global of sports, in terms of reach. Will the adoption of sustainable fuels by leading motor sports organizations help lead to a mainstream demand for green fuel? Tuning in to the facts and opinion from the wide world of blogs is a great place to start.
The adoption of green technology in the world of motor sports sets an example for consumers all over the world. With this in mind, Max Mosley and the FIA have outlined their goals related to sustainable fuels in Formula One racing.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Biodiesel Testing - Quality and Purity Testing Increase Confidence And Assure Results by Andrew Stratton
Biodiesel and biofuel production is growing at an ever growing rate as new production facilities appear across Europe, Asia, and the Americas every month. Manufacturers of biodiesel testing equipment are responding to these growing demands to supply the market at every level.
Biodiesel and biofuel production is growing at an exponentially increasing rate as new test-bed plants and full production facilities are being approved every month across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
At present, biofuel production is considered experimental, and compared with other fuel production techniques, the total output is still very low. Feedstock supply lines are therefore quite limited, either being sourced from widely distributed waste products of other industries, or from niche crops like canola, a relatively new rapeseed cultivar. This creates a problem for both major and minor biodiesel producers, who have the daunting task of producing homogeneous, high quality fuel sourced from feedstock of varying and ultimately unknown purity and content. The market has responded to the demands of these new industries to supply quality assurance biodiesel testing equipment for every production scale.
Given the climbing public awareness of global warming and strains on global energy output, governments and corporations around the world are fronting the expense of rebates, research grants, and tax breaks for operators in industries which work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making the concept of small, high-tech niche-industry start-ups economically viable. This has attracted big investment dollars in Brazil, the United States, and some members of the EU - most notable among these being Germany, where there are dozens of medium and large-scale alternative energy generation plants.
Biodiesel is defined as a diesel equivalent produced via transesterification of common fats and oils. There are three main avenues of supply of feedstock to biodiesel production plants. The first of these is dedicated crops grown specifically for their organic oils. Examples of these include soy beans, canola (rapeseed), oil palms, and algae. Canola and soy accounts for most of the total biodiesel production feedstock for the world, as it can be grown with conventional farming techniques, with predictable results.
The crop with the potential to produce the most oil is actually a species of algae, Botryococcus braunii, however, there remain serious doubts about its viability as a crop. Medium scale ventures prefer the waste by-products of other farming methods. The woody part of corn plants, left over wood pulp, and other biomass materials can be used as a substrate for biodiesel or ethanol producing bacteria. This supply is desirable for medium-scale producers as it results from otherwise less valuable by-products that can be obtained in reasonably large quantities.
Small-scale and hobbyist biodiesel producers are most likely to make use of waste vegetable oils and animal fats from cooking and commercial food production, as these are ubiquitous, but usually available only in smaller quantities, and hobby users are not likely to need any more raw feedstock than is necessary for a tank of fuel in their car every week. Furthermore, it is impractical for larger producers to collect kitchen waste in the same way an individual can, at least until demand grows enough for such infrastructure to be built.
Large scale producers have ongoing testing requirements for samples from billions of gallons biofuel every year. Due to the experimental nature of the industry, initial investment for such projects is quite expensive, however, due to the mostly uniform content of the feedstock crops used, large biodiesel production plants have run fairly reliably once established. For big biodiesel, the emphasis is on quality assurance: There are stringent requirements put on producers to keep levels of pollutants and various contaminants under tight control. Areas tested can include alcohol content, ester content, sulfur, heavy metal, and water quotas.
Additionally, biodiesel must exhibit certain physical characteristics like viscosity and flashpoint temperature. Small and medium scale producers have slightly different challenges to overcome, as they often do not sell their product, but rather, use it internally to power on-site farming machinery, or in the case of a hobbyist, the family sedan. The challenge here is not in producing product that meets stringent sales requirements (although it is desirable), but rather, ensuring that the higher number of relatively small batches are safe and uniform, so as not to produce content that damages the engines of machinery and equipment.
While this work can be done in-house, it is far more economically viable for producers to contract out as possible. Larger testing enterprises usually have of at least one HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) machine or Gas Chromatograph, which are available for less than US$20,000, as well as all the appropriate glassware and apparatus to conduct titrations and other analytic procedures. At the hobby end of the market are self-contained biodiesel reaction vessel kits available for less than $500, and biodiesel testing kits for testing small quantities of product which can be sourced for less than $50.
With the growing public concern over the excess of atmospheric carbon, world peak oil production, and alternative energy solutions, biodiesel is beginning to look like an increasingly appealing stepping stone in between petroleum products and a completely clean implementation of energy storage, like hydrogen. Biodiesel testing requirements factor into the equation for small, medium, and large scale producers to ensure a supply of quality product.
With growing environmental concern of burning fossil fuels, biodiesel is a stepping stone for an alternative energy source. To ensure a high quality biodiesel fuel source, biodiesel testing kits are available from Midwest Laboratories. http://store.midwestlabs.com/
Ethanol And Biodiesel Information by Jack Moore
To be able to fully understand if there is a relationship between ethanol and biodiesel, it will probably be a good idea to learn about them individually, this will then help you get a proper understanding of these two biofuels. You will probably find that ethanol and biodiesel are quite similar in lots of ways, therefore, consideration should be given to both of them when thinking about alternatives to fossil fuel.
So what is ethanol?
Ethanol is a mildly toxic, flammable and colorless mixture of chemicals with a very noticeable perfume like smell, it is also the same type of alcohol that you will find in your nice cool beer, however, it is simply referred to as alcohol.
Ethanol has been used by humans as far back as when the dinosaurs were on the planet, and even though it has been used for more negative reasons, such as explosives because of its volatile nature, it has also been though of as positive when made into alcohol drinks and other products. Ethanol has also been used as an essence to help illness for many thousands of years, and so this is also recognized as being a positive use.
Another point to consider is, ethanol is the fuel which is at present being considered to replace fossil fuels, this is a very important topic, particularly when we consider that we are in a crazy war with Iraq and this is a country where we get most of our fuel from.
So what is biodiesel?
Biodiesel in being though off as a fuel that could replace diesel over the next few years, it is manufactured from farm crops, like sugar beet, corn, and oilseed rape, although it can also be made from cooking oil waste.
So that older vehicles can run on both ethanol and biodiesel, these biofuels are mixed with gas and diesel. That said some of the new cars being designed today can run on pure biofuel by making some simple modifications.
Although the thought of running your car on ethanol and biodiesel is becoming a more popular idea for many individuals in the US, there are still many people who are not convinced that this is the way to go in the alternative fuel debate.
The connection between ethanol and biodiesel:
There are many important things to question when pondering the relationship of ethanol and biodiesel, one thing for sure though is they seem to be the main two options when looking at creating a cleaner environment. Ethanol is seen as the better option my many people at this time. However, the biodiesel option should be looked at very carefully because it also as many benefits to offer the alternative fuel debate.
Biofuel production is benefiting the US farming community by putting millions of dollars into the industry, therefore this should be taken into account as well.
ecoholistic.com for information, articles and tips about ethanol and biodiesel.
For more about ethanol and biodiesel go to www.ecoholistic.com
What is a Biodiesel Kit? by Joseph Then
With the emergence of biodiesel as an alternative fuel, many people are curious as to how they can take advantage of it. How can this benefit the average person? In many countries, biodiesel is not yet available at the gas station. This makes it more difficult to obtain it. Therefore, other measures must be taken.
This problem can easily be solved through the use of a biodiesel kit. What is a biodiesel kit, you ask? Quite simply put, it gives you the ability to produce biodiesel from your very own home.
How can this benefit you? There are a number of reasons. One of the most important aspects of biodiesel is that it is better for the environment. If you have kids, you no doubt want to leave them in the best possible scenario. If we totally destroy the planet, what will be left for them?
Another huge factor is the costs involved. Some say that you can make biodiesel for as cheap as $.80 per gallon. Try going down to the local pump now days and getting anything for $.80 per gallon. There's a good chance they'll have you committed or arrested. However, this is the reality with biodiesel.
How do you go about getting this magic fuel? Depending on where you live, some countries have it at the gas station. It may cost more there, than you can make it for. A growing segment of the world is starting to make their own biodiesel.
This can be accomplished through a biodiesel kit. These kits can be purchased on the internet or in many different places. With these kits you can stop relying on the fuel companies and start relying on yourself. With gas prices as high as they are, this is becoming extremely attractive to a lot of people.
A new biodiesel kit will probably run you a few thousand dollars. There are several available in the $2000-$3000 range. This may seem like a high start-up cost. However, when you think of the difference between paying nearly $3.00 per gallon and paying $.80 per gallon, it makes sense. It won't take you very long to recoup those costs.
The kits are not that difficult to use and can change your life. Most come with a water heater and a few other pieces. You must heat the oil up to around 130 degrees in order to process it. Without a water heater, this can be difficult.
Finding a source of vegetable oil to use is important also. Most fast-food restaurants keep the oil and grease out back in a large vat. Many times they will let you take it away for free. It's important to develop a relationship with the owner. If you do so, you may be getting your gas for next to nothing.
Biodiesel is quickly emerging as a legitimate contender in the oil wars. It may eventually replace fuels as we know them. You might want to investigate how to get on the front end of this trend.
Joseph will share more about Biodiesel as the alternative fuel and you can also learn more about Biodiesel Kit
An Overview Of The Green Car Revolution by Mike Bartley
For the past years, the global community has been troubled with the threat of the greenhouse effect. While this phenomenon is of no threat to the planet, increased production of greenhouse gases has led to what is now called global warming. The abundance of greenhouse gas produced by the different industries has also increased the warming effect of the greenhouse phenomenon.
One of the most blamed sectors is the auto industry because of the sheer number of vehicles on our roads today. The increasing awareness about the threat of global warming has led car manufacturers to develop and produce environment friendly cars known simply as green cars. While these cars are designed to burn less fossil fuels, one should not only look at its environment friendliness in this way. One should also consider the entire lifetime of these vehicles to find out which vehicles are really "green".
The first thing that should be considered in assessing the "greenness" of a vehicle is the matter by which it is produced. To put things in simple ways, consider the Toyota Prius and the Ford F-150. Just by looking at these vehicles, one would definitely point out that the Prius is the more environment friendly vehicle of the two. This is true in the sense that the Prius is a hybrid vehicle and therefore consumes less petroleum fuel. On the other hand, the bigger F-150, of course, needs more power to drive it therefore more fuel needs to be burned.
But in the manufacturing process, this assumption that the Toyota Prius is greener than the Ford F-150 pickup can be proven to be false.
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid car which means that it is powered by a small internal combustion engine and an electric motor. This electric motor needs a highly efficient battery pack to draw power from. The battery pack used in the Prius is a nickel-metal hydride kind and the nickel used in the manufacturing of these batteries comes from a mining plant located in Ontario, Canada. The mining plant produces harmful sulfur dioxide fumes which harm the environment. In fact, the surrounding landscape now resembles the barren surface of the moon and NASA astronauts are using the place as a testing ground for moon buggies. This shows that while the end product may have a positive impact on the environment, the production is quite another horrid story.
On the other hand, the Ford F-150 is known to be a gas-guzzler. Because of its size, the vehicle needs a bigger engine which consumes more petroleum fuel. This amount fuel being burned means that the vehicle also produces more greenhouse gas than the Prius. But in terms of production, the factory that produces the F-150 is considered as one of the most environment friendly assembly facility. Ford's River Rouge, Michigan assembly plant has a "living roof". This roof is estimated to cover 10 acres and is covered with Sedum plant. These plants have water absorbing qualities which Ford takes advantage of. The Sedums filter rainfall and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen. Aside from this, the facility also harnesses solar energy by using solar panels.
The solar energy helps provide energy to the plant as well as hot water. Additionally, the assembly plant is surrounded by over 100,000 flowering plants and shrubs and hundreds of trees. This shows that while the end result for the F-150 may be a gas-guzzling vehicle, the manufacturing facility where it is made is environment friendly.
After the production of the vehicle, the "greenness" of these vehicles is measured by their gas mileage rating. This means the number of miles that a vehicle can cover on a given amount of fuel. In this sense, hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius are more environment friendly than larger vehicles such as the Ford F-150 even if these trucks are fitted with aftermarket parts such as the AEM cold air intake systems. The number of green vehicles on our roads is increasing and is not only confined to using hybrid technology.
Green vehicles also include flex-fuel vehicles. These vehicles are designed to run not only on gasoline but on a combination of gasoline and alternative fuel such as bio-ethanol. For diesel engines, biodiesel is offered as a more environment friendly alternative. Another technology being developed by car manufacturers is the fuel cell technology. This technology aims to use hydrogen as fuel. The abundance of hydrogen and the absence of greenhouse gas emissions are reasons why this alternative is the most promising green car technology as of today.
After the use of the vehicle, one should look at the way these vehicles are disposed of. No matter how clean the production and operation of a car is, it is not environment friendly if the car is disposed of indiscriminately. That is why car manufacturers are implementing recycling programs for used cars. These recycling programs ensure that the used cars will not cause harm to the environment.
For instance, the cooling agents use in a vehicle's air conditioning unit should be taken care of properly and not be released in the atmosphere. Some car manufacturers reported that they are recycling metals to be used on new vehicles. Plastics used on automobiles poses a tougher problem since these are known to be of complex structure. Nevertheless, car companies are looking for ways to make plastic wastes useful.
Mike Bartley, 49, is a professional automotive journalist domiciled in Irvine, CA. He travels from one state to another to cover the hottest auto shows, racing events and automotive revelations. His penned compositions cover press releases, reviews, and suggestions. Where the auto action is, that's exactly where you can find Mike.
Because the environment is Everybody's business by Benjamin Hudson
The increasing demand for green cars and the growing awareness for the continuous threat of global warming have encouraged dealerships around the country to join the green car bandwagon. And to attract customers these auto dealers are using green diesel cars. More than a dozen of these businesses are found along the West Coast where the biodiesel subculture is slowly conquering the mainstream.
A great number of these clean-diesel entrepreneurs conduct marketing via the internet using their own web sites as well as Craigslist classifieds to attract potential customers, there are also some that display their wheels from streetside auto lots.
According to Steve Ahl, a former recycled-lumber salesman who is currently outfitting his used diesel car lot in Ukiah, Calif., with solar panels, "In 2003, I came out of the closet and became a full-blown car dealer. This isn't the typical suede shoe used car lot operation."
The Ahl Motors TDI Cars has been able to sell almost 700 Volkswagen Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesels together with some other brands like Ford and Honda trucks. It also has stocks of 25 models with price ranging from $10,000 to $35,000. Ahl also said that most of his customers would really want to shift to using biodiesel.
To convert a vehicle into a green car would normally cost as little as $50 or more than $2,000 depending on the modifications that a car owner wants. But no matter how the cost involved the result is worth it since you get to have a vehicle that can run on petroleum-based diesel, crop-based biodiesel, vegetable oil from deep-fryers of fast-food kitchens or how about a combination of the three.
Ahl Motors's models can function on biodiesel after only minimal alterations. Ahl said that starting from the time that oil prices have continuously increased, their sales also took off and have grown since then although it still fluctuates due to the rise and fall of the cost of diesel.
Despite of the fact that the Northern California lot attracts mostly politically aggressive customers that includes Pete Coyote who recently bought a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, Ahl also stressed that there are also a fair share of shoppers who buy because they know that by doing so will enable them to help preserve the environment, which is definitely a good thing.
Whatever may be the motivation that a customer has may it be political or the simple care for the environment, the fuel-efficiency and the longevity of diesel cars would remain to be the key selling point for Ahl's customers.
In some vehicles an odometer showing 100,000 miles traveled may indicate old age for gasoline engine but the opposite is true in the case for diesel cars like Volkswagen TDIs because such figure is a sign of youth. You see Volkswagen TDIs are designed to last half a million miles and are equipped with high-quality VW fuel injection that helps turn it into a fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicle. Ahl said, "I have sold to conservative Republicans just because these cars make economical sense. They're sporty, economical and they go forever."
Last year AutoWeek magazine has tested a Volkswagen Jetta TDI and was able to achieve 49.9 miles per gallon surpassing the 42 miles per gallon of the Toyota Prius. And with or without biodiesel the Jetta TDI hovers around $3.50 per gallon in California. Ahl has customers coming from as far as San Diego and Seattle who wants to replace their hybrid Toyota or Honda with a Volkswagen TDI and fuel it up with biodiesel.
About the Author
Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.
Can you make your Own Bio Diesel? by Alan Stricker
What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is a vegetable oil-based fuel that runs in unmodified diesel engines - cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, and oil home heating units. It's usually made from soy or canola oil, and can also be made from recycled fryer oil (yes, from McDonalds or your local Chinese restaurant). You can blend it with regular diesel or run 100% biodiesel. What are the benefits?
1) National security. Since it's made domestically, it reduces our dependence on foreign oil. That's good.
2) National economy. Using biodiesel keeps our fuel buying dollars at home instead of sending it to foreign countries. This reduces our trade deficit and creates jobs.
3) It's sustainable & non-toxic. Face it, we're going to run out of oil eventually. Biodiesel is 100% renewable... we'll never run out of it. And if it gets into your water supply, there's no problem - it's just modified veggie oil! Heck, you can drink it if you so desire, but it tastes nasty (trust us).
4) Emissions. Biodiesel is nearly carbon-neutral, meaning it contributes almost zero emissions to global warming! Biodiesel also dramatically reduces other emissions fairly dramatically. We like clean air, how about you? Plus, the exhaust smells like popcorn or french fries!
5) Engine life. Studies have shown it reduces engine wear by as much as one half, primarily because it provides excellent lubricity. Even a 2% biodiesel/98% diesel blend will help.
6) Drivability. We have yet to meet anyone who doesn't notice an immediate smoothing of the engine with biodiesel. It just runs quieter, and produces less smoke. Are there any negatives? Of course. There is no perfect fuel.
1) Primarily that it's not readily available in much of the nation, YET), although availability has jumped considerably in the last five years. Commercial consumption jumped from 500,000 gallons in 2000 to 15 million gallons in 2001 to 75 million gallons in 2006. And there's no measure how much home-produced biodiesel there is.
2) Biodiesel will clean your injectors and fuel lines. If you have an old diesel vehicle, there's a chance that your first few tanks of biodiesel could free up all the accumulated crud and clog your fuel filter. But this is a GOOD thing... think of it as kicking up dust around the house when you clean.
3) It has a higher gel point. B100 (100% biodiesel) gets slushy a little under 32°F. But B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% regular diesel - more commonly available than B100) has a gel point of -15°F. Like regular diesel, the gel point can be lowered further with additives such as kerosene (blended into winter diesel in cold-weather areas).
4) Old vehicles (older than mid-90s) might require upgrades of fuel lines (a cheap, easy upgrade), as BD can eat through certain types of rubber. Almost all new vehicles should have no problem with BD. 5) Finally, the one emission that goes up with biodiesel is NOx. NOx contributes to smog. We feel that a slight increase (up to 15%) in NOx is greatly offset by the reduction in all other emissions and the major reduction in greenhouse gasses.
Bio Diesel is a renewable resource using plant materials and can easily be made. to learn more about making bio diesel go to this website. http://juju1722.ariedel.hop.clickbank.net/
Diesel Fuel Cheap by biitra
Diesel Fuel Cheap? Yeah that would be nice just a fantasy right.
Wrong it just takes a bit of work.Bio-Diesel is your answer. It
burns cleaner and has no sulfur so does not require any filtering
To be legal in your tank. Bio-diesel offers fleet operators a safer,
cleaner alternative to regular diesel. Biodiesel is made from
renewable fats and oil such as vegetable oils, through a simple
filtering process. One of the things used to make Bio-Diesel are
soybeans, a major crop produced by almost 400,000 farmers in 29
states. Sounds like a great answer to the high cost of diesel does
it not. Learn more about how to make Bio-Diesel at your place Click Here
Biitra is a former truck driver and owner operator. I know the biz inside and out. I have been on both sides of the wheel. Bio diesel is the answer learn more here Click Here
An Overview Of The Green Car Revolution by Mike Bartley
For the past years, the global community has been troubled with the threat of the greenhouse effect. While this phenomenon is of no threat to the planet, increased production of greenhouse gases has led to what is now called global warming. The abundance of greenhouse gas produced by the different industries has also increased the warming effect of the greenhouse phenomenon.
One of the most blamed sectors is the auto industry because of the sheer number of vehicles on our roads today. The increasing awareness about the threat of global warming has led car manufacturers to develop and produce environment friendly cars known simply as green cars. While these cars are designed to burn less fossil fuels, one should not only look at its environment friendliness in this way. One should also consider the entire lifetime of these vehicles to find out which vehicles are really "green".
The first thing that should be considered in assessing the "greenness" of a vehicle is the matter by which it is produced. To put things in simple ways, consider the Toyota Prius and the Ford F-150. Just by looking at these vehicles, one would definitely point out that the Prius is the more environment friendly vehicle of the two. This is true in the sense that the Prius is a hybrid vehicle and therefore consumes less petroleum fuel. On the other hand, the bigger F-150, of course, needs more power to drive it therefore more fuel needs to be burned.
But in the manufacturing process, this assumption that the Toyota Prius is greener than the Ford F-150 pickup can be proven to be false.
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid car which means that it is powered by a small internal combustion engine and an electric motor. This electric motor needs a highly efficient battery pack to draw power from. The battery pack used in the Prius is a nickel-metal hydride kind and the nickel used in the manufacturing of these batteries comes from a mining plant located in Ontario, Canada. The mining plant produces harmful sulfur dioxide fumes which harm the environment. In fact, the surrounding landscape now resembles the barren surface of the moon and NASA astronauts are using the place as a testing ground for moon buggies. This shows that while the end product may have a positive impact on the environment, the production is quite another horrid story.
On the other hand, the Ford F-150 is known to be a gas-guzzler. Because of its size, the vehicle needs a bigger engine which consumes more petroleum fuel. This amount fuel being burned means that the vehicle also produces more greenhouse gas than the Prius. But in terms of production, the factory that produces the F-150 is considered as one of the most environment friendly assembly facility. Ford's River Rouge, Michigan assembly plant has a "living roof". This roof is estimated to cover 10 acres and is covered with Sedum plant. These plants have water absorbing qualities which Ford takes advantage of. The Sedums filter rainfall and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen. Aside from this, the facility also harnesses solar energy by using solar panels.
The solar energy helps provide energy to the plant as well as hot water. Additionally, the assembly plant is surrounded by over 100,000 flowering plants and shrubs and hundreds of trees. This shows that while the end result for the F-150 may be a gas-guzzling vehicle, the manufacturing facility where it is made is environment friendly.
After the production of the vehicle, the "greenness" of these vehicles is measured by their gas mileage rating. This means the number of miles that a vehicle can cover on a given amount of fuel. In this sense, hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius are more environment friendly than larger vehicles such as the Ford F-150 even if these trucks are fitted with aftermarket parts such as the AEM cold air intake systems. The number of green vehicles on our roads is increasing and is not only confined to using hybrid technology.
Green vehicles also include flex-fuel vehicles. These vehicles are designed to run not only on gasoline but on a combination of gasoline and alternative fuel such as bio-ethanol. For diesel engines, biodiesel is offered as a more environment friendly alternative. Another technology being developed by car manufacturers is the fuel cell technology. This technology aims to use hydrogen as fuel. The abundance of hydrogen and the absence of greenhouse gas emissions are reasons why this alternative is the most promising green car technology as of today.
After the use of the vehicle, one should look at the way these vehicles are disposed of. No matter how clean the production and operation of a car is, it is not environment friendly if the car is disposed of indiscriminately. That is why car manufacturers are implementing recycling programs for used cars. These recycling programs ensure that the used cars will not cause harm to the environment.
For instance, the cooling agents use in a vehicle's air conditioning unit should be taken care of properly and not be released in the atmosphere. Some car manufacturers reported that they are recycling metals to be used on new vehicles. Plastics used on automobiles poses a tougher problem since these are known to be of complex structure. Nevertheless, car companies are looking for ways to make plastic wastes useful.
Mike Bartley, 49, is a professional automotive journalist domiciled in Irvine, CA. He travels from one state to another to cover the hottest auto shows, racing events and automotive revelations. His penned compositions cover press releases, reviews, and suggestions. Where the auto action is, that's exactly where you can find Mike.
An Overview Of The Green Car Revolution by Mike Bartley
For the past years, the global community has been troubled with the threat of the greenhouse effect. While this phenomenon is of no threat to the planet, increased production of greenhouse gases has led to what is now called global warming. The abundance of greenhouse gas produced by the different industries has also increased the warming effect of the greenhouse phenomenon.
One of the most blamed sectors is the auto industry because of the sheer number of vehicles on our roads today. The increasing awareness about the threat of global warming has led car manufacturers to develop and produce environment friendly cars known simply as green cars. While these cars are designed to burn less fossil fuels, one should not only look at its environment friendliness in this way. One should also consider the entire lifetime of these vehicles to find out which vehicles are really "green".
The first thing that should be considered in assessing the "greenness" of a vehicle is the matter by which it is produced. To put things in simple ways, consider the Toyota Prius and the Ford F-150. Just by looking at these vehicles, one would definitely point out that the Prius is the more environment friendly vehicle of the two. This is true in the sense that the Prius is a hybrid vehicle and therefore consumes less petroleum fuel. On the other hand, the bigger F-150, of course, needs more power to drive it therefore more fuel needs to be burned.
But in the manufacturing process, this assumption that the Toyota Prius is greener than the Ford F-150 pickup can be proven to be false.
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid car which means that it is powered by a small internal combustion engine and an electric motor. This electric motor needs a highly efficient battery pack to draw power from. The battery pack used in the Prius is a nickel-metal hydride kind and the nickel used in the manufacturing of these batteries comes from a mining plant located in Ontario, Canada. The mining plant produces harmful sulfur dioxide fumes which harm the environment. In fact, the surrounding landscape now resembles the barren surface of the moon and NASA astronauts are using the place as a testing ground for moon buggies. This shows that while the end product may have a positive impact on the environment, the production is quite another horrid story.
On the other hand, the Ford F-150 is known to be a gas-guzzler. Because of its size, the vehicle needs a bigger engine which consumes more petroleum fuel. This amount fuel being burned means that the vehicle also produces more greenhouse gas than the Prius. But in terms of production, the factory that produces the F-150 is considered as one of the most environment friendly assembly facility. Ford's River Rouge, Michigan assembly plant has a "living roof". This roof is estimated to cover 10 acres and is covered with Sedum plant. These plants have water absorbing qualities which Ford takes advantage of. The Sedums filter rainfall and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen. Aside from this, the facility also harnesses solar energy by using solar panels.
The solar energy helps provide energy to the plant as well as hot water. Additionally, the assembly plant is surrounded by over 100,000 flowering plants and shrubs and hundreds of trees. This shows that while the end result for the F-150 may be a gas-guzzling vehicle, the manufacturing facility where it is made is environment friendly.
After the production of the vehicle, the "greenness" of these vehicles is measured by their gas mileage rating. This means the number of miles that a vehicle can cover on a given amount of fuel. In this sense, hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius are more environment friendly than larger vehicles such as the Ford F-150 even if these trucks are fitted with aftermarket parts such as the AEM cold air intake systems. The number of green vehicles on our roads is increasing and is not only confined to using hybrid technology.
Green vehicles also include flex-fuel vehicles. These vehicles are designed to run not only on gasoline but on a combination of gasoline and alternative fuel such as bio-ethanol. For diesel engines, biodiesel is offered as a more environment friendly alternative. Another technology being developed by car manufacturers is the fuel cell technology. This technology aims to use hydrogen as fuel. The abundance of hydrogen and the absence of greenhouse gas emissions are reasons why this alternative is the most promising green car technology as of today.
After the use of the vehicle, one should look at the way these vehicles are disposed of. No matter how clean the production and operation of a car is, it is not environment friendly if the car is disposed of indiscriminately. That is why car manufacturers are implementing recycling programs for used cars. These recycling programs ensure that the used cars will not cause harm to the environment.
For instance, the cooling agents use in a vehicle's air conditioning unit should be taken care of properly and not be released in the atmosphere. Some car manufacturers reported that they are recycling metals to be used on new vehicles. Plastics used on automobiles poses a tougher problem since these are known to be of complex structure. Nevertheless, car companies are looking for ways to make plastic wastes useful.
Mike Bartley, 49, is a professional automotive journalist domiciled in Irvine, CA. He travels from one state to another to cover the hottest auto shows, racing events and automotive revelations. His penned compositions cover press releases, reviews, and suggestions. Where the auto action is, that's exactly where you can find Mike.
Because the environment is Everybody's business by Benjamin Hudson
The increasing demand for green cars and the growing awareness for the continuous threat of global warming have encouraged dealerships around the country to join the green car bandwagon. And to attract customers these auto dealers are using green diesel cars. More than a dozen of these businesses are found along the West Coast where the biodiesel subculture is slowly conquering the mainstream.
A great number of these clean-diesel entrepreneurs conduct marketing via the internet using their own web sites as well as Craigslist classifieds to attract potential customers, there are also some that display their wheels from streetside auto lots.
According to Steve Ahl, a former recycled-lumber salesman who is currently outfitting his used diesel car lot in Ukiah, Calif., with solar panels, "In 2003, I came out of the closet and became a full-blown car dealer. This isn't the typical suede shoe used car lot operation."
The Ahl Motors TDI Cars has been able to sell almost 700 Volkswagen Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesels together with some other brands like Ford and Honda trucks. It also has stocks of 25 models with price ranging from $10,000 to $35,000. Ahl also said that most of his customers would really want to shift to using biodiesel.
To convert a vehicle into a green car would normally cost as little as $50 or more than $2,000 depending on the modifications that a car owner wants. But no matter how the cost involved the result is worth it since you get to have a vehicle that can run on petroleum-based diesel, crop-based biodiesel, vegetable oil from deep-fryers of fast-food kitchens or how about a combination of the three.
Ahl Motors's models can function on biodiesel after only minimal alterations. Ahl said that starting from the time that oil prices have continuously increased, their sales also took off and have grown since then although it still fluctuates due to the rise and fall of the cost of diesel.
Despite of the fact that the Northern California lot attracts mostly politically aggressive customers that includes Pete Coyote who recently bought a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, Ahl also stressed that there are also a fair share of shoppers who buy because they know that by doing so will enable them to help preserve the environment, which is definitely a good thing.
Whatever may be the motivation that a customer has may it be political or the simple care for the environment, the fuel-efficiency and the longevity of diesel cars would remain to be the key selling point for Ahl's customers.
In some vehicles an odometer showing 100,000 miles traveled may indicate old age for gasoline engine but the opposite is true in the case for diesel cars like Volkswagen TDIs because such figure is a sign of youth. You see Volkswagen TDIs are designed to last half a million miles and are equipped with high-quality VW fuel injection that helps turn it into a fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicle. Ahl said, "I have sold to conservative Republicans just because these cars make economical sense. They're sporty, economical and they go forever."
Last year AutoWeek magazine has tested a Volkswagen Jetta TDI and was able to achieve 49.9 miles per gallon surpassing the 42 miles per gallon of the Toyota Prius. And with or without biodiesel the Jetta TDI hovers around $3.50 per gallon in California. Ahl has customers coming from as far as San Diego and Seattle who wants to replace their hybrid Toyota or Honda with a Volkswagen TDI and fuel it up with biodiesel.
About the Author
Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.
Can you make your Own Bio Diesel? by Alan Stricker
What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is a vegetable oil-based fuel that runs in unmodified diesel engines - cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, and oil home heating units. It's usually made from soy or canola oil, and can also be made from recycled fryer oil (yes, from McDonalds or your local Chinese restaurant). You can blend it with regular diesel or run 100% biodiesel. What are the benefits?
1) National security. Since it's made domestically, it reduces our dependence on foreign oil. That's good.
2) National economy. Using biodiesel keeps our fuel buying dollars at home instead of sending it to foreign countries. This reduces our trade deficit and creates jobs.
3) It's sustainable & non-toxic. Face it, we're going to run out of oil eventually. Biodiesel is 100% renewable... we'll never run out of it. And if it gets into your water supply, there's no problem - it's just modified veggie oil! Heck, you can drink it if you so desire, but it tastes nasty (trust us).
4) Emissions. Biodiesel is nearly carbon-neutral, meaning it contributes almost zero emissions to global warming! Biodiesel also dramatically reduces other emissions fairly dramatically. We like clean air, how about you? Plus, the exhaust smells like popcorn or french fries!
5) Engine life. Studies have shown it reduces engine wear by as much as one half, primarily because it provides excellent lubricity. Even a 2% biodiesel/98% diesel blend will help.
6) Drivability. We have yet to meet anyone who doesn't notice an immediate smoothing of the engine with biodiesel. It just runs quieter, and produces less smoke. Are there any negatives? Of course. There is no perfect fuel.
1) Primarily that it's not readily available in much of the nation, YET), although availability has jumped considerably in the last five years. Commercial consumption jumped from 500,000 gallons in 2000 to 15 million gallons in 2001 to 75 million gallons in 2006. And there's no measure how much home-produced biodiesel there is.
2) Biodiesel will clean your injectors and fuel lines. If you have an old diesel vehicle, there's a chance that your first few tanks of biodiesel could free up all the accumulated crud and clog your fuel filter. But this is a GOOD thing... think of it as kicking up dust around the house when you clean.
3) It has a higher gel point. B100 (100% biodiesel) gets slushy a little under 32°F. But B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% regular diesel - more commonly available than B100) has a gel point of -15°F. Like regular diesel, the gel point can be lowered further with additives such as kerosene (blended into winter diesel in cold-weather areas).
4) Old vehicles (older than mid-90s) might require upgrades of fuel lines (a cheap, easy upgrade), as BD can eat through certain types of rubber. Almost all new vehicles should have no problem with BD. 5) Finally, the one emission that goes up with biodiesel is NOx. NOx contributes to smog. We feel that a slight increase (up to 15%) in NOx is greatly offset by the reduction in all other emissions and the major reduction in greenhouse gasses.
Bio Diesel is a renewable resource using plant materials and can easily be made. to learn more about making bio diesel go to this website. http://juju1722.ariedel.hop.clickbank.net/
Diesel Fuel Cheap by biitra
Diesel Fuel Cheap? Yeah that would be nice just a fantasy right.
Wrong it just takes a bit of work.Bio-Diesel is your answer. It
burns cleaner and has no sulfur so does not require any filtering
To be legal in your tank. Bio-diesel offers fleet operators a safer,
cleaner alternative to regular diesel. Biodiesel is made from
renewable fats and oil such as vegetable oils, through a simple
filtering process. One of the things used to make Bio-Diesel are
soybeans, a major crop produced by almost 400,000 farmers in 29
states. Sounds like a great answer to the high cost of diesel does
it not. Learn more about how to make Bio-Diesel at your place Click Here
Biitra is a former truck driver and owner operator. I know the biz inside and out. I have been on both sides of the wheel. Bio diesel is the answer learn more here Click Here
Sunday, April 22, 2007
EPA Establishes Alternative Fuel Standard by Lisa Ziegler
As part of President George W. Bush's Twenty in Ten initiative that aims to reduce gasoline consumption in the United States up to 20 percent in the next ten years, Bush Administration's established the Alternative Fuel Standard (AFS) that will require companies including car manufacturer's to utilize about 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017.
In regards with this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also established the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the country's first ever comprehensive renewable fuel standard initiative. The RFS program was presented to the public during a recently press conference held last April 10, 2007 conducted by EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator (NHTSA), along with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Here is what the officials of the three government agencies have to say.
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman: "Increasing the use of renewable and alternative fuels to power our nation's vehicles will help meet the President's Twenty in Ten goal of reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent in ten years. The Administration's sustained commitment to technology investment will bring a variety of alternative fuel sources to market and further reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy."
Meanwhile, Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said: "While we must look at increasing the availability of renewable and alternative fuels, we must also continue to improve the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks. As a part of the President's "20 in 10" energy security plan, we need Congress to give the Secretary of Transportation the authority to reform the current passenger car fuel economy standard."
The main objective of the RFS program is to promote the use of alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel that can be abundantly produced from agricultural crops found all over the U.S. including corn, soy beans, sugar cane, and other vegetables. Some of the initiatives, requirements, and other objectives of the RFS program include: motor vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2012 should run on about 7.5 billion gallons renewable fuel mixed with conventional fuel (like diesel or gasoline); reduce the utilization of petroleum-based fuel up to 3.9 billion gallons; reduce the harmful emissions and greenhouse gasses by 13.1 million metric tons by 2012; and reduce gasoline use by approximately 20 percent after the next ten years.
With the RFS program implemented, we might see a Jeep model with quality Jeep steering damper that runs on ethanol or biodiesel fuel.
About the Author
Lisa Ziegler is a 29-year old native of Waldport, Oregon and is currently working as a senior research analyst in a top Automotive Research Consultancy firm.
Bush Pushes Reduction Of Foreign Oil Dependency, Greenhouse Gases by Lauren Woods
US President George W. Bush is pushing his administration proposal which is aimed at reducing foreign oil dependence and decreasing greenhouse gases. This is also aimed at increasing the supply of alternative and renewable fuels around the globe.
Earlier, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the nation's first comprehensive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. At the recent press conference, Stephen L. Johnson, EPA administrator; and Nicole Nason, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, discussed the essence of RFS program which is increasing the use of alternative fuels and modernizing CAFE standards for cars.
"The Renewable Fuel Standard offers the American people a hat trick - it protects the environment, strengthens our energy security, and supports America's farmers," said Johnson. "Today, we're taking an important first step toward meeting President Bush's "20 in 10" goal of jumping off the treadmill of foreign oil dependency."
"Increasing the use of renewable and alternative fuels to power our nation's vehicles will help meet the President's Twenty in Ten goal of reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent in ten years," Samuel W. Bodman, the Secretary of Energy, said. "The Administration's sustained commitment to technology investment will bring a variety of alternative fuel sources to market and further reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy."
"While we must look at increasing the availability of renewable and alternative fuels, we must also continue to improve the fuel efficiency of our passenger cars and light trucks," said Nicole R. Nason, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "As a part of the President's "20 in 10" energy security plan, we need Congress to give the Secretary of Transportation the authority to reform the current passenger car fuel economy standard."
The RFS, as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, mandates that the equivalent of at least 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel be blended into motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States by 2012. The program is aimed at slashing petroleum use by up to 3.9 billion gallons and reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 13.1 million metric tons by 2012. It means that the program is preventing the emissions of some 2.3 million cars.
The RFS is an essential step toward meeting Bush's call to slash the use of gasoline 20-percent within ten years. This could be done by switching to renewable and alternative fuel use to 35 billion gallons by the year 2017. The goal behind the RFS is the promotion of the use of fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. These alternative fuels are largely produced from American crops.
The program is also aimed at creating new markets for farm products. This is also done to increase energy security and promote the formulation of sophisticated technologies to help make renewable fuel cost competitive with the traditional gasoline. Additionally, the program establishes special incentives for producing and using fuels derived from cellulosic biomass. Examples of which include woodchips and switchgrass.
The RFS program requires major American refiners, blenders, and importers to use a minimum volume of renewable fuel annually starting 2007 through 2012. The minimum level or "standard" which is determined as a percentage of the total volume of fuel a company produces or imports, will increase on a yearly basis. For this year, 4.02 percent of all the fuel sold or dispensed to American motorists will have to come from renewable sources and that is approximately 4.7 billion gallons.
The RFS program is based on a trading system that provides a flexible means for industry to comply with the annual standard by allowing renewable fuels to be used where they are most economical. To achieve the goal of Bush Administration's Alternative Fuel Standard (AFS), it is necessary to enforce the RFS. The latter requires the use of 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017. It is nearly five times the RFS target in 2012. The said program necessitates an in-depth study and testing to come up with compatible DC sports cold air intake, engines and more.
Given her background on cars as an auto insurance director, Lauren Woods finds the world of cars to be constantly changing.
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