KK Digs Biodiesel

Kevin Kelly, one of Wired's co-founders, recently blogged about his experience with biodiesel:

"I have been running Bio Diesel in my truck for over a year now. Bio Diesel is basically slightly refined vegetable oil that can run in ANY diesel vehicle with little to no modifications...

"The best part of running Bio Diesel is that no wars need to be fought over it: it's entirely domestic, supports US farming, it's totally renewable, and it cuts almost all aspects of a diesel vehicle's emissions by more than 50-75%. (The exception is NOx which is about the same)."

Biodiesel Filling Stations

Another Wired report on biodiesel, this time on the increasing number of filling stations popping up around the US:

"Biodiesel fueling stations are sprouting like weeds across America, where production of the alternative fuel rose 66 percent in 2003. Experts say the rapid growth of the renewable fuel will stretch the country's tenuous petroleum supply while helping people breathe a little easier."

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"Ron Heck, president of the American Soybean Association, said biodiesel can be blended with regular diesel in any ratio, or can be used as a fuel by itself. 'It has almost the same amount of (energy) as petroleum diesel,' Heck said. Using biodiesel will clean an engine's fuel injectors and cut down on the number of required oil changes, according to Heck. 'I buy it because it's better fuel.'"

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"Biodiesel currently costs between 20 cents and 30 cents more per gallon than standard diesel, Higgins said, but pending legislation may help to make it more economical. In May, the Senate passed a bill that would give a 1 cent tax credit for each percent of biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel."

The Diesel Comeback

Wired, Diesels Rolling Back Into U.S.:

"Auto manufacturers are betting that higher gas prices and more environmentally friendly technology will convince more Americans to buy diesel vehicles, which currently make up 40 percent of auto sales in Europe."

"Most auto manufacturers stopped selling diesels in the United States in the 1990s. But diesels are back, as Mercedes-Benz, Jeep and Volkswagen roll out vehicles at the 2004 New York International Automobile Show."

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"Environmentalists are split on diesel vehicles. While they are more fuel-efficient and produce less CO2 emissions than gasoline cars, they emit more particulate matter and NOxs."