You may have heard that biofuels reduce pollution and dependence on foreign oil. But what are they, and how can you use them?
Columbia Credit Union is a charter member of the Northwest Biofuels Association (NWBA), a nonprofit that educates consumers about alternative fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol. Here are some basic facts you should know before fueling up.
Biodiesel
If you drive a vehicle with a diesel engine, you can use biodiesel without any modifications to your vehicle or the fuel.
The NWBA says biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel than regular petroleum diesel. And because it’s made from widely available ingredients, such as vegetable oil, waste grease or animal fats, biodiesel can be produced locally.
Biodiesel can be combined in any percentage with regular diesel, indicated by the name of the blend. For example, pure biodiesel is called B-100. The most common blends are B-20 and B-5, containing 20 percent and 5 percent biodiesel, respectively.
Check the NWBA’s website for qualified biodiesel vendors. You should also know that high-percent blends (more than 20 percent) may gel up in cold weather. For the first few months you use biodiesel, change your fuel filters a few times, since biodiesel tends to dissolve sludge that has collected in engines and gas tanks.
Ethanol
Although ethanol has gained popularity as an alternative fuel, researchers are still debating the environmental and economic impacts of manufacturing ethanol from corn. However, while much of America’s ethanol currently comes from corn, it can also be made from other sugars, starches and grains. Ethanol refineries are exploring ways to make ethanol from other organic materials, such as wheat straw, switchgrass and algae, to minimize the dependency on corn for ethanol.
You may be using ethanol without realizing it. Any internal combustion engine can use E10, a blend of regular gasoline with 10 percent ethanol. To use E85 gas, which contains 85 percent ethanol, you must drive a “flex-fuel” car. These vehicles now come in many shapes and sizes, from sedans to pickup trucks to sports utility vehicles.
According to the NWBA, ethanol reduces the emissions of carbon monoxide, which can react to form ozone, and other harmful pollutants.
Where to fuel up
The NWBA makes it easy to find where you can purchase biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol. Locate a participating alternative fuel station near you.
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