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Biodiesel


Some say "No plug, no deal," but not everyone is gonna buy that

This week, the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers found that plug-in hybrids have to be "affordable" if automakers think that customers will want to buy them. People are interested, U of M says, but cost is paramount to people deciding to make a purchase. Speaking at the Business of Plugging In conference in Detroit this week, Richard Curtin, from the University of Michigan's Institute of Social Research, said that at $10,000, 56 percent of the people surveyed said they wouldn't even consider it. At $2,500, a third were "very ... Read more →

Studies Say: a wrap up from the green car front: "Internalize the Externalities," more Sebastian Blanco

This is a particularly busy time for studies trying to understand the impact of green vehicles. Here's a quick round-up: Paul Scott writes that, for anyone to fairly compare driving plug-in ...

Lists? Yeah, electric vehicles get on lists. Hopeful, hopeful lists Sebastian Blanco

Here are five technologies that "could change everything": Advanced car batteries Carbon capture and storage Space-based solar power Utility storage Next-generation biofuels This ...

CleanFlex Power System finds a way to burn ethanol in diesel engines Sebastian Blanco

Diesel engines like to burn diesel fuel. Most, especially older ones, will also run just fine on biodiesel. But ethanol? You can't put ethanol in a diesel engine, right? According to National Corn ...

Biodiesel myths and facts, simplified Sebastian Blanco

It's not an easy time to be a biofuel promoter. Plug-ins are getting all of the automaker and government support, and lingering questions about biofuel's impact on the environment and food prices ...

Biodiesel bike tries to circumnavigate Australia 29 days ago on Autoblog Green

Paul Carter, a best-selling author who previously spent 20 years as an off-shore oil driller, is smack dab in the middle of a 20,000-kilometer (12,240-mile) trip around Australia aboard a biodiesel-powered motorcycle built by students at the University of Adelaide. If Carter is successful, he ...

KU EcoHawks turn 1974 Volkswagen Beetle into a biodiesel-electric hybrid [w/VIDEO] 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

At the University of Kansas, a group of students is working small and thinking big. The EcoHawk students are part of a mechanical engineering senior project that is building small, 1/8th scale ecocars and has also turned a beat-up 1974 Volkswagen Beetle into a biodiesel-electric hybrid with ...

VIDEO: Jay Leno explains his biodiesel-powered EcoJet, races a private plane 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

In a garage full of ultra rare, highly desirable cars and trucks, Jay Leno's EcoJet still manages to stand out as one of the coolest. Part of the vehicle's claim to fame comes from its ability to run on biodiesel fuel, putting out an impressive 750 horsepower and 700 ft-lb of torque at 48,000 ...

Meet the MAX: Homemade biodiesel-powered Lotus Seven replica 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Generally speaking, purchasing an eco-friendly automobile is an expensive proposition. One way to reduce that cost is by going homemade. Such is the case with Jack McCormack from Kinetic Vehicles, who decided that he would love to have fun, practical, affordable and high-mileage two seater under ...

Should I switch to straight veggie oil? What is holding SVO back? 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

We like to answer reader questions with our Greenlings series whenever possible, and thought that Timothy H. had a good topic. He sent in the following question/suggestion about straight vegetable oil (SVO): I have seen several articles dealing specifically with SVO, but not as it concerns the ...

ExxonMobil gives $25,000 to Philly high school X Prize team for Hybrid K-1 Attack 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

For ExxonMobil, $25,000 is not a lot of money. For a group of high-school students working on a 100+ mpg car for the Automotive X Prize, it's a great boost to get their Hybrid K-1 Attack – or whatever vehicle the team enters into the AXP (the press release mentions but does not describe ...

REPORT: Ford's 6.7L Power Stroke to put out 400 HP and 725 pound-feet 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

From the sound of things, it seems that the ongoing power war amongst America's many fullsize pickup trucks will continue unabated for at least the next few years. To wit, the next Power Stroke diesel engine from Ford that we've recently heard so much about is reportedly going to be quite a ...

Beware the biodiesel-ready Scorpion! 2011 Ford Super Duty gets all new 6.7-liter diesel V8 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ford's ongoing issues with its long-time heavy duty diesel engine supplier, Navistar, will soon be coming to an end. The 2011 edition of the Ford Super Duty pickups will get an all-new, in-house designed diesel V8 code-named Scorpion. So, now, if Ford has any durability issues with its big ...

DOE invests $300 million in clean fuels, including one lonely hydrogen station 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

What does it cost to displace 38 million gallons of petroleum per year? According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), almost $300 million. That's the amount that DOE head Steven Chu announced last week would go from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into buying about 9,000 ...

GM will have first factory-certified B20 diesels vehicles next spring 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

One of several interesting little surprises to come out of this week's GM product technology showcase was the upgraded 6.6-liter Duramax V8. Unfortunately, the 4.5-liter diesel developed for the light duty applications remains on the shelf for now, but the big diesel is getting a significant ...

VIDEO: SunEco and JB Hunt test algae biodiesel, 82% particulate reduction 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

SunEco Energy has been working with partner Global ReNergy Systems for several years to develop algae biodiesel and the company has been operating a pilot facility in Chino, California for two years. During this time, the company has been growing algae in open ponds and has had 18 harvests. ...

Kid Rock's new beer means biodiesel is bad ass 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Kid Rock isn't exactly your average environmentalist. Still, the Michigan rocker is pulling a Daryl Hannah with his new American Badass Beer, which just went on sale in the Mitten State. What's unusual about the brew is that it's made, in part, using biodiesel. The beer is brewed by Michigan ...

DOE readies $85 billion for algal and advanced biofuels 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

The DOE is getting ready to spend $85 billion on research to create biofuels made from algae and other advanced techniques. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will be made available "for the development of algae-based biofuels and advanced, infrastructure-compatible biofuels" that can ...

Is Exxon making a real, $600 million biofuel shift? 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Money talks, but how can we know what it's saying? Exxon Mobil is investing $600 million into a 5- to 6-year algae biofuel project with biotech company Synthetic Genomics. The biofuel will be made from "sunlight, water and waste carbon dioxide by photosynthetic pond scum," writes the New York ...

A truly renewable vehicle comes to the Philippines: coconut oil-fueled bamboo taxi 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Making powertrains more efficient is only one part of reducing the environmental impact of vehicles. The energy required to mine and process raw materials into the components that comprise a vehicle and then transport it to the end customer can often amount to a significant fraction of the ...

Virent Energy Systems wins Presidential Green Chemistry award for efficient biofuel process 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Virent Energy Systems, a biofuel company based in Madison, Wisconsin, has received a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award for its low-energy water-based process for producing fuels. Using its proprietary BioForming process that uses nearly zero outside energy other than what's generated by ...

Drive your green vehicle at Laguna Seca during Refuel 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ever wanted to take your green vehicle to a world-renowned race track, show it off to the masses and maybe even try a little race-against-the-clock action? Well, soon you can. On July 19th, Speed Ventures is presenting a day at Laguna Seca for owners, builders and manufacturers of ...

German test with certified biodiesel shows great results 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

A recent test in Germany attempted to test claims by Neste that its biodiesel is sustainable. The tests involved 14 Daimler vehicles, DHL, the German Post, OMV and the Stuttgart bus company. The test involved about one million kilometers driven with NExBTL biodiesel that were produced from ...

Toyota to invest in Philipines jatropha bio-diesel plant 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Except in Europe, Toyota has shown little interest in diesel powerplants for anything but the Land Cruiser. Toyota even canceled plans to add a diesel engine to the U.S. Tundra pickup truck. But, a division of Toyota is currently in negotiations with the Philippine government for an investment in a ...

French groups argue against using the term "biofuels" 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

The French Federation of Bio Agriculture (FNAB) is currently lobbying the French senate to forbid using the prefix "bio" when referring to fuels made from plant matter. Bear in mind that, in France, E85 is called bioéthanol and then there's biodiesel. The reason for the suggestion is a recent ...

What is the difference between biodiesel and SVO? 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

if you're used to filling up your car with standard gasoline, the difference between biodiesel and straight vegetable oil (SVO, but it also has other names) might be a clear as mud. Here's a cheat sheet. Important Point #1: SVO: is pure vegetable oil, just like what you use to cook with. ...

TransAtlas: a new and interactive map for alt-fuel hunters, policymakers 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ever wondered where all the biodiesel drivers are? Or how about where to find the most corn ethanol is made? Questions like these can be answered over at TransAtlas, a new project by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). While good old Joe Internet can ...

Bloom is off the biodiesel rose: Berkeley says "no" to soy biofuel 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Often in the lead in progressive causes, the City of Berkeley started using biodiesel in more than 100 city vehicles six years ago. For a while, the biofuel came from recycled waste grease and everyone was happy. The source shifted to crop soybeans when not enough grease could be found but, due to ...

Biodiesel's water footprint? 14,000 liters per liter of biofuel 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

We recently heard that, according to one group of researchers at Environmental Science & Technology magazine, corn ethanol has a water cost of 50 gallons per mile. Now, a team working from the University of Twente in the Netherlands has calculated the water cost of ethanol and other biofuels ...

Obama responds to governors' biofuels concerns 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Presidents and biofuels. Seems to be a theme today. Back in February, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition sent a letter to President Obama asking for a stronger ethanol position, specifically asking that the national blend be increased to E13 and that the government consider promoting the ...

Jay Leno takes EcoJet out for a spin (w/VIDEO) 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Now that Jay Leno's retired from his duties hosting The Tonight Show, he may find himself with a bit more time on his hands to devote to his many automotive passions. Jay often leans towards the green end of the interesting vehicle spectrum, and that tradition looks secure as the comedian has ...

Homebrewing not the only danger in making biodiesel: plant catches fire in Minnesota 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

We talked about the uncommon but still serious cases of fires caused by biodiesel enthusiasts making the biofuel in their back yard just the other day. Even at industrial facilities, though, making fuel isn't exactly safe, and a fire at the Minnesota Soybean Processors Plant in Brewster, Minnesota ...

Money's not there for flex-fuel and other advanced technologies, automakers say 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Here's the thing: American automakers used to fully support E85-capable (aka flex-fuel) vehicles. With a few cheap additions to a standard engine ($100, or thereabouts), a car could get a special badge, drink corn (where available) and get the automaker a bit of goodwill, especially from ...

No Brainer of the Day: Making biodiesel at home is dangerous 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

While fuel prices are nothing like they were last summer (but they are climbing), there are still plenty of reasons to want to make your own biodiesel. Homebrew biodieselers are, on the whole, a careful bunch and there are plenty of classes available to make sure your mixing of vegetable fat, lye ...

MINI asks drivers to hang up the keys and not drive on June 5th 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

If you're a Mini owner or an enthusiast, why not leave your car in the garage on June 5th? This may sound unusual for a car company, but its exactly what Mini is asking. The company has named that day, "Let's not motor day," although the official name, courtesy of the UN, is World Environment Day. ...

50 gallons per mile?!? That's the water cost of corn-based ethanol 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

The nail in the coffin of corn-based ethanol might be made of water. The magazine Environmental Science & Technology has published an article that pegs the amount of water needed to make enough corn ethanol to move a vehicle one mile at 50 gallons. That's pretty high. ES&T calculated the ...

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