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Biodiesel For Fleets
Biodiesel is a cost effective tool when complying with federal regulations. The Energy Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998 allows federal, state and alternative fuel provider fleets who must comply with the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) and Executive Order 13149 to meet up to 50 percent of their light duty alternative fueled vehicle purchase requirements with biodiesel. The biodiesel fuel use credit gives fleets and covered persons, who are otherwise required under EPAct to purchase alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), the option of purchasing and using 450 gallons of biodiesel in vehicles in excess of 8,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight instead of purchasing an AFV. Fleets must purchase and use the equivalent of 450 gallons of pure biodiesel in a minimum of a 20% blend to earn one AFV credit. Click here for a fact sheet about earning EPAct credits with biodiesel.
Biodiesel operates in conventional engines. Biodiesel blends operate in diesel engines, from light to heavy-duty, just like petroleum diesel. B20 works in any diesel engine with few or no modifications to the engine or the fuel system, and provides similar horsepower, torque, and mileage as diesel. Click here for a performance fact sheet.
Biodiesel does not require special storage. In fact, in its pure form or in blends, biodiesel can be stored wherever petroleum diesel is stored, except in concrete-lined tanks. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and teflon. The fuel should be stored in a clean, dry, dark environment. At higher blend levels, biodiesel may deteriorate natural rubber or polyurethane foam materials. Biodiesel also has a higher flash point, handles like diesel and is safe to transport. Users should be sure to verify compatibility with materials exposed to neat biodiesel.
Engine Warranties. All diesel engine companies warranty the product they make - engines. They warranty their engines for "materials and workmanship." If there is a problem with an engine part or with engine operation due to an error in manufacturing or assembly within the prescribed warranty period, the problem will be covered by the engine company. Typically, an engine company will define what fuel the engine was designed for and will recommend the use of that fuel to their customers in their owner's manuals.
Engine companies do not manufacture fuel or fuel components. Therefore, engine companies do not warranty fuel - whether that fuel is biodiesel or petrodiesel fuel. Since engine manufacturers warranty the materials and workmanship of their engines, they do not warranty fuel of any kind. If there are engine problems caused by a fuel (again, whether that fuel is petrodiesel fuel or biodiesel fuel) these problems are not related to the materials or workmanship of the engine, but are the responsibility of the fuel supplier and not the engine manufacturer. Any reputable fuel supplier (biodiesel, petrodiesel, or a blend of both) should stand behind its products and cover any fuel quality problems if they occur.
Therefore, the most important aspect regarding engine warranties and biodiesel is whether an engine manufacturer will void its parts and workmanship warranty when biodiesel is used, and whether the fuel producer or marketer will stand behind its fuels should problems occur.
Most major engine companies have stated formally that the use of blends up to B20 will not void their parts and workmanship warranties. This includes blends below 20% biodiesel, such as the 2% biodiesel blends that are becoming more common. Several statements from the engine companies are available on the NBB website. Some engine companies have already specified that the biodiesel must meet ASTM D-6751 as a condition, while others are still in the process of adopting D-6751 within their company or have their own set of guidelines for biodiesel use that were developed prior to the approval of D-6751. It is anticipated that the entire industry will incorporate the ASTM biodiesel standard into their owner's manuals over time.
• Biodiesel for School Bus Fleets
• Biodiesel for Petroleum Distributors
Support for Biodiesel from the Trucking Industry
excerpt from the weekly environmental news and information program "Living on Earth", hosted by Steve Curwood and distributed by Public Radio International.
"At the largest truck show in the country, that's the Mid-American Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky, 17 percent had tried Biodiesel in '05, and in 2006, 40 percent had tried it. That's quite a jump in one year far as truckers' usage of Biodiesel. Additionally, the largest trucking trade organization in the country, the American Trucking Associations, recently announced their endorsement of biodiesel blends up to five percent - as long as the fuel meets quality standards. This represents a huge shift in policy says ATA's Rich Moskowitz."
Listen to radio show
For more information on your specific OEM comments related to the use of Biodiesel, please click here.
For more information please visit the National Biodiesel board guide for fleet managers.
