Fuel speed ahead
Hybrid electric: Get you motor runnin’
Diesel: Dirty and efficient
Biodiesel: Would you like fries with that?
Ethanol: Just don’t drink it
Natural gas & Propane: If it’s good enough for BBQ...
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Biodiesel: Would you like fries with that?

Biodiesel might be the world’s only alternative fuels with rockstar credibility. Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson and Jack Johnson have all used biodiesel buses and trucks on their concert tours.
So just what is it anyway? Biodiesel is a liquid fuel made from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil, or animal fats. It combusts better and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional diesel. All diesel vehicles can use blended biodiesel (a mix of petroleum diesel and biodiesel), and many new vehicles can use pure biodiesel. It’s a real alternative in the truest sense of the word.

Biodiesel is good for the environment in several important ways. It’s produced using renewable sources. It’s biodegradable. It produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum diesel.

Now for the bad news. Unfortunately, there are very few places to fill ‘er up with biodiesel. Growing crops to make fuel could displace crops needed for food. And it’s debatable whether or not consumers will prefer driving around in a vehicle that smells like French fries or popcorn.

With this in mind, the future looks bright for biodiesel—at least on a small scale. With public attention being paid to its benefits, investment and technological innovation are sure to follow.

Learn more:
Blog about biodiesel

Willie Nelson's biodiesel page

Biodiesel.org – FAQ

Next>> Ethanol: Just don't drink it

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