Biodiesel Acceptance With OEMS: Part 2

In my previous blog post I shared some insight on OEM support for biodiesel. OEMs are required to meet increasing fuel economy and efficiency standards. It seems that every time there is a new wave of regulations, the OEMs need to further improve their products and tighten tolerances, which then, in turn, requires the biodiesel industry to follow in kind and make sure that our fuel will work within those tighter tolerances and new diesel technology systems.
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/// Guest post by contributor Jon ScharingsonRenewable Energy Group

In my previous blog post I shared some insight on OEM support for biodiesel. OEMs are required to meet increasing fuel economy and efficiency standards. It seems that every time there is a new wave of regulations, the OEMs need to further improve their products and tighten tolerances, which then, in turn, requires the biodiesel industry to follow in kind and make sure that our fuel will work within those tighter tolerances and new diesel technology systems.

In this blog post, we continue our conversation with Jennifer Weaver, OEM Outreach and Education Program Specialist for the National Biodiesel Board, regarding biodiesel testing conducted by the OEMs and what all of this means to the fuel retailer. 

What research is currently being implemented with the OEMs?
From the light-duty vehicle side (passenger vehicles), we are working on oxidation stability of biodiesel blends. The usage pattern of a light-duty vehicle is much different than a medium- or heavy-duty vehicle. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are centrally fueled and burn through a tank of fuel or more in a day. Whereas the users of a light-duty diesel passenger vehicle, may not burn through a tank of fuel for several weeks and the fuel has the potential to age.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is working in a partnership with Volkswagen, Mercedes and General Motors on a biodiesel stability project. The project will explore this concern and determine if biodiesel blends can become unstable or that the ASTM specifications for activation stability are sufficient. If biodiesel blends prove to become unstable, then the current ASTM specification may need to be updated.   

Auto and equipment manufacturers are also designing equipment that is being held to very tight tolerances for emissions and fuel economy. The fuel injector and filtration systems must work flawlessly with both ultra-low sulfur diesel, as well as biodiesel blends. So manufacturers want to make absolutely certain that the vehicle’s going to perform as intended, no matter which fuel their customer uses. The National Biodiesel Board and National Renewable Energy Lab are also evaluating some of the long-term impacts of biodiesel on these new fuel injector and filtration systems. 

Thus far, biodiesel has performed exceedingly well and two automotive giants — Ford and General Motors — came out in full support of a B20 biodiesel blend because they had tested the blended fuel in their vehicles and found it work very well.

What does all this effort mean to the fuel retailer?
I think fuel retailers are seeing more customers driving diesel vehicles, whether they are in the medium- and heavy-duty truck sector or in the light-duty passenger vehicle sector. Diesel vehicles are here to stay and their forecasted growth trend is on a very steady upward climb due to the tremendous fuel economy and durability that they provide to customers. There is also a green movement among consumers wanting to do their part in reducing emissions. Biodiesel blends offers them the opportunity to use biodiesel in their diesel vehicle, while helping the U.S. economy, importing less foreign oil, cutting emissions and keeping green jobs thriving in the U.S.  So I think that the more and more we can educate consumers, as well as retailers, the retailers will see that biodiesel blends are a good value proposition for their travel center or c-store.

 

/// Read more guest posts on biodiesel posts here

{Guest Post} Guest post provided by NATSO Chairman's Circle member Jon Scharingson, Renewable Energy Group. Renewable Energy Group® is a leading North American biodiesel producer with a nationwide distribution and logistics system. With more than 210 million gallons of owned/operated annual production capacity at biorefineries across the country, REG is a proven biodiesel partner in the distillate marketplace. Learn more about Renewable Energy Group.

The opinions and advice given by guest post contributors are not necessarily those of NATSO Inc. The posts should not be considered legal advice. Qualified professionals should be sought regarding advice and questions specific to your circumstances.

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