January 28th, 2010 4:16 am
The auto industry has really been under the gun for the last 10 years or so due to complex, external forces. Part of these problems have to do with the industry’s lethargy during the 80s and 90s, inefficient practices and bloated vehicle ranges. Due to foreign competition, an increasing fuel price, more stringent regulation, environmental considerations and finally an economic downturn, the industry has been left reeling.
In 1990, the revision to the Clean Air Act specified that fuels become more sustainable and that manufacturers begin replacing petro diesel engines with low sulphur alternatives. At that time, certain states had already restricted diesel engine sales, but this situation is likely to rectify as diesel pollution now slows. However, other factors were also at work and the terrorist attacks of 2001 only served to remind us how we relied on far-off foreign countries for our fuel needs. We must look for alternative fuel sources to satisfy our economic, environmental and energy security requirements.
In modern times, diesel engines and their internal components are much more able to cope with low sulphur diesel and biodiesel fuels. These days, biodiesel fuel is starting to gain popular acceptance and production has grown by 700% over the outgoing decade.
The great recession has considerably changed the face of the US auto industry. One of their big three manufacturers is now owned by a European company, Fiat, and it seems likely that we will see an influx of vehicles based on European platforms and wholly more efficient than what we have seen there previously. In Europe, diesel engine cars are very popular and we can expect to see an increase in this type of sale as well. While this happens, biodiesel, as a reliable alternative will undoubtedly push forward as well. Biodiesel may compare to conventional diesel, price wise, but the former represents a better option for the health of both our people and the planet.
Biodiesel is not an experimental fuel as some believe. It is the only fuel fully certified by the EPA and can be traced back to the 1930s. Auto manufacturers are quite happy to see biodiesel used in diesel engine vehicles as long as the biodiesel is manufactured to internationally accepted standards, and will not void a warranty if you do so. Conversely, biodiesel use is likely to result in a longer-lasting engine as it has a much higher lubricity when compared to petro diesel.
Proponents of biodiesel agree that it does not have widespread acceptance as yet and distribution stations remain relatively scarce. Production of the fuel should interest our army of entrepreneurs as the thought of making biodiesel fuel commercially is well within reach. Those who start off making homemade biodiesel could move up to the production of the fuel in their local regions. Once the task of producing it has been mastered, certification can be obtained from the EPA and the product can be made available to the public. Biodiesel is a superb alternative fuel, and it’s certainly an option which could radically change our impact on the Earth, perhaps more quickly than we might realise.
Tags: biodiesel, diesel, engine, environment, fuel