Biodiesel Conversions - Lovecraft Biofuels
October 27th, 2006
If you drive a diesel and would like the option of filling up with any of the various forms of non petroleum alternatives, whether biodiesel in concentrations up to B100, WVO (waste vegetable oil) or SVO (straight vegetable oil), you’ll need to convert your car or truck. The problem with high blends of biodiesel and especially with WVO and SVO, is gelling at low temperatures. When your car sits out and the temperature drops, you no longer have liquid fuel. On top of that issue is the problem of fuel system clogging as the biofuel starts to dislodge deposits left over from years of using regular diesel.
Lovecraft Biofuels of Los Angeles, California, is one of the companies that has sprung up for the purpose of helping diesel owners (older Mercedes diesels are the most popular) convert their cars for operation on any biodiesel variation. They have a heat exchanger that warms the fuel to help it remain in a liquid state plus filters to catch the crud before it reaches the injectors.
They are also setting up fueling stations in other cities around the country, so far in Seattle, San Francisco, Berkeley, and Los Angeles with plans for more to come.
Not only will they convert your car but they can sell you a complete car already converted if you don’t presently have a diesel. Looks like they have a lot of satisfied customers, too.
Also see our biodiesel cars for sale page for completed conversions.
Earthrace Biodiesel Powered Trimaran
October 26th, 2006
If you’re going to promote biodiesel, why not do it with something sexy? No, not a Hollywood starlet, how about a 78 foot trimaran with twin 540 horsepower Cummins Mercruiser diesels with a maximum speed of 45 knots and a 3000 nautical mile range? Sounds pretty good in my book.
The Earthrace trimaran was designed to promote the use of B100 biodiesel while breaking the record for circumnavigating the globe by powerboat. They are also taking an 18 month round the world tour stopping at 60 ports of call. The boat is currently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Based in New Zealand the trimaran is a wave piercing design which is necessary when maintaining high speed in all conditions. The result is one of the most striking boats you’re likely to see.
If you want to support their effort, stop by their website which also has a complete itinerary of their tour. If you’re anywhere near, stop by and check it out.
Link: Earthrace
Biodiesel Approved Arctic Cat ATV
October 25th, 2006
Arctic Cat has been working on a diesel powered ATV for some time now and recently began production of the new model. The 686cc twin cylinder diesel engine powering the 4 wheeler is not only approved to use biodiesel of up to a B20 mix but its use is actually promoted by Arctic Cat with a tag on the ATV. The engine has performed very well in all tests and offers great performance.
The 686 cubic-centimeter twin cylinder, single-overhead-cam four-stroke diesel engine provides 30 percent greater fuel mileage and extra low-end torque compared with a conventional gasoline engine. The engine runs efficiently on six forms of diesel fuel, including B20, with a glow-plug pre-heater assist for starting.
The ATV was developed in conjunction with Roush Indiustries.
Link: Biodiesel Magazine
Biodiesel Regulation Battles Begin
June 14th, 2006In what could be the beginning of the end for small scale home made biodiesel, this battle could be the start of many similar troubles. Last November we said the period when home biodiesel makers could gather up used cooking oil without any problems would come to a close as prices went up and more people recognized the value of this former waste product.
In Salt Lake County, Utah, large renderers are protesting that home biodiesel makers don’t have to follow the EPA regulations they are forced to follow. The large companies that use the grease for animal feed say the home biodiesel makers should have the same licenses and insurance they have and now the Salt Lake Valley Health Department is listening.
This was easy to see coming and though this is the first report we’ve seen of the battle, it certainly won’t be the last.
Link: Salt Lake Tribune
Biodiesel Report: Free Waste Oil for DIY Biodiesel Going Away?
Posted in Biodiesel, Biodiesel Legislation, Biodiesel Production, Making Biodiesel
Top Of Page | 1 Comment »Biodiesel From Sewage
May 12th, 2006Is there anything that can’t be turned into biodiesel? A New Zealand company has used pond algae to create biodiesel from sewage. Some groups have been reluctant to embrace biodiesel because of concern over turning vast areas of forest into palm plantations strictly to feed the biodiesel industry, I haven’t heard of anyone defending sewage! If this works as early tests indicate, can you imagine the possibilities here for farmers? The water end product can be used for irrigation, as well. How about small or even large towns producing their own fuel. This deserves some attention.
Of course there is the issue of what the diesel exhaust will smell like …
Link: The New Zealand Herald via Slashdot
Biodiesel Motorcycle for sale
January 28th, 2006
If you want to put biodiesel to work for yourself right now, try this. There’s a biodiesel Royal Enfied motorcycle for sale on ebay. MotorEarth imported the bike last year for use as a demo to show the practical side of biodiesel fuel. They have run the motorcycle on both biodiesel and straight vegetable oil so you could run this bike practically free.
If you aren’t looking for a high performance motorcycle but you think the idea of motoring around on a biodiesel bike is pretty cool, check it out: Biodiesel Royal Enfield Motorcycle
Decoding Soybean DNA for Biodiesel
January 20th, 2006The Departments of Energy and Agriculture are cooperating to decode the DNA of soybeans in order to optimize soybeans for all uses, increasing oil output, disease resistance and enhancing the plants in other ways. The more we know about soybeans the better able we’ll be to optimize their use for producing biodiesel.
Environmental News Service via Autoblog
Battlefield Plastic Biodiesel Research Project
January 20th, 2006West Central Cooperative in Ralston, IA and General Atomics of San Diego, CA have received $3.3 million dollars for a pilot research project involving waste plastics and biodiesel. Part of the Defense Appropriations Bill for 2006, the plan is to take the plastic waste products from our front line soldiers and use biodiesel to dissolve the plastic and at the same time create more fuel. This waste to energy process could then be used by our front line soldiers. The research is expected to take about three years.
via Grainnet
