Following a recent article in the LA Weekly, which made alternative fuel and electric cars look very cool, I started some web research of my own. Wow, there is a lot out there that makes it look like we could drive a lot greener then we do, pollute less, and stop sucking on the tit of the big oil companies who just showed record profits at our expense, sounds cool to me. The thing that intrigued me the most was a co-op in LA that sells Biodiesel that can power any non-modified modern diesel car. So I’m in hyper drive with intrigue, and I’m interested in knowing what others know about Biodiesel or the Co-op here in LA LA Land. If anyone is using the stuff can you explain more about it?
Note: most of the answers I have received so far don’t go beyond the minimal web research I’ve done following reading the Article mentioned above, but thanks anyway. I just discovered that it is commercially available NOW here in LA, too cool. Soooo…what I’m looking for are answers form people that are actually driving biodiesel powered cars, and their experience with it, so that I can decide if it is the right choice for me or not.

southwestern united states. Are there any alternative fuel cooperatives that are fully operational, up and running? can you direct me to them?

I am looking to buid a 1 million gallon per year biodiesel production plant in Louisiana and would like info on what grants may be available to alternative fuel manufacturing.

I am looking to buy a car that runs off of biodiesel and ethanol, but I’m having problems finding what cars are out there. I want them made this year and not personally converted, manufactured that way. Can anyone give me a list of what manufactured cars run off of one or the other alternative fuel listed?

I checked on mapquest for stations that produce alternative fuels and I only found one station in south florida that carries biodiesel fuel. That particular station is far from where I live, so how can we get one in our area? Also, do cars need any modifications for this alternative fuel?

On Monday, the Alliance will announce that 1.8 million alternative-fueled autos (diesels, hybrids and flex-fuel) were sold in the U.S. in 2007, up just a bit – 250,000 – from 2006. Both hybrids and flex-fuel vehicle sales climbed while diesels dipped. The Alliance believes that more than 2m alternative vehicles will be sold in America in 2008. Still, 1.8m vehicles is not insignificant. You can download a PDF that lists all of the Alliance members’ 70+ alternative fuel vehicles here. More details after the jump.

Polk reveal a record number of alternative fuel automobiles (AFA) rolled off dealer lots in 2007. In total, close to 1.8 million Alternative Fuel Autos were sold last year, roughly 250,000 more than were sold in 2006. Sales of E-85 capable vehicles flexible fuel vehicles were up significantly as were sales of hybrid electric vehicles. Sales of clean diesel vehicles fell slightly.

Fuel cell vehicles turn hydrogen fuel and oxygen into electricity. The electricity then powers an electric motor, just like electricity from batteries powers the motor of an electric vehicle. Fuel cells combine oxygen from the air with hydrogen from the vehicle’s fuel tank to produce electricity.

The other way to provide hydrogen gas to the fuel cell is to store it on the vehicle in liquid form. To make hydrogen liquid, it is chilled and compressed. Liquid hydrogen is very, very cold–more than 423.2 degrees Fairenheit below zero! This super-cold liquid hydrogen is the kind used in space rockets. The containers are able to hold pressure, but they are also insulated to keep the liquid hydrogen from warming up. Warming the liquid, or lowering the pressure, releases gas (like boiling water), and the gas can go to the fuel cell.
Many people in the vehicle manufacturing business think that fuel cell vehicles may be the technology of the future. They also will need to be made much less expensive.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil (or animal fat) that can be used in any diesel engine without any modifications. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel currently available that has an overall positive life cycle energy balance (3.2:1, compared to a paltry .86:1 of diesel). It is renewable, sustainable, domestically produced, and Oil Regime free.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is relatively safe and easy to process when conscientiously approached. Made from vegetable oil (or animal fat) that can be used in any diesel engine without any modifications. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel currently available that has an overall positive life cycle energy balance (3.2:1, compared to a paltry .86:1 of diesel). Making home-brew style biodiesel begins with the collection of waste restaurant grease that local restaurant owners are generally eager to part with. After collection–which is a greasy, grimy job to say the least–the oil is heated in an appropriate reactor vessel.

Once the oil has reached 120-130 F, it must be filtered to remove any food particles in suspension (french fries, tofu bits, chicken wings, tempeh chunks, et al). Methanol and sodium hydroxide (~20% methanol/volume of oil, and anywhere from 3.5 to 9 grams/liter of oil depending on the quality of oil) are then mixed in a separate vessel and then added to the heated oil once a homogenous solution is obtained. The oil/methanol/lye mixture is then agitated for ~1 hour and allowed to settle overnight. The final step is to run the Biodiesel through a fuel filter to remove any debris that might have made it this far. You are now ready to use the fuel in your diesel car. The glycerin should be allowed to sit for a few days to remove the excess methanol, then it can be used as soap, or it can be mixed with sawdust and composted.

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from vegetable oils and animal fats through a chemical reaction and meeting ASTM D 6751. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with heating oil. It can be used in home heating oil systems safely with no modifications to the fuel tanks, pumps or burners in concentrations up to 20% biodiesel with only minimal precautions (see conditions for use section). For higher Bioheat blends than 20% biodiesel, special precautions are needed (see materials compatibility).

Using biodiesel blends requires little or no engine modification and maintenance costs are comparable to those of conventional diesel vehicles. Neat biodiesel costs range from $1.95 to $3 per gallon, depending on the feedstock and supplier. In general, B20 will cost $.20 to $.40 per gallon more than conventional diesel. For more information, download the Alternative Fuel Price Report from the AFDC.

Most engine and vehicle manufacturers allow biodiesel blends in concentrations up to five percent provided the biodiesel meets accepted (ASTM) fuel quality standards. Biodiesel blends are mixtures of petroleum-based diesel fuels and fuels produced from soybean oil, waste cooking grease, or other organic matter. These fuels may contain biodiesel in concentrations ranging from two percent to levels approaching 100 percent by volume.) To ensure proper quality, consumers should use only biodiesel-ULSD fuel blends that are properly mixed by a qualified biodiesel blender. Consumers should not create their own biodiesel blends by adding biodiesel to ULSD fuel in a vehicles fuel tank.

Using alternative fuel sources is not just a matter of environmental responsibility. It is not just about calming down the little voices screaming in your head. It makes good sense and a solid investment for the future. Although most of us are either ignorant or can’t care less, the fossil fuels which form the backbone of our world economy are dwindling quite rapidly, even as we go about our daily business in our cars. Just look at the rocketing oil prices reported all over the media and you’ll get a feel of how severe the problem actually is. Once the big oil crash happens (like another major war in the Middle East or the OPEC just decides to sit on its oil reserved doing nothing), it will be a huge crisis for those who are unprepared to use an alternative fuel source. There will be a run on biodiesel vehicles, and an even greater demand for electric vehicles, causing skyrocketing prices, and shortages. Although few Americans use an alternative fuel source to commute, those who do are soon going to be at an advantage. If your alternative fuel source is your feet, whether through walking or bike riding, you are already at an advantage, paying nothing to move from one place to another and training your body at the same time. However, even if you can not get around solely on your feet, it makes sense to start planning your life around alternate fuel sources now, before it becomes too late.

In addition, many areas will probably not be adequately prepared to work with an alternative fuel source. There may be no where to even refill your biodiesel cars, and that will make things quite hard. People will have become so used to the convenience of their gas powered vehicles, that they will not be able to really get around this formidable-looking problem. But if you plan your life around an alternative fuel source, you will have no trouble adjusting. The most fool-proof alternative fuel source is your own two feet, but since not all of us have athletic bodies or enjoy walking hours under the sun and snow, the real solution is public transport. If you live in an area where public transportation is already in place, and runs on electric vehicles, then congratulations. I bet that your local economy will suffer far less damage from the fuel crisis. The public transit, driven by an alternative fuel source, will be able to pick up the extra passengers who have been forced to suddenly give up their cars, and there will be minimal inconvenience. If you have an electric vehicle, you will similarly be in a good position, as electricity will always be a good alternative fuel source. No matter how bad the fuel crises gets, the government will know better than letting the national power grid collapse. Therefore, electricity makes a lot of sense.

Glen B. Porter provides readers with up-to-date commentaries at entertainment-resource-directory.com

When making biodiesel, manufacturers usually use huge containers for mixing of the fuel components. Likewise, if the tanks are huge the other equipment used must be industrial sized. There are a number of biodiesel tank mixers, biodiesel tanks, drum mixers, biodiesel processing and storage plants. Energy balance is another important environmental attribute of fuels. For every one unit of energy needed to produce biodiesel, 3.24 units of energy are gained. On the other hand, it takes 2 units of energy to produce a single unit of petroleum diesel energy, and even more for gasoline. This information is not available for hydrogen fuel cell technology; however hydrogen gas steam reforming operations do use natural gas and electricity to make steam, so it’s likely to be high. So, for overall efficiency of energy in fuel production, biodiesel is about six times better than petroleum diesel and even more for gasoline.

The 20% blend level is also required for the fuel to be recognized as an “alternative fuel” under the federal Environmental Policy Act. Biodiesel is slightly heavier than petroleum diesel. Therefore, it is typically splash blended on top of petroleum diesel to ensure proper mixing. Safety characteristics: Biodiesel has a higher flash point than gasoline and petroleum diesel and does not produce explosive vapors, making it one of the safest fuels to use, handle and store. In addition, because it is biodegradable and non-toxic, biodiesel does not pose the soil and water contamination concerns associated with gasoline and diesel fuels. The percentage of biodiesel used in a blend well effect these characteristics.