This summer the exorbitant cost of fuel has been reported on by every media outlet in every medium available. So it's no surprise that equipment makers from automobiles to construction machines receive media attention when they innovate and find more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly ways to power their products and facilities. As green manufacturing and building initiatives as well as the sense of corporate environmental responsibility continue to pervade the industry, RER will look at what's being done by OEMs as well as rental companies to make a substantive impact on the environment.

The biology of biodiesel

Biodiesel is frequently referred to by construction equipment manufacturers and end users as an alternative fuel source to diesel, but what exactly is it and why is it better?

A renewable, oxygenated fuel made from a variety of agricultural resources such as soybeans or rapeseeds, biodiesel's advantage is that it is renewable and domestic, reducing dependence on petroleum imports. Additionally, biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable and suitable for any environment. And, it significantly reduces harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases.

“A blend of 20-percent biodiesel can reduce carbon monoxide by as much as 12 percent,” says Don Miksch, co-founder of Riksch BioFuels. “That jumps to an almost 50-percent drop if a B100 or 100-percent biodiesel is used. Using biodiesel also reduces known cancer-causing emissions associated with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel by 75 to 85 percent. That makes bio-diesel a safe-burning fuel that can be used in tight quarters where emissions are important.”

Biodiesel contains no petroleum-based diesel fuel, but it can be blended at various levels with petroleum diesel to create biodiesel blends. A biodiesel blend is identified with a “B,” followed by the numeric percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend. For example, B20 is a blend of 20-percent biodiesel and 80-percent petroleum diesel. Other available blends include B100, which is pure biodiesel; B5, 5-percent biodiesel and 95-percent petroleum diesel; and B2, 2-percent biodiesel and 98-percent petroleum diesel.

“Here's the great thing about biodiesel: There are no engine modifications needed to use it,” says Miksch. “Bio-diesel can be used in any diesel engine. It should be noted, however, that biodiesel is a solvent and can cause fuel-filter plugging in equipment that has been using only petroleum fuel. But this is a good thing because petroleum diesel fuel can cause deposits on the tank walls, pipes and fuel lines of diesel equipment. The biodiesel's solvent effect will release those deposits and initially cause fuel filters to plug. As you continue to use biodiesel, you'll notice that filter changes will become less frequent.”