1.5 million mile study finds no material change in truck performance on B20 vs conventional diesel

In Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association has completed year one of a multi-year study on the performance of B20 in trucks compared to regular diesel. US trucks consume 38 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually. Results from the first 1.5 million miles tested show no statistically significant change in mileage and no performance effects.

The study follows a string of recent conversions in the northeast. Last week, Montclair. NJ switched its 70-plus diesel-powered fleet and off-road equipment to B20 biodiesel. In New Hampshire, Cranmore Mountain Resort has reported that its fleet of trucks, which operate on B20, have experienced no problems relating to the effect of cold on biodiesel, at temperatures as low as minus 20 Fahrenheit. Cranmore is one of two New Hampshire ski resports that have converted to biodiessel. The other is Mount Sunapee Resort, which converted its snow grooming and snow removal equipment to B20 biodiesel. In Maryland, state highway officials said that they would convert snowplows to a B5 blend this season, and expect to convert their equipment to B20 in 2008-09.In Pennsylvania, 500 school buses in Chester County are converting to B20 biodiesel commencing in January. The conversion is the result of work by Moms for the Future; a non-profit energy supplier, the Energy Cooperative; and Krapf Bus Companies.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Brisbane, Australia to trial B20 in 25 city buses

Brisbane, capital of the state of Queensland in Australia, has determined to trial B20 biodiesel in 25 of its metro transit buses.   The move follows completion of a successful two-year trial of bi...

B10 reduces emissions, same fuel economy as diesel, Purdue study finds

A Purdue study has concluded that buses running on B10 biodiesel reduce emissions without increasing costs to consumers. The study, conducted between April 2006 and April 2007. The study recommended B...

AC Transit to conduct biodiesel trial in Bay Area

In California, AC Transit will test two alternative fuels in a pilot renewable fuel conversion program. The six-month program will test biodiesel and natural gas-to-liquid fuels in 22 buses and compar...

National Academies call on US DOE to ensure problem-free use of biodiesel in trucks

A National Academies committee, reviewing the 21st Century Truck Partnership (21CTP), released a report with new policy recommendations for truck fuel efficiency and safety. Among its recommendations,...

Today in Biofuels: First non-grain ethanol plant opens in China; detailed analysis of the US Energy Act; Renewable Fuel Standard could add $170 billion to US economy

Top Story:In Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association has completed year one of a multi-year study on the performance of B20 in trucks compared to regular diesel. Results from the first 1.5 million miles te...

“Water footprint” of biofuels production explored in new study

In Texas, researchers at Rice University released a report “The Water Footprint of Biofuels: A Drink or Drive Issue?”, in which the scientists caution that "The ongoing, rapid growth in biofuels p...