The way I figured it, there was no point in getting an alternative fuel vehicle unless I could be confident of finding fuel for it. The other advantage of BioDiesel is that, potentially, the price will remain lower than that of gasoline. The raw material cost of BioDiesel from waste oil is about $1.10 a gallon. The raw material cost for new oil is about $1.80 after a rebate from the IRS. Taxes and processing expenses still add into that, but the end result is that the price for B99 BioDiesel should stay stable at about $2.70 a gallon while the price of gasoline fluctuates with market volatility in the $3-$5 range.
Since BioDiesel is a renewable resource produced domestically on a pretty small, localized basis — you can even make it yourself fairly easily — there shouldn't be the kinds of problems we've seen recently with petroleum, so the price can be counted on to stay the same or even go down as production increases and becomes more efficient. Another major consideration is gas mileage. A 20% mix of BioDiesel has been found to increase overall engine efficiency and fuel mileage by around 15%.
Plus diesel engines generally get better gas mileage than gas-burning equivalents. Diesel mileage increases over time, but mileage figures in the 21-25 mpg range are not unheard of when using B20 fuel, and that's pretty good for a large truck. BioDiesel also causes a lot less pollution. With the efficiency of modern engines the emission levels from BioDiesel are really remarkable. BioDiesel produces significantly lower levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter and completely eliminates the sulfur dioxide produced by petroleum products.
According to the EPA the overall environmental impact of BioDiesel was 50% less than that of PetroDiesel. Finally, BioDiesel is a renewable resource. We're not going to run out and we can always make more - plus it can help revitalize our agricultural economy.
So I went and bought the truck. It wasn't cheap. The Diesel engine adds about $5000 to the total cost of the vehicle. Almost as expensive were the features my wife thought a 'family' truck ought to have. I'd been planning to strip it down to the bones and keep the price low, but as it turned out, once we added things like automatic windows and door locks, the whole package ended up being several thousand dollars more than I'd planned to spend.
Fortunately my old Nissan Frontier has held its value really well and I was able to get a better price for it than I'd ever expected, plus I found a way to qualify for an extra $1300 in rebates from Dodge, bringing the total price a bit closer to my target. Nonetheless, it's still the most expensive vehicle I've ever bought, so it's a good thing Diesel engines just about last forever, since I may have to drive it that long to justify the cost.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mark Saleski
either an old mercedes or maybe volkswagon running biodiesel is my next move.
by hey, don't dump on my cooper, man. chicks dig it!
2 - Dave Nalle
Chicks dig your Cooper because only chicks can FIT in the damned thing. Drive an EcoTruck like a man, dammit!
Dave
3 - J Baustian
I had not heard of the Dodge "Contractor's Special" diesel hybrid truck before -- sounds interesting, and probably the wave of the future for pickups of all sizes.
I read yesterday that 38% of all VW Jettas sold in April were the turbo direct-injection diesels (TDI), and over 40% of the VW New Beetles. The author referred to a Volvo diesel -- AFAIK there haven't been any Volvo diesel cars sold in the US in more than 20 years. Maybe he was thinking of Mercedes-Benz?
The author says B20 can increase fuel mileage by 15%, compared to regular #2 diesel. I believe this is incorrect -- biodiesel burns clean but has slightly less energy (BTU's) per gallon, so gets slightly worse fuel mileage than regular diesel. (E85 ethanol gets much worse fuel mileage than regular gasoline.)
4 - Dave Nalle
I had not heard of the Dodge "Contractor's Special" diesel hybrid truck before -- sounds interesting, and probably the wave of the future for pickups of all sizes.
If they could get off their butts and start manufacturing and selling it to a more general market, I agree.
AFAIK there haven't been any Volvo diesel cars sold in the US in more than 20 years. Maybe he was thinking of Mercedes-Benz?
We do have an international audience here at BC, but I ought to have also mentiond Mercedes.
The author says B20 can increase fuel mileage by 15%, compared to regular #2 diesel. I believe this is incorrect -- biodiesel burns clean but has slightly less energy (BTU's) per gallon, so gets slightly worse fuel mileage than regular diesel. (E85 ethanol gets much worse fuel mileage than regular gasoline.)
I was just reporting my personal observations comparing burning 20 gallons of PetroDiesel and 20 gallons of B20. But It's born out by others who have done similar tests and come up with similar results. Apparently the falloff in mileage comes with higher mixes of BioDiesel.
Dave
5 - Mark Saleski
well, my last vehicle was a full size 4wd chevy k1500. fun to drive (in a different sort of way) but i never missed it after take the big "step down".
6 - Dave Nalle
Going from that to a Cooper is quite a change.
I test drove the Chevy equivalent of my new truck including the hybrid version, and it wasn't even close to comparable as far as the quality of design and engineering. The interior is particularly unappealing, just about as bad as the horrible Ford F150.
Dave
7 - Mark Saleski
i really loved the chevy. we still have it, but use it for stuff like trips to the lumber yard.
8 - Lono
Dave Nalle - this will be the first time we have agreed on anything. That was a great piece. I too have a diesel (Ford F-250 Powerstroke Superduty). I very much want to run Bio-diesel but there is none in South metro Denver. Denver is getting closer to making biodiesel a real alternative, as the mayor ordered all Denver school buses to switch over to Biodiesel.
I hope to be switched over full time to biodiesel sometime in the next year or so. It has all the advantages:
it is cheaper
it is cleaner
you are giving money to farmers instead of terrorists!
As soon as I can get my hands on it in South Metro Denver I will drop a line here.
9 - Lono
Oh, another thing. Biodiesel doesn't run well in the Winter... but neither does Diesel. Diesel solidifies around the zero mark. Something for folks to be very aware of in colder climates. That is why diesels have plugs coming out of the grill.
10 - Dave Nalle
That winter business may be why it hasn't taken off yet in Denver. Not so much of an issue here in Austin. But mine does have the plug for plugging the warmer into the garage outlet.
I do have some good news for you on that front, Lono. One of the companies which I contacted for some info on the production end is in the Denver area. They're a large scale manufacturer and wholesaler, but can retail outlets be far behind?
Dave
11 - Bliffle
Sounds like a nice truck. But does it have wing windows? My 32 year old truck does. Nothing beats blasting down the highway with the wing window reversed open, providing Gods Own Airconditioning, left fist wrapped around the wing window pillar. Especially nice if you have a guffers knob on the (non-power) steering wheel. In The Old Days I used to have a Lucky Strike hanging from the corner of my mouth and the pack rolled up in the sleeve of my T-shirt.
Now that's a Real Truck! Sometimes I let young Framer Dave drive it out of the driveway so he can back his uninteresting behemoth in. Makes me feel good to see the Kid get a big thrill.
12 - JR
Dave Nalle: Chicks dig your Cooper because only chicks can FIT in the damned thing. Drive an EcoTruck like a man, dammit!
Why would a man want to drive anyone but chicks around in his car?
13 - Dave Nalle
JR, if that's 'chicks' plural then where can you put the man in the Cooper? And if the man is any larger than a chick himself, where's he going to go in that tiny thing even when there aren't chicks in it?
Dave
14 - Mark Saleski
dave, the perfect cd for this article.
15 - Dave Nalle
I love the band name, but having sampled a few tracks on iTunes I have to say the music doesn't live up to the name, though it is truly irritating.
Dave
16 - Maurice
Interesting read. How large is your gas.. er I mean BioDiesel tank? Have you looked into getting a larger tank - either replacing the original or getting the dreaded in-bed-refill-tank?
17 - Dave Nalle
The truck already comes with a 34 gallon tank, which is about all you'd want. I've already seen people who've done analysis of the significant difference in gas mileage based on driving with an empty tank and a full tank because 34 gallons of fuel is heavy enough to actually alter GVW enough to impact gas mileage.
Dave
18 - Maurice
I looked into it because I have a '99 Dodge 2500 with the V10. When I have the slide in camper on it and then hook up the trailer I am down to 6.7 mpg with only a 30 gallon tank.
Maybe it is time for me to upgrade to the eco groovy BioDiesel.....
19 - Dave Nalle
The V10 is inherently way less gas efficient than the V6 diesel, and ironically it's also less powerful. Diesel burns at a 75% higher rate of efficiency than gas, so it really kicks some butt as far as power goes.
That camper likely costs you as well. I saw someone with the same truck today who had replaced the back gate with an aerodynamic after-market version which lets wind pass through. I'm curious how much that helps with the mileage.
Dave
20 - Lono
We must Must end this myth here and now. Removing your tailgate or leaving it down does NOT give you better mileage. It actually hurts mileage by creating drag. The car guy's tested this (they are MIT grads) and it was also tested and demonstrated on Mythbusters.
Sorry, this is unrelated to the thread but I had to drop that off. I am definately hoping to see retail outlets with Biodiesel. I know you can brew it at home, but that is too much trouble and my wife would shoot me.
Another thing for you diesel folks, there is a most excellent site called Diesel stop (www.dieselstop.com) that has a great forum questions where you can get answers to everything.
21 - Dave Nalle
Lono, some easy research brought me to the same conclusion about the tailgate. Apparently the whole bed is in the shadow of the cab, so the point is moot.
Where do you live? Biodiesel is popping up everywhere.
Dave
22 - Lono
Parker, Colorado... which is basically south Metro Denver.
23 - Michael J. West
Big Ass Truck is a good band name, but in this case, Dave, I would recommend "Jesus Chrysler Supercar."
24 - Dave Nalle
I'm not sure that Jesus Chrysler Supercar would be appropriate given my general relationship with the 'son of man' and his minions.
And Lono, Colorado is going to be a BioDiesel paradise before you know it.
Here's a list of biodiesel retailers in Colorado. There are 4 or so in the Denver area, including one selling B100.
Dave
25 - Jet in Columbus
My compliments Dave. I have absolutely no hope of every owning one, but your article held my interest all the way through! (If only to see if you were going to give up and buy one of Willie Nelson's old tour busses out of frustration)
Nice writing
Jet