Alternative Eco Fuels

Although diesel and gasoline are still fossil fuel kings of the fuel supply chain, alternative fuels are now swinging the scale more toward green, offering an eco-conscious fuel alternative for future generations. Most alternative fuels don’t come from finite fossil-fuel resources and are sustainable, which means they are completely non-toxic and have lower emissions that contribute to smog, air pollution and global warming, compared to petroleum fuels. John David Kaweske, founder of Bio Clean Energy, a biodiesel manufacturer, has been actively involved in balancing our nation’s increasing energy requirements, while offering a more environment-friendly fuel alternative. As he explains, alternative fuels such as Biodiesel also have a higher flash point than fossil diesel which makes them safer in the event of a crash.

Currently, there are more than a dozen alternative fuels under development or in production that can power vehicles. For example, biodiesel and biodiesel blends can be used in all compression-ignition (CI) engines designed to be operated on diesel fuel. According to John David Kaweske, biodiesel's physical properties are similar to those of petroleum diesel, but it is much cheaper, sustainable, and nontoxic, plus it does not produce acid rain and it does not contribute as much as fossil fuels do to global warming. Studies helped by Bio Clean Energy have shown it reduces engine wear by as much as 30%, primarily because it provides excellent lubrication. In fact, before petroleum diesel fuel became popular, Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine experimented with using vegetable oil (biodiesel) as fuel. Until 2001, only small amounts of biodiesel were consumed in the United States, but since then, biodiesel consumption has increased substantially.

Alternative fuels can help nations become more energy independent. Switching to alternative fuels is a crucial step towards balancing our nation’s increasing energy requirement. As John David Kaweske explains, producing renewable, clean-burning fuel replacement will decrease our dependence on imported fuel, create new jobs, contribute to our own economy and improve the environment. So far biodiesel is the only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel in commercial-scale production across the country to reach 1 billion gallons of annual production.