Alternative Fuels - Biodiesel and Electric
With our ecosystem at stake, there is a need for making our vehicles eco-friendly
We see thousands of companies switching to alternative-fueled vehicles, the demand is high but what alternative fuels are out there? The biofuels industry has stepped up to the high demand for sustainability and a range of schemes has grown to support the claims. With our ecosystem at stake, manufacturers are coming up with new ideas for making our vehicles eco-friendly. We will have a closer look at what fuels are available and also cover a few companies who are leading in the UK.
Biodiesel
Our first subject is one of the most common alternative fuel of all. It is compatible with existing diesel engines and distribution infrastructure, making this an outstanding alternative fuel. Biodiesel’s physical properties are similar to those of petroleum diesel, it is clean-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, improves air quality and the environment, and provides safety benefits. But where does it come from?
It can be produced from vegetable oils, recycled restaurant grease, animal fat etc. These oils contains highly reacting lipids, the base of biodiesel. As you can see, these can be found in our everyday life, and producing biodiesel gives us a chance to recycle the oils we use in our daily life, avoiding hazardous disposal. Biodiesel meets both the biomass-based diesel and overall advanced biofuel requirements of RTFC (Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates).
Improving Air Quality
Using biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 74% compared with petroleum diesel according to an analysis by the US-based Argonne National Laboratory. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology in diesel vehicles reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to near-zero levels, making this possible. The criteria emissions from engines using diesel fuel are comparable to those from biodiesel blends.
Using biodiesel reduces life cycle emissions because carbon dioxide released from biodiesel combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed from growing soybeans or other oils used to produce the fuel. Air quality benefits of biodiesel are roughly consistent with the amount of biodiesel in the blend.
Engine Operation and Safety
Biodiesel improves fuel lubricity and raises the cetane (C16H34) number of the fuel. Diesel engines depend on the lubricity of the fuel to keep moving parts from wearing prematurely. Biodiesel can increase fuel lubricity to diesel fuels at blend levels as low as 1%. Before using biodiesel, check your engine’s original equipment manufacturer’s recommendations to determine what blend is optimal for your vehicle. Biodiesel is a liquid fuel often referred to as B100 or neat biodiesel in its pure, unblended form.
Like petroleum diesel, biodiesel is used to fuel compression-ignition engines. In its pure form biodiesel causes far less damage than petroleum diesel if spilled or released to the environment. It is also less flammable. The flashpoint for biodiesel is higher than 130°C, compared with about 52°C for petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is safe to handle, store, and transport.
Vehicles using biodiesel
If you are wondering whether you can use biodiesel in a regular diesel engine, the general answer is: yes! (Before you do, always check with the manufacturer’s recommendation). It is one of the major advantages of using biodiesel in a diesel engine without negative impacts to operating performance. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel for heavyweight vehicles that does not require any special injection or storage modifications. Biodiesel and regular diesel vehicles are the same, although light-, medium-, and heavy-duty diesel vehicles are not technically alternative fuel vehicles, almost all are capable of running on biodiesel blends.
The most common biodiesel blend is B20, which ranges from 6% to 20% biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel. However, B5 (a biodiesel blend of 5% biodiesel, 95% diesel) is also commonly used in fleet vehicles.
Biodiesel raises the cetane number of the fuel and improves fuel lubricity. A higher cetane number means the engine is easier to start and reduces ignition delay. Diesel engines depend on the lubricity of the fuel to prevent moving parts from wearing prematurely. A primary advantage of biodiesel is that it can improve the lubricity of the fuel at blend levels as low as 1%.
Is biodiesel legal in UK?
Biodiesel is legal an widely manufactured in the United Kingdom. Anyone wishing to use, produce or sell biodiesel in the UK, or elsewhere, is solely responsible for their actions and must ensure that all relevant laws and regulations are obeyed.
UK biodiesel plants*
*Report from: Overview of UK biofuel producers: input to post-implementation review
Argent Energy
At the heart of Argent Energy Group’s work is to produce second-generation biodiesel with the intention to decarbonise transport worldwide. They commissioned the UK’s first commercial-scale biofuel plant in 2005, in Scotland. The plant has a current production capacity of 60 million litres of biodiesel (around 52 tonne) and uses tallow, Used Cooking Oil (UCO) and sewage grease as feedstocks. Their feedstock pre-processing facility enables Argent to remove impurities from the feedstocks prior to use at the plant, so that more locally produced waste oils can be used. Argent has contracts with UK fleet operators to supply B30 (30% biodiesel) to around 2,000 vehicles (a limited number of buses also run on B100). Currently it is owned by Green Investments and they have biodiesel plants in Motherwell, Stanlow and Amsterdam (Netherlands). See their website for more infoOlleco (formerly Agri Energy)
In April 2012 Olleco commissioned a 16 million litres per year biodiesel plant at Bootle, near Liverpool. The plant processes UCO (Used Cooking Oil) exclusively. Olleco is also actively involved in the nationwide supply of virgin oils and collection of waste oils (as well as food waste from restaurants and supply chains). The company operates 3 UCO processing sites and 14 depots across the UK. Olleco supply biodiesel that meets the requirements of the EU standards. The fuel is supplied either as B100, or as a biodiesel blend (either for the road transport or heating market). In 2015 Olleco acquired Convert2Green, a previous counterpart to Olleco. Convert2Green supplied biodiesel either as B100 or as a blend (down to B10). The fuel met the EN 14214 standard and was also endorsed by the vehicle manufacturer Scania. They also processed UCO, which was collected from food manufacturers, caterers, restaurants and local authorities across the UK, as well as a number of Household Waste Recycling Centres.
See their website for more infoGreenergy
Located at Immingham, Greenergy operates one of the UK’s largest biodiesel plants, with a production capacity of more than 200 tonnes of biodiesel (equivalent to around 227 million litres). The plant was built in 2007 and was initially designed to process virgin vegetable oils (including rapeseed and soy). After additional investments now it can efficiently process waste feedstocks like UCO. This falls in line with their slogan: Producing and distributing renewable fuels from waste. Greenergy is one of the major biofuel suppliers in Britain. They source their waste oil from across the world and are on a mission to make the fuel manufacturing process as green as possible. Greenergy supplies major oil companies, supermarkets, major fleet users such as bus and logistics companies, independent operators and fuel resellers. See their website for more infoHarvest Energy
Harvest Energy is a member of a British multinational independent oil refinery, the Prax Group. They operate storages and distribute biofuels and other regular fuels. After running into financial difficulties, the Blue Ocean group of companies purchased their plant for around £10 million the following July. Blue Ocean is an independent supplier and blender of motor fuels, with operations in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France and the Baltics. In the UK, Harvest Energy is one of the largest independent suppliers of road fuels, supplying more than 10% of the UK's road transport fuel requirements. The company supplies fuels to a diverse commercial base of customers including national supermarket chains (including Morrisons), logistics companies, bus and coach operators, utilities and local authorities. See their website for more info
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Electricity
Electricity Basics
Electricity is considered a renewable energy source as it can be produced from a variety of energy sources. This incudes nuclear energy, natural gas, coal, wind and solar energy and hydropower. It can be stored as hydrogen or in batteries. Electric vehicles or EVs comes as a collective term for both hybrid (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles. They are capable of drawing electricity and storing the energy in their batteries. A new technology is fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). This technology is yet to become widely accessible, but unlike regular EVs, FCEVs generate electricity from hydrogen onboard the vehicle. To summarise, using electricity to power vehicles can have significant energy security and emissions benefits.
Main types of Evs:
PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles)
This type of hybrid electric car runs on electricity as well as petrol or diesel. They have both petrol engine and cable-rechargeable batteries. Manufacturers come up with different engineering solutions to optimize vehicles to rely more on electricity and less petrol.
PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles)
2. HEV (hybrid electric vehicles)
HEVs are fueled with liquid fuels, like gasoline, but use small batteries to recapture energy otherwise lost during braking (ultimately boosting fuel economy).
HEV (hybrid electric vehicles)
3. BEV (battery-electric vehicles)
All-electric vehicles, also referred to as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine.
BEV (battery-electric vehicles)
4. FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicles)
These electric vehicle uses fuel cells sometimes combined with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power it’s onboard electric motor. Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles that emit only water and heat. This is made possible by the fuel cells in the vehicles that generates electricity generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. This technology is not widely available but is a promising new aspect.
FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicles)
Charging your EV
Many EV owners choose to do the majority of their charging at home (or at fleet facilities, in the case of commercially owned fleets) where the cost to charge is typically lower than at public chargers. Some companies provide access to charging the vehicle at the workplace. The number of public charging infrastructure is increasing across the UK to satisfy the growing trend of using EVs providing drivers with the convenience, range, and confidence to meet their transportation needs. All forms of electric vehicles can help improve fuel economy, lower fuel costs, and reduce emissions.
Public charging stations are not as well-known as gas stations. Although there is a rapid growth in charging equipment providers, to find the nearest charging point in the network of public charging stations can be a tricky task.
For this we recommend downloading apps like ZapMap, an app designed to find a charge point near you.
Did you know you can earn up to £1000 per year tax-free by renting out your charging point? Visit JustPark to find out more info on how you can do this.
Summary
Emissions and Batteries
Both electric and hybrid vehicles have significant emissions benefits over traditional vehicles. All-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, and PHEVs produce no tailpipe emissions when operating in all-electric mode. The advanced batteries in electric vehicles are designed for extended life but will wear out eventually. Several manufacturers of electric vehicles are offering 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranties. Today’s batteries may last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates (8 to 12 years in extreme climates).
Check with your dealer for model-specific information about battery life and warranties. Although manufacturers have not published pricing for replacement batteries, some are offering extended warranty programs with monthly fees. If the batteries need to be replaced outside the warranty, it may be a significant expense. Battery prices are expected to decline as battery technologies improve and production volumes increase.
All-Electric Vehicles
All-electric vehicles, also called battery-electric vehicles, have a battery that is charged by plugging the vehicle in to charging equipment. These vehicles always operate in all-electric mode and have typical driving ranges from 150 to 400 miles.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
PHEVs are powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that uses energy stored in a battery. PHEVs can operate in all-electric (or charge-depleting) mode. To enable operation in all-electric mode, PHEVs require a larger battery, which can be plugged into an electric power source to charge. To support a driver’s typical daily travel needs, most PHEVs can travel between 20 and 40 miles on electricity alone and then will operate solely on gasoline, similar to a conventional hybrid.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
HEVs are powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors that use energy stored in a battery. The vehicle is fueled with gasoline to operate the internal combustion engine, and the battery is charged through regenerative braking, not by plugging in.
Electric Vehicles for Fleets
Electric vehicles can fulfil many daily driving needs, making them a great solution for fleets. Learn about the benefits of electric vehicles for fleets and options for charging.
Final comment
Using alternative fuels and other advanced technologies to reduce fuel consumption continues to strengthen national security and reduce transportation energy costs for businesses and consumers.
We discuss this in more detail about renewable technologies in our Driver CPC courses.
Vincent Winfield
Executive Director of NationalCPC
Sources: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/308142/uk-biofuel-producer.pdf https://www.justpark.com/ev/justcharge?gclid=Cj0KCQjwvZCZBhCiARIsAPXbajvCCTlfZmGurgm_XwzSUIvkPzti_HorIOoWAAb3YoYWKNKi5mL-UYgaAq01EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#driver&utm_term=electric%20car%20charging%20points%20near%20me&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_grp=138121486019&hsa_mt=b&hsa_tgt=kwd-304806461728&hsa_kw=electric%20car%20charging%20points%20near%20me&hsa_src=g&hsa_acc=9367384033&hsa_cam=17533941792&hsa_ver=3&hsa_ad=605104584227
