NextEnergy NBEL Accelerates Approval of ASTM Biodiesel Fuel Standard

February 21, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

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Over the past two years, scientists at the National Biofuels Energy Laboratory (NBEL) in Detroit's NextEnergy Center assisted in developing a national standard for the next generation of biodiesel vehicle fuel (B6 - B20.)

The efforts of NBEL and other organizations were rewarded by ASTM International, whose technical subcommittee approved a B6-B20 standard, a critical first step toward standardizing biodiesel fuel and allowing warranted use by vehicle manufacturers around the world, said NextEnergy.

This step precedes final ASTM D2 committee review, which is expected to approve the biodiesel standard in summer of 2008.

The 20% bio content of B20 is a renewable fuel component and a significant increase from the 5% (B5) biodiesel currently on the market; it further reduces reliance on petroleum to operate cars and trucks in the U.S.

Among current alternative fuel options, biodiesel is an easy transition for the consumer because it can be stored and pumped through the existing infrastructure of tanks and fuel pumps, said NextEnergy.

While gasoline continues to be the fuel of choice for most American drivers, the 30% fuel economy improvement diesel provides is expected to give diesel a more competitive position in the U.S. automotive market, said NextEnergy. With the introduction of B20, consumers will also be able to take advantage of this renewable, alternative fuel component.

According to NextEnergy, the ASTM standard is a major milestone in the effort to achieve broad use B20. With an ASTM standard in place, manufacturers can initiate testing of the fuel in vehicles to determine performance, emissions, durability and reliability. When that phase is complete, manufacturers will individually determine whether to support B20 use in select or all diesel-equipped vehicles.

The National Biofuels Energy Laboratory at NextEnergy Center is a consortium project established in 2006 by NextEnergy that brings together a variety of partners and stakeholders including:

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), primary funders of NBEL.
• Chrysler L.L.C. and Volkswagen, automotive partners providing support for Wayne State University researchers to develop improved blends of biodiesel.
• Biodiesel Industries and NextDiesel, refiners of biodiesel fuel.
• Bosch, Delphi, Infineum and Clean Emission Fluids, Inc., automotive suppliers.
• The National Biodiesel Board.
• Monsanto, feedstock R & D.
• U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), representing the largest user of biodiesel in the U.S.
• Art Van Furniture, fleet testing.

"Every day, consumers are seeing a broader array of automotive fuel choices. Biodiesel is perhaps the easiest transition for individuals and fleet operators who want to take advantage of renewable and alternative fuels, especially in the short term," said Jim Croce, CEO of NextEnergy. "The fact that diesel also comes with a significant improvement in fuel economy makes B20 an even more attractive option for many car and truck buyers."

Source: NextEnergy.