New Biodiesel Book for Kids
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.12.05
We just got word that a new book about biodiesel for children will be released later this month, called "Have Fries Will Travel". The book is an adventure story featuring "Rock" an eco-rap singer (strangely, this rapper wears a cowboy hat). He buys Tiny, a smelly diesel car, at a used car lot. Rock soon has Tiny running on vegetable oil from Rock's favorite restaurant. With Tiny's exhaust smelling like fries, the two set off on a road trip to encourage others to use biodiesel in their cars. Along the way, they visit farmers growing soybeans especially for making biodiesel. The author, Linda Hempel, can be reached directly at biodieselbuzz@comcast.net. :: Amazon
Did anybody ever answer whether it's energy neutral or better to make biodiesel?
Great story, but what the book is describing is a vehicle converted to run on Straight Vegetable Oil [SVO], not biodiesel. Biodiesel is a cooked product that is more like diesel than oil. Biodiesel is generally added to diesel in concentrations from 5% to 20%, and runs through the traditional fuel tank. SVO vehicles are converted to run on oil, often with a spare tank, as in the Greasecar model.
Frank, how do you know the book is about SVO?
As well, the only people I know running bio are running B99, not B5-B20. Fleets often run B5-B20 (as with Pacific Pride's pumps), but I believe most of the biodiesel around here is B99 or B100.
how can you have more than B94??? dont u havta throw in methanol and lye if you don't go with the (way superior) SVO method?
...and, GreaseCar kits are great, for euros goto elsbett and if you're a candian there's always PlantDrive .
Tiny and Rock should drive their eco-car over to Jane Jacobs so she can teach them about building walkable cities. Powering cars with bio-diesel or vegetable oil is like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.
but what if Rock has a gig out of town that the lightrail doesn't extend to?
This band, the Patiokings, toured in a Greasecar last year. And the lead singer looks suspiciously like Rock. hmmm.
Regarding walkable cities: If you are walking in a walkable city, unless it is car-free, there will be diesel engines nearby.
It is preferable to use less polluting fuels in these engines versus petroleum. Obviously it is preferable to walk or cycle, or take the (SVO-powered) bus, or drive a Smart car (they are all diesels, BTW, for the extra 30% efficiency over a gasoline engine!) when and where we can. Not everyone (yet) lives in a walkable city, or even lives in a city.
Biofuels in appropriate vehicles, made from appropriate local renewable resources, and used wisely, are one practical option on the path to a more sustainable future.
Edward Beggs B.E.S. (Waterloo) , M.Sc. (MEM, Royal Roads)
Co-founder of Neoteric Biofuels Inc. /PlantDrive
Salmon Arm, BC