Veggie Oil Refueling Finally Going More Mainstream
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles 
on 07.15.07
It used to be that filling up one's gas tank with waste vegetable oil was considered a very niche, potentially costly, practice. INOV8, a company based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is aiming to change that perception and bring vegetable oil a little bit more into the mainstream by opening up one of the first recycling and filling stations in the Midwest.
Though vegetable oil is already widely used in several countries, most prominently in Germany, it has only recently begun to make headway in the United States' burgeoning alternative fuels market. This is mainly due to the fact that the U.S. lacks the necessary infrastructure to make vegetable oil a sufficiently plentiful and viable source of renewable energy. "We've been encouraging people to convert to vegetable oil, and when they've asked about fuel availability, we've said, well, get ready to go Dumpster-diving," said Taavi McMahon, a lawyer and the president of a biofuels cooperative in Madison.
Because the government has yet to start tracking vegetable oil as a significant source of alternative energy (it has not yet been included in its Alternative Fuels Data Center), there is little information available by which to judge its merits against other renewable energy sources like ethanol and biodiesel. McMahon, who points out that vegetable oil requires little to no heat processing or energy-adding chemicals, argues that it is "the most efficient use" of crop resources.
Up to now, drivers interested in switching over to a tank capable of running on vegetable oil could purchase $2,000 to $4,500 conversion kits at McMahon's co-op. INOV8's station, which opened its doors to wholesale customers this month, has a half-dozen surplus milk tanks that can filter an average of 5,000 gallons of vegetable oil each day, most of which comes from a local Kettle Foods potato chip plant (almost 3,000 gallons a week).
McMahon hopes to eventually create a veggie oil loop that would benefit all participants: farmers would grow and press their own canola and soybeans for oil, which his co-op could then distribute to restaurants and later collect in the form of old grease. This grease would then be filtered and sold back to the farmers for a reasonable price and used to power their trucks and tractors.
Responding to critics who accuse him and other biofuel enthusiasts of wasting food crops and driving up prices, thus hurting the poor, McMahon retorts that since vegetable oil is already being used in cosmetics and pet food, recycling it for use as a source of fuel is just another "alternative, not a solution." He goes on to say that, "It's a chance to help the rural economy by keeping things local. I just think it's important for people to have choices."
And why not? After all, if this waste vegetable oil is already available and not being put to good use, converting it into a cheap, efficient source of renewable fuel seems like a sound strategy. What we don't want to encourage is the increased production of regular vegetable oil, which does consume a large chunk of food crop supplies, for the sole purpose of then using it as fuel.
Via ::Chicago Tribune: Idea of veggie oil burns bright (newspaper)
See also: ::Converting Diesel Engines to Run on Vegetable Oil, ::Generating Inexpensive Power From Waste Vegetable Oil
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This is an amazing idea. I wish someone would do this is So California.
Yea, right. Let's see them get ASTM certification for the stuff. I'm not saying its impossible, but it will be a surprise if they do. They MUST have this in order to sell it as a motorfuel.
Yea, right. Let's see them get ASTM certification for the stuff. I'm not saying its impossible, but it will be a surprise if they do. They MUST have this in order to sell it as a motorfuel.
Translation: If it's not my narrow solution to all problems (read: biodiesel), I will bash it.
Am I missing something? I was under the impression that waste vegetable oil that was refined for use in motor vehicles IS biodiesel. Am I mistaken? And as far as I know, vegetable oils are already sold in Europe as biodiesel. Here in Spain we have a company called Stocks del Valles that sells biodiesel throughout the country in gasoline stations (admittely few and far between) and their biodiesel is made exclusively from recycled waste vegetable oils. So I am wondering if I missed some important piece of info regarding this article and the responses from some of the readers or if they are the ones confused.
Hey dummy, if you've read any of my posts over the past 2 years, you'd know I am very pro-WVO and think Biodiesel is too energy intensive by comparison. My good friend has two TDIs that I helped install Grease Car kits in. So take your foot out of your mouth, be a man, and apologize.
Now, you do understand that, BY LAW, in order to sell a motorfuel of any type it must meet ASTM standards. Otherwise, YOU CAN'T SELL IT. That's THE LAW. Do I agree with it? Nope. Does that change anything? NOPE.
Hey dummy
Insult = insecurity
Would a 7.3 turbo diesel require a conversion kit yo run this?If so where do you get it?
Houston,
Some people take Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) and turn it into Biodiesel. Then they can usually just pour it in their tanks and go.
Other people install kits that pre-heat straight WVO or SVO (unused vegetable oil) which allow the engine to burn it. So if you heat WVO or SVO up to 150F, most diesel engines will burn it just fine.
These people want to simply collect WVO, filter and dewater it, then sell it. I've seen groups announce this time and time again over the past 3 years I've been involved with WVO. They never seem to be able to get over the hurdle that here in the US, fuels must meet certain standards to be legal. It costs a lot, and is very difficult when using WVO. The reason is, WVO varies in what it is made up of, from batch to batch. Different restaurants use different oils, and cook different foods in those oils. So a standardized test is hard to meet under these circumstances.
Other than that little problem, there is no barrier to entry in this field. So if it were easy to meet these standards, everyone would be selling the stuff. But nobody is. Hmm.... I wonder why.
If waste vegetable oil can be converted to biodiesel, then why aren't there companies in the US doing it? I mean if a small Spanish company can collect restaurant waste vegetable oil from a multitude of different restaurants and process it to meet European alternative fuel certification, which I am under the impression is the strictest in the world, why is it that the land of free enterprise and opportunity hasn't done this a long time ago? Or have they?
Also don't forget about that guy who had a bumper sticker on his car claiming that it ran on 100% vegetable oil and he wound up getting a ticket for several grand. In Washington State, 36 cents per gallon are taxes. When "The Man" isn't getting what he wants he can be brutal.
Personally, I'd love to see people use 100% vegetable oil in their cars, as would the farmers. To bad that doesn't work in my Scion tC. It's not even E85 rated! :-(
Houston,
Maybe I was not clear.
Converting WVO to BD that meets ASTM standards is being done all over the US. Small companies and Co-Ops are having a margin of success doing it.
But this article was not about that. These guys want to go the easy route and simply collect, dewater, and filter the WVO, then sell it as fuel.
Willy, Thank you for your comments. They have cleared up my confusions. And I apologize for any confusion I may have generated.
Houston, no problem. :)
Anonymous, you reacted exactly as I predicted and you won me a beer from my friend. Bravo!
Anonymous, you reacted exactly as I predicted and you won me a beer from my friend. Bravo!
You're as predictable as the rising sun. Look in the mirror.
I know you are, but what am I?
LOL!!!! :D
I'm looking forward to that beer tonight. My friend felt that if you were indeed part of the SVO/WVO community, you'd apologize for assuming what was actually polar opposite to the truth. I said that based on your smug, curt, and venomous post, there was no way you were a civilized person and would simply lash out like a savage, consumed with saving face rather than simply admitting your mistake and moving on.
Oh, and the use of the word "DUMMY" was an accurate descriptor of what you were behaving like in your first post. Not an insult, an ACCURATE DESCRIPTOR. So that makes two times in a row you were wrong. Silly you.
:D
I will ask again.Who sells the conversion kit?If one is not sold.Some technical assistance from a live person would be helpful.By phone if possible.I am not really computer literate.
I've only had experience with the Grease Car kit on VWs. Maybe give them a call: www.greasecar.com
I guess that mirror is broken.
Thank for direct answer.I am not good with computers.
First off I would like to thank Tree Hugger and Jeremy Jacquot for picking up on this story. It's really flattering to see the hard work we've done here in Wisconsin shared with readers throughout the country.
I'm not sure if the article picked up on one of the most important points. The reason why I think this recycling center is so cool and inovatiive, is that it provides residential and commercial consumers an alternative fuel source for heating.
Most conversation today, in regards to utalizing wvo, revolves around vehicles. While I feel that we should stay the course in exploring product development for the automobile industry, it is also important for each of us to consider utalizing this great source of fuel for stationary energy applications.
I would like to make a brief comment about ASTM certification. The certification of the fuel is primarily addressed for vehicles because of warranty. In the case of our company Inov8, we have tested and warrant all of our products for use with these alternative fuels. I believe that consumer demand and support of the use of these fuels can greatly impact the viability of these centers globally.
Love to chat longer but I've got to get back to my customers. Take care all! Matt Fisher/INOV8
Hey Matt,
Have you received ASTM certification for your WVO to be used as an "on road fuel" as per EPA requirements?
If not, are you saying you can sell it as an "on road fuel" collecting all appropriate state and federal taxes, without ASTM certification?
I applaud your use of WVO as an HHO replacement. That is certainly a bit easier, although UL approved boilers that run on WVO are few and far between. Anything not UL approved for residential use may result in the homeowners insurance denying coverage. That means "tweaked" boilers as well.
Don't get me wrong. If you pull all this off, my hat is off to you. But like I said before, I've seen companies and groups come and go, time and time again, making all sorts of announcements, and even going so far as to sell the stuff, only to have the fed or state EPA come down hard on them.
In my version of a perfect world, there would be an ASTM standard specifically for WVO, vehicles that were specifically designed and warranted to run on it, as well as many boilers that were UL residential certified to run on it too (reliably, Omni's seem to be problematic)
P.S. Anonymous, you make me giggle, and that beer was most satisfying! :D
Willy Bio
Thanks for the info.Very helpful.Ordered one to install.Expect it in Michigan shortly.Now it will smell like French fries.That makes me hungry.
Great! Now take some time to set up a few relationships with restaurants to get your oil. Also, read up on building a home filtering system. Best to do all that before you install the kit so you have some fuel to burn.
My friend's first conversion he did before setting up everything else. Made him nuts not to have any WVO to use.
Morning Willy,
The distribution of oil, as far as I am involved here at Inov8, is for non-vehicle use. Your correct about using wvo straight in vehicles as we have so much invested in infrastructure for biodiesel and ethanol. We are extremely fortunate here in Wisconsin to have the local and state level support for these types of green endeavors. Without that open minded forward attitude, I agree, it would be an uphill battle.
I also agree with you about being careful when choosing a companies product, to use these oils as fuels. Fortunately we have a great team here at Inov8 with some great talent working on clean, efficient combustion and product line expansion.
As for the certification of our products, we have our current lisitngs posted on our website, www.inov8-intl.com.
Willy Bio
Done.My friend owns a bar/restaurant.Lots of deep fried health food.
I have collected 4-55 gallon drums in the barn.Loading them into larger container.Time will settle larger debris.Then a sock type filter.
Also using heat to separate after that.Then back through the sock filter.
Thanks for the info.My bronco will run cleaner.7.3 turbo diesel-5 speed manual and 4 x 4.
Right now our oil will be pushed towards Inov8's boilers becasue they have went through the proper epa emissions listing. ASTM or UL has nothing to do with veg oil or waste veg oil right now becasue they have no specs to go by. Nothing has been tracked and even the propoganda wrote about WVO as fuel is tainted. It is hard to create a spec because all oil is cooked differently that is why they use virgin oils as vehicle use and turn WVO into bio. Virgin oils in the U.S is too expensive without the government's help, they have given help to ethanol and Bio-diesel, why not the push for veg oil as adirect fuel, it is less costly to make as a fuel that the others.
You do not need certification to sell the oil, whoever buys it can do what they want with it. We want to work toward a spec and a certified fuel for vehicles but we are way ahead of our time on that issue. I tell anyone who asks me about it the problems they may have with it for vehicles but no problems for furnaces or boilers, it is certified, it is warrentied, and there is insurance for our fuel from more that one company so we must be doing something right.
I cannot imagine that the low wage earners of America can afford these conversion kits. This demographic should use veg oil technology since they cannot afford to live close to their school/work and consequently have to commute the farthest. Of course, the alternative is to pitch veg oil to gas companies as a lucrative business: oil conversion service at the neighborhood gas station that is affordable for everyone.
love all the info on making biodiesel but where would one find info on making their own veggie oil.