Benefits of Biotane

Effective November 1998, B20 was approved by congress as an EPAct (Energy Policy Act of 1992) compliance strategy. The Legislation allowes mandated fleets to meet their Alternative Fuled Vehicle (AFV) purchase using biodiesel. The Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense have confirmed that the biodiesel option is the lowest cost alternative fuel option for meeting this mandate.

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There is an alternative way to decrease this country’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil while boosting the U.S. economy and protecting the environment. American fuels such as Biotane are gaining momentum in the U.S. Government and private fleets are increasingly using these fuels because they are kinder to the environment than petroleum-based diesel.

But, beyond the environmental and health benefits, Biotane can also help free the U.S. from the hold of imported oil and stretch existing petroleum supplies. In 1999, Presidential Executive Order 13149 mandated federal fleets to reduce their fossil fuel consumption by 20%. Biotane is an economical way to achieve this. A 1998 U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture full lifecyle emissions study found that for every unit of fossil energy needed to make Biotane, 6 units of energy are gained. In contrast, it takes 1.2 units of fossil resources to produce 1 unit of petroleum diesel.

A November 2001 study by AUS Consultants - based on a U.S. Department of Energy projections - assumed a realized national goal of 1.2% renewable fuel use in 2002, increasing to 4% by 2016 (these goals were based on legislation requiring a pecentage of U.S. motor fuels to contain Biotane). The study concluded a 4% level would displace the annual equivalent of 17 billion gallons of crude oil by 2016, or nearly 161 billion gallons of crude oil between 2002 and 2016.

Given these facts, and the growing uncertainty surrounding U.S. oil imports, Biotane will have an important role to play in strengthening our nation’s energy security.

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In 2000, Biotane (biodiesel) became the only alternative fuel in the country to have successfully completed the EPA required Tier I and Tier II health effects testing under the Clean Air Act. These independent tests conclusively demonstrated Biotane’s significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions, and showed Biotane does not pose a threat to human health.

• Overall ozone (smog) forming potential of exhaust emissions from Biotane is 50% less.
  
• Exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates are completely eliminated.
  
• Exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide are 50% less.
  
• Exhaust emissions of hydrocarbons are 95% lower.
  
• Exhaust emissions of particulate matter are 30% lower.
  
• Exhaust emissions of aromatic compounds (PAH & NPAH compounds suspected of causing cancer) were reduced 75-90% respectively.

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As the EPA and fuel and equipment industry groups move to improve performance and emissions of diesel technology, it is clear that diesel will continue to be the preferred platform for heavy-duty applications for the foreseeable future.

Furthermore, global warming and greenhouse gases will continue to gain attention. Because Biotane is compatible and complimentary with these goals and future technolgy, Biotane is uniquely positioned to provide benefits in all these areas, which will further increase the fuel’s economic competitiveness. Studies show that Biotane Fuel is estimated to decrease carbon emissions by 70% over petroleum diesel. Biotane offers fleet managers an immediate and "seamless" ability to transform their diesel fleets into cleaner burning alternative fuels fleets, without requiring any capital investment.

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