We aren’t just going to wake up one day and no longer use oil. It’s going to take a lot of baby steps to get there. Preem, a Swedish oil “giant,” will go another small step towards an oil-free world by offering B15 biodiesel at stations throughout Sweden.
Diesel fuel is more popular in Europe than it is in America, and in many engines it is actually more efficient than petrol. The popularity of diesel has prompted Preem to offer a diesel fuel blend with 15% renewable diesel fuel called Evolution Fuel. The 15% renewable portion of the diesel is a byproduct of the kraft process by which wood is converted into pulp and paper. The byproduct, called tall oil, can be mixed in with diesel fuel to reduce the crude content by 15%. Preem will also offer a 5% biodiesel blend at 366 fueling stations across Sweden. Preem can process almost 25 million gallons of tall oil annually, meaning it can make a lot of its Evolution Fuel. The first shipments of Evolution Fuel are scheduled to arrive in April.
So even while America puts the brakes on E15, Sweden is looking to move forward on B15. I’d like to get my hands on some of that.
Source: Green Car Congress
Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.