Why can't / won't the automobile industry make cars that are biodiesel ready?

Question

Why can't / won't the automobile industry make cars that are biodiesel ready?

Answer 1

Interesting question, Josh, and one that suggests the possibility of making hybrid engines based on different types of petroleum as opposed to different means of generating power.

The practical answers, I believe, are several:

1. There simply is not enough biofuel handy to power a substantial fleet of vehicles that would be affordable, based on the economies of scale in mass production. This gets at the issue of fuel distribution -most people need to fill 'er up at the local gas mart. And due to the rarity of biodiesel, there's little incentive to provide an infrastructure of distribution. It is a chicken and egg problem, but its likely that no tanks and pumps are going to appear until there's a substantial amount of fuel to fill them.

2. Therefore, any vehicle that would use the b/d would also have to be gas capable, and that means 2 very different kinds of engines, or one engine that could do both. How would that work? Some method of withdrawing spark plugs from the combustion chamber, or perhaps a special plug that would be "glow plug" in b/d mode and a spark plug in gasoline mode. Then you'd need to solve all the problems of dealing with the exhuast, timing, etc. I think all of this is theoretically possible and there's no question in my mind that a b/d -gas engine can be built. The issue is cost; you'd need to be building a lot to make them affordable.

3. Absolute supply. B/D has the same problem that alcohol/gas does: you can't make enough of it to impact the over-all fuel supply. But with b/d the problem is even worse because, while there is tons of it being made, it is still a drop compared to the gasoline supply.

4. Competition. Don't forget, there is a good market for waste oil and other b/d sources: it goes into machine lubricants and other products -it's not thrown into the landfill.

Even so, the concept of multi-fuel capability does have some validity at a larger scale. For example, if power plants or furnaces in factories and homes could work on various fuels, then distribution would shift to the "delivery" mode -it comes in by rail and truck, which already serve consumers- the infrastructure is here now. And since performance is largely a question of efficient heat production and pollution control, power plants and furnaces should be easy to build and convert as opposed to automotive power plants. And, while you would not see the price of gasoline drop directly as a result of such use, you would see over-all energy costs go down.

Nice idea.

Answer 2

I will echoo all sentiments so far , but I will add that in Europe Diesel are popular because they get better MPG and diesel fuel is cheaper then gasoline.

Answer 3

All diesel cars ARE bio diesel ready, and have been for years.

So your question is really why are there not more diesel cars? They are definitely more popular in Europe and they get better mileage than gasoline cars.

Answer 4

Why should they Americans won't buy the other cars.

Answer 5

because it's too economical... it's same story why we make paper from wood and not from hemp. hemp paper is much cheaper to make, better quality then wood one and also production is nature harmless. so why don't we manufacture hemp paper? because, it's cheap and noone make milions out of it. and money is a power, you know ... economical cars are same story all over again.

Answer 6

As stated, all diesels are biodiesel.  As a matter of fact, when Mr. Diesel invented the diesel engine, he ran it on organic oil (corn, vegetable, canola, peanut, etc).  The oil tycoons are the ones who changed the fuel to petroleum based.  

Mercedes has a new diesel engine on the market.  I think it's in one of their SUV models.  Other auto makers will come out with one that is comparable in the near future.  I haven't researched it, but the info included in their commercial sparked an interest.  The pickup is better, performance, and milage.  

The average driver thinks about tractor trailers, buses, and earth movers when you mention diesel.  This equals slow, loud, smelly, and nasty.  Years ago, they wouldn't be wrong.  Add to that the fact that diesel powered cars had a resell value that was disappointing.  Also, a diesel is not all that good for short commutes and errand running.  Diesels are great for long trips and heavy hauling.  Also, as stated, cold weather means added tasks....as in having to plug in the heater, and unplugging it before driving off.  Then there are the glow plugs and/or ether.  

With gas prices continuing to climb, all of that mentioned would become less of a 'hassle'.  Especially when compared to reaching into pocket and pulling out hard earned money.

Answer 7

All diesels are ready ,just make sure that your bio-diesel is well filtered. If it is not u will stop up your injectors.

Answer 8

They only make them if someone is willing to pay the price to buy one. It's called the market and it always wins. Lefties haven't figured that one out yet and probably never will.

By the way where is all this biodiesel going to come from. Thats a lot of used cooking oil to find.

Answer 9

The Biodiesel is a diesel car. In the US, the public has not wanted them, except mainly in trucks. VW and Mercedes has offered them for years, but not many sold. Remember the VW rabbit diesel that got 50 MPG? The new Jeep patriot was offered in a diesel, but few sold and I see they don't list it anymore. The new Jeep Cherokee has a diesel option. For some reason, the US buyers just do not like them. May be due to noise, availability of fuel stations, added cost ??  I imagine if prices stay up there and people find out there are little diesels that get better MPG than even hybrids, they will be more in demand.

In Europe and other countries there are several small diesel cars offered and many in use. Probably because fuel has been much higher over there for a long time.

Answer 10

Because the US consumer wouldn't like it.

As mentioned before you need a DIESEL engine to run biodiesel.

Diesel's aren't as peppy as gas engines.

Diesel's don't do so well in cold climates (need block heaters).

It's getting better but diesels put out more particulates.

The US consumer likes gas engines.

Answer 11

Wrong question!

You do not understand.

Biodiesel can be burned in any diesel engine.  The diesel can be a marine diesel on a boat, a diesel generator for electric production, a diesel bulldozer, a diesel truck, a diesel tractor, or a diesel automobile.

Diesel engines are available world wide.  In the US and far east gasoline engines are still the popular engine but diesel engines are available from western European makers (e.g. Volks Wagon, Diamler, Peugot).

When marketplace demands encourage more diesel autos, more makers will make diesel autos.  All will burn diesel from petroleum or biodiesel.

By the way, biodiesel is not the great energy resolution many are seeking.