With biodiesel, you can save money, support the U.S. economy and reduce your carbon footprint.

By Jack Rosenberger

Americans today are probably more interested in alternate sources of automotive fuel than at any other time in the nation's history.

One alternate source of fuel that has captured the public's attention is biodiesel. With this new interest, the American Society for Testing and Materials International (which is the group that regulates automotive fuel standards in the United States), based in West Conshohocken, Pa., has set values for the properties of the different types of biodiesel fuels. This includes common blends like B5, B10 and B20. The number following the letter denotes the amount of vegetable oil mixed with petrodiesel. B5, for instance, is a mixture of five percent vegetable oil with 95 percent petrodiesel.

B100 is popularly known as "straight vegetable oil," which reflects the fact that you can take a bottle of canola oil from your kitchen pantry, pour it into the tank of a converted biodiesel vehicle, and hit the highway. To learn about one man's cross-country adventures in a Winnebago fueled with straight vegetable oil, pick up Joshua Tickell's "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank." Like Tickell, many B100 enthusiasts barter with Chinese and fast-food restaurants for their used cooking oil, so that the oil can be used as fuel.

If you own a diesel car or truck, you can power your vehicle with any blend up to B20 without any modification. Using B100, however, requires a vehicle to be converted; otherwise, the vehicle's engine will gradually be damaged.

Biodiesel's increasing popularity is based on several factors. First, while commercial blends of biodiesel are lower or the same price as diesel in many states, B100 can be inexpensively procured. Also, biodiesel is more earth-friendly as biodiesel vehicles emit up to 75 percent less carbon dioxide than their diesel-powered brethren. Lastly, biodiesel appeals to Americans' national self-interest as most of the gasoline purchased in the United States is imported from foreign countries and the source of nearly all biodiesel fuel is domestically grown soybeans and other crops which, once planted, can be transformed into automotive fuel in six months or less.

However, biodiesel suffers from certain limitations. The fuel can be used only in diesel vehicles, and the selection of diesel cars and trucks is decidedly small compared to the selection of gas guzzlers. That said, the only bona fide downside of the commercial blends is their lack of availability. There are approximately 167,000 gas stations in the U.S., but only 5,400 retail or wholesale stations that sell biodiesel. (To locate the biodiesel proprietor nearest to you, visit the National Biodiesel Board) site. Lastly, if straight vegetable oil appeals to you, be aware that B100 is not a widely available commercial blend, and its use often requires a driver to procure and store his or her own fuel, which is a time-consuming and labor-intensive endeavor.

"Making biodiesel requires working with potentially hazardous chemicals such as methanol and storing significant amounts of flammable liquids on-site," says Brendan Prebo, a spokesperson for the Jefferson City, Mo.-based National Biodiesel Board. "Therefore, anyone interested in making biodiesel should check their local ordinances with their local municipality and fire marshal. Also, if you're making biodiesel for on-road use, you would be responsible for local, state and federal on-road fuel use taxes. And anyone interested in selling biodiesel should contact their local municipality or state Department of Commerce to understand the laws regulating commerce in their area."

Converting a diesel car or truck so it can be driven with B100 requires substantial modification. Conversion kits, which include a second fuel tank, a heater, hoses and other equipment, cost approximately $500. Owners who do not perform the conversion themselves should expect to pay a local mechanic or garage (preferably one that has experience with biodiesel conversions) approximately $1,000 for their vehicle's makeover.

There are alternatives for those who do not want to convert for use of B100. For example, using blends up to B20 in a diesel car often does not violate a manufacturer's parts and workmanship warranties, according to the National Biodiesel Board. As for insurance, Progressive and other companies will insure biodiesel vehicles. Progressive covers the first $1,000 in repair costs to a conversion kit, which is considered custom parts and equipment, and owners of converted vehicles, whose conversion-related repairs might exceed $1,000, should consider purchasing additional coverage, says Mike Doerfler, a Progressive product development manager.

If you drive a diesel car or truck, it makes a lot of environmental sense to fuel it with a blend up to B20. If you want to convert a vehicle to use B100, however, it is important that you take into consideration that by doing so you are most likely committing yourself to the time-consuming task of being your own fuel supplier as B100 probably won't be commercially available in a widespread manner in the immediate future.

Bio: Jack Rosenberger is a veteran writer and editor who specializes in technology, business and consumer issues. He has written for a wide variety of publications, including American Health, Art in America, Entertainment Weekly, Graphic Arts Monthly, New York, New York Observer, Premiere, Spin, Vegetarian Times and The Village Voice.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company or its affiliates.