On hybrids vs. veggie-oil cars | By Umbra Fisk | Grist Magazine | Ask Umbra

On hybrids vs. veggie-oil cars | By Umbra Fisk | Grist Magazine | Ask Umbra | 14 Mar 2005: "You have stung me to the quick. I did not side with gasoline. I asserted that gasoline is better than diesel, but not better than biodiesel.



Fuel up!
Photo: Biodiesel AmericaNot only will biodiesel result in lower carbon-dioxide emissions than gasoline; it is also an alternative fuel, and supporting it sends an important message about prioritizing the environment. Hybrid cars deserve our support, but they rely on gasoline, the supply of which is rapidly dwindling and the extraction of which is wrapped up in nasty world politics and pollution.


I'm glad you have a Prius, but I completely support your switch to biodiesel, and also to straight vegetable oil from restaurant fryers. Fellow readers, to briefly review: Gasoline is petroleum-based. Biodiesel is chemically altered (transesterified) vegetable oil or animal tallow. SVO is new or filtered chemically unaltered veggie oil. Diesel engines can theoretically run on any vegetable oil. In an upcoming column, I'll go into how to run your diesel on SVO, but today we will focus on Marc's question: should we bother?"