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Montreal Latest City to Fuel Buses with Biodiesel

John Davis

Montreal logo Montreal, Canada will run its entire bus fleet on biodiesel by 2008 and will buy eight hybrid buses to test in the city’s cold climate.

According to this story posted on the CBC’s web site, it should be an affordable proposition for the city:

Montreal bus All Société de transport de Montréal (STM) buses will run on biodiesel fuel by 2008, and the transition should be fairly inexpensive, said president Claude Trudel.

Bus engines can run on biodiesel fuel without requiring any modifications, and the cost of a fill-up should be the same. The STM even stands to save money on maintenance, because biodiesel is “a cleanser, so it will keep your engines and your cylinders cleaner,” said spokesman Luc Tremblay.

Plus, instead of smelling like burning petroleum, the exhaust will smell more like french fries.

Officials believe the move will be the environmental equivilant of taking 1,400 cars off the road and will help the city attain its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20% over the next five years.

Biodiesel, International

West Coast Biodiesel Giant Looks to Expand Into Hawaii

John Davis

Imperium Seattle-based Imperium Renewables, ready to put the country’s largest biodiesel plant into operation and holder of the record for investment in a biodiesel company (see my posts on Feb. 2nd and Feb. 21st), is reportedly planning to build a $90-million refinery in Hawaii scheduled to open in April 2008.

Although few details are forthcoming just yet, this story in the Puget Sound Business Journal, says its indicative of Imperium’s planned expansions into Hawaii, the Northeast U.S., and Argentina.

Biodiesel

Ethanol IndyCar 300

Cindy Zimmerman

E-Indy The official name for Saturday’s IndyCar Series opener may have been the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300, but on ESPN2 it was the 2007 Ethanol IndyCar 300 Presented by XM.

Ethanol could not have been more prominent in the ESPN2 coverage of the race, which included the “e” brand on graphics, features about the fuel, regular mentions that the drivers were “filling up with ethanol” and the brand new 30-second ethanol television spots. ESPN2 on-line coverage includes side and top banners for ethanol. People watching the race could hardly fail to know that the cars are now running on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol.

BY THE NUMBERS:
– 5,000 – The number of gallons of ethanol that were shipped to Homestead-Miami Speedway for use by IndyCar Series teams this weekend.

– One – The number of plants that produce ethanol for the IndyCar Series. Renova Energy in Torrington, Wyo., is the exclusive supplier.

– 2005 – The year the IndyCar Series first announced plans for use of ethanol, after years of running on methanol.

– 10 – The percentage of ethanol blended with methanol in 2006, to prepare the IndyCar Series to the move to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in 2007.

– 22 – The size of an IndyCar Series car fuel tank. Since ethanol is more efficient than methanol, the IndyCar Series has reduced the size of its fuel tanks to 22 gallons this season.

– 6,372 – The number of laps run during the preseason Open Tests using 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol and the new 3.5 liter Honda HI7R V-8 Indy engine with no failures.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Dan Wheldon Wins XM Satellite Radio Indy 300

Chuck Zimmerman

Dan WheldonHere’s the winner of the first Indy car race of the year, Dan Wheldon. It’s the third time in a row that Dan has won the race. He did it in dominating fashion too and afterward said it was a lot of fun running the race.

I recorded the press conference with Dan afterward and was able to ask him how he felt about racing with 100% ethanol. He said that Honda deserves a lot of credit but that any time you can do something to help the environment, it’s a “good thing.”

You can listen to the whole press conference here: Listen to MP3 Dan Wheldon Press Conference (10 min MP3)

Or you can just listen to my Q&A with Dan: Listen to MP3 Dan Wheldon About Ethanol (15 sec MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Ethanol Car Out of The Race

Chuck Zimmerman

XM Satellite Radio Indy 300The Team Ethanol car driven by Jeff Simmons is out of the race after what looked like a slide coming out of a turn which turned the car around and then two other cars crashed into it. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt. In fact, they just reported that all three drivers have been assessed and released, so they’re okay.

I’m going to stick it out though since no matter who wins tonight, ethanol will be the winner. So I will have some new posts tomorrow, including some interviews I did earlier this afternoon.

Remember to check out my XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 Photo Album.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Jeff Simmons In The Race

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Simmons RacingHere’s Jeff Simmons in the Ethanol Car on the opening lap of the race tonight.

He’s been racing well and right now, although we’re under caution, they’re keeping the cars on the track so it looks like we should be able to finish this race. In fact, while I’m writing we just got the green flag again so it’s back to action.

All these cars are of course running on 100% ethanol this year and they seem to be doing just fine. I have to root for Jeff but all the cars have the ethanol logo on them!

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

A Real Green Flag

Chuck Zimmerman

Green E FlagThis year the IRL is giving new meaning to the “green flag.” The official green flag has the ethanol logo.

I was in the pits at the start to take this shot. It’s the best of my bunch.

The race started just a little over an hour delayed and we’re currently in a light rain caution but hopefully things will get back to normal shortly. Jeff Simmons in the Ethanol Car has been running very well and moved up several positions from his start. As of this post he’s in 15th.

Post Update: You can read what the Indy Racing League has to say about going green here.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Team Ethanol Race Command Center

Chuck Zimmerman

Rahal-Letterman Ethanol Car Command CenterThis is the command center for the Rahal-Letterman Ethanol Car seen from trackside just before the race got started. We’ve been hoping the elements would cooperate but it’s a little iffy.

Things were delayed due to rain and it looks like it just got started raining again here as the yellow flag just went up as I was posting this.

Let’s hope we get a full race in.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Bobby Rahal is Ready To Race

Chuck Zimmerman

Rahal-Letterman HospitalityWhile I was conducting an interview in the Rahal-Letterman hospitality tent, the owner stopped in looking all relaxed.

Bobby Rahal is certainly a competitor and as you might be able to tell from my interview with him, he’s ready to stop talking and race.

I’ve seen Bobby at a number of ethanol events and he’s a great spokesperson for Team Ethanol to have.

Here’s my interview with Bobby: Listen to MP3 Bobby Rahal Interview (2 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Cardinal Ethanol is an EPIC Member

Chuck Zimmerman

Troy PrescottOne of the newer members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is Cardinal Ethanol. Troy Prescott is president and he’s out here at the Homestead/Miami Speedway in full ethanol attire. And he’s got his ethanol information bag too.

I talked to Troy about what he thinks of the promotional activities of EPIC and the whole IRL tie-in. Because Cardinal Ethanol is located in Indiana he says the IRL has a special place in their hearts and that most of his board will be attending the Indy 500 this year. He says work is well underway on building their plant which should be operational soon.

Here’s my interview with Troy: Listen to MP3 Troy Prescott Interview (3 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol