Vegetable Oil Car Brochure
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This document provides an introduction to running diesel vehicles on straight vegetable oil (SVO) as fuel. It discusses that SVO is a carbon neutral fuel produced from crops and sunlight, making it renewable. It also notes that SVO was an early fuel for diesel engines. The document explains that conversion kits are needed to allow vehicles to run reliably on SVO by heating and thinning the vegetable oil. It addresses some of the common questions around vehicle suitability, legality of fuel use, insurance, and maintenance for converted vehicles.
Vegetable Oil Car Brochure
- 1. SVO Straight Vegetable Oil Veg Oil Motoring’s guide to running diesel vehicles on straight vegetable oil - the carbon neutral fuel
- 2. Introduction & background This leaflet is an introduction to running diesel vehicles on straight vegetable oil (SVO) and aims to answer the main questions of those considering having their vehicles converted to run on this fuel. Background Why vegetable oil? The idea of using vegetable oil as a diesel Reason 1: engine fuel has been around for a long time SVO is the only readily available fuel for and dates back to the beginning of last common vehicles with virtually zero net CO2 century when the diesel engine was invented. emissions. Like fossil fuels, SVO still gives out Only four years after Dr Rudolf Diesel CO2 emissions when burnt in an engine. produced his first functional prototype, diesel However unlike fossil fuels these emissions engines were being successfully run on essentially replace the CO2 taken out of the straight vegetable oil (SVO). Dr Rudolf Diesel atmosphere by the plants that initially formed was a considerable advocate of using SVO in the oil, with the help of sunlight. Because of his engines, but his aspirations were largely this SVO is referred to as a carbon neutral fuel. forgotten until the rocketing fuel prices of the For someone regularly using a diesel vehicle, 1970s and the early 80s, when a German switching to SVO is probably the largest single company started testing SVO in its step they could make in reducing their revolutionary new diesel engine. Now, over 25 contribution to global warming. years later, the same company, Elsbett GmbH, is producing reliable conversion kits Reason 2: which allow a huge range of diesel vehicles to As SVO is essentially captured sunlight energy run on SVO. it is a renewable fuel which is not going to run out while the sun still shines. Fossil fuels alternatively cannot be regenerated (unless provided with time frames of many millions of years) and are thus in a state of lessening supply. Limited supplies means that the price of fossil fuels could soon rise to levels which are truly crippling to motorists.
- 3. Why vegetable oil? CO2 emissions from conventional diesel and SVO CO2 Atmospheric CO2 Vegetable oil producing crops build up Conventional diesel SVO - Straight Vegetable Oil Fossil Fuel (Oil) How to switch to SVO Reason 3: SVO comes from domestic crops, reducing the To make a diesel vehicle run reliably on SVO it is need for foreign oil while boosting the local necessary to fit a conversion kit to the vehicle. economy and supporting the agricultural The kit in simple terms heats the SVO and thins community. SVO unlike Middle Eastern oil is it down to the same thickness/viscosity as not a source of global tension and conflict and diesel. This allows it to pass through the fuel so it is a fuel where a war is not required to delivery system in the same way as diesel and ensure supply. burn cleanly in the engine. Conversion kits which enable vehicles to run solely on SVO, known as 'one tank' kits, have been developed over the last 25 years by the German company Elsbett. Driving vehicles fitted with these kits is essentially no different compared to regular, day to day driving on diesel, with the exception of what you put in the fuel tank.
- 4. Legality and fuel Vehicle suitability Legality and fuel Not all diesel vehicles are suitable to convert At the time of writing this leaflet, it is the to SVO. Diesel vehicles fitted with most types position of the UK Government that if of rotary pump produced by Lucas, CAV, vegetable oil is used as a vehicle fuel then duty Delphi, Stanadyne and Rotodiesel are not needs to be paid on every litre to Her recommended for conversion by Elsbett. In Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). addition, many direct injection diesel vehicles SVO is eligible for the reduced biodiesel fuel cannot generally be converted with 'one tank' duty rate, which is set at 20p less than the kits as they require start up on diesel. standard fossil fuel duty rate (at the time of Conversions involving 'two tank' kits are writing this standard rate is 48.35p/l making required for these vehicles. To find a the duty rate on SVO: 28.35p/l). comprehensive list of the vehicles that can and cannot be converted it is best to visit the Over the last few years, a lot of confusion has following database on the Elsbett website: existed over the eligibility of SVO for the www.elsbett.de/forms/ekit. reduced duty rate with differing advice being provided by the HMRC in different areas of the Finally diesel vehicles being considered for UK. Fortunately this matter has been settled conversion should be in good condition as following the 2006 HMRC review on the issue. converted vehicles running on SVO can show The review concluded essentially that the engine faults that were not previously precedent set by Veg Oil Motoring, whereby it noticeable. has claimed the lower biodiesel fuel duty rate on SVO since 2003, is correct.
- 5. Frequently Asked Questions Frequently asked questions In the future SVO maybe free from fuel duty for Can diesel be used in converted users that do not consume more than 2500 vehicles if SVO is unavailable? litres per year; this possibility is currently being Yes, these conversions enable the vehicle to reviewed by the HMRC. run on multifuels which includes SVO or diesel or any mixture of the two fuels. It is currently possible to buy duty paid SVO in West Wales from either Veg Oil Motoring or Will I have to inform my Community Biofuels. These organizations insurance company? deliver fuel if purchased in bulk. Yes, it is necessary to inform your insurance company, however most insurance companies It is also possible to register to pay duty on will simply amend the vehicle policy without any SVO yourself. This can be done by contacting additional premium. Insurance companies that the HMRC National Advice Service on the have given cover to converted vehicles without following number: 08450 109000. any complications include: Frissel/Liverpool and Victoria, Norwich Union, Cornhill and NFU. The SVO used to fuel converted vehicles should be of a quality that meets the German Will the conversion affect industry vegetable oil standard DIN 51605. the servicing of the vehicle? Rape seed oil which is generally sold as the This depends on whether the engine of the cheapest oil in supermarkets meets this vehicle is of direct or indirect injection design. standard. The refined used cooking oil With converted indirect injection vehicles there is produced by Veg Oil Motoring only partially no change to the usual servicing routine however meets this standard and therefore its use is only it is a good precautionary move to have the advised for converted indirect diesel engines. components of the kit checked periodically to ensure that they are fully functional. Converted direct injection vehicles generally require a different service regime with regard to the engine's lubricant. A plant oil based lubricant is used instead of the mineral lubricant and this needs to be changed at shorter intervals.
- 6. Frequently Asked Questions How does SVO compare How is the performance and fuel with biodiesel? efficiency of the engine affected? SVO and biodiesel are quite different fuels Research has backed up anecdotal evidence however they are often confused as biodiesel is that vegetable oil gives a slightly better power produced from SVO. Biodiesel is made when performance than diesel in engines compared vegetable oil molecules are split four ways by a before and after conversion. Studies on fuel chemical reaction called transesterification. efficiency give conflicting results with some Since biodiesel is produced from SVO it also studies showing higher miles per gallon (MPG) has low net CO2 emissions. However, since the on SVO as compared to diesel and others transesterification reaction requires energy and showing less. Anecdotal experience has been some of the chemicals needed to carry out the that MPG on SVO is approximately the same reaction generally come from fossil fuels this as that on diesel. means that biodiesel has higher net CO2 What are emissions like with SVO? emissions than SVO. In short, SVO is the better of the two fuels for reducing CO2 emissions. Converted vehicles running on SVO generally pass the MOT emissions test normally. The How many hectares would be required emissions of SVO are considered comparable to grow the fuel for one car, and is to diesel with the exception that the CO2 there enough land available in the produced from SVO is carbon neutral. world to grow our fuel? Are all forms of SVO equal? A hectare of oil seed rape can produce roughly a 1000 litres of oil which if used through a SVO fuel sourced from used cooking oil can be reasonably economic converted diesel car can considered to have virtually zero net emissions provide 10,000 miles worth of motoring; a as it is captured from the waste stream and distance many drivers cover in a year. It is requires minimal reprocessing. SVO from virgin extremely unlikely that all the world's vehicles rapeseed oil is estimated to be between 56% to currently running on fossil fuels could instead be 85% carbon neutral, with the lower percentage powered by vegetable oil. Like other renewables being related to SVO production methods using SVO is only part of the solution to meeting our mineral fertilizers and energy intensive methods energy requirements sustainably and needs to of oil extraction. be combined with attempts to reduce current unsustainable levels of energy consumption.
- 7. Frequently Asked Questions Is it possible just to blend vegetable What is the pay back period for the kit? oil with diesel and use this in an This depends on a range of factors and so has unconverted engine? to be individually calculated for each vehicle There is probably a blend of SVO and diesel that using the following simple formula: will function in diesel engines without causing cost of conversion ( ) long term damage. However it is difficult to say payback difference in fuel price per litre = between SVO and diesel whether this is a 20% or a 2% blend of SVO to mileage vehicle economy (miles per litre) diesel, as few reliable trials have been completed. Veg Oil Motoring cannot How do converted vehicles recommend a blend, and vehicle owners trying perform in cold weather? this method of using SVO do so at their own risk. It is important to be aware that this As vegetable oil becomes thicker at lower approach is more likely to cause problems with temperatures Elsbett recommend blending direct injection engines and engines with the winter diesel and vegetable oil at temperatures unsuitable pumps mentioned above. approaching -10°C to allow for normal operation. If the temperature is likely to go down How does a conversion affect the to -15°C then the SVO should be completely warranty of the vehicle? switched to winter diesel. Manufacturer's warranties are usually invalidated How long does it take to for vehicles that are converted to run on SVO. convert a vehicle? An exception to this is Caterpillar (South Africa) who provide full warranty on some of their With certain types of vehicles it is necessary to vehicles to run with-out modification on pure have the fuel injectors for the vehicle machined sunflower oil. It is therefore best to convert in the Elsbett workshops in Germany. The vehicles outside of warranty. conversion period required for these vehicles has to take into account the time needed to How much does a conversion cost? send the injectors to Germany and for them to An Elsbett "one tank" conversion, including the be returned. This period usually takes as little price of the kit and its installation, generally costs as seven days however vehicle owners should around £1250. However, since kits are vehicle be prepared that period could take longer. specific and can vary in price this figure can go up If injector work can be done in the UK then the to around £1400 for non heavy goods vehicles. conversion period is up to 5 days.
- 8. About veg oil motoring About Veg Oil Motoring Veg Oil Motoring is a company in North Pembrokeshire which has pioneered the use of SVO in UK vehicles. Veg Oil Motoring installs kits, markets SVO fuel and runs residential courses on SVO technology at the Centre for Alternative Technology (www.cat.org.uk). It is also a service partner of Elsbett GmbH, marketing their kits at the German retail price in the UK and providing locally based support on the kits that it distributes. For further information contact: Veg Oil Motoring Tegryn, Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire SA35 0DN Tel: 01239 698237 info@vegoilmotoring.com www.vegoilmotoring.com Useful contact: Community Biofuels 0845 4589243 This booklet has been produced by Veg Oil Motoring with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government through the Sustainable Development Fund of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. Veg Oil Motoring Environmental information: This booklet was designed and printed using 100% renewable energy. Printed on 160gm2 Take 2 recycled paper using vegetable based inks. Designed by zodshop 01239 711638 www.zodshopdesign.co.uk - Printed by Severnprint - www.severnprint.co.uk Front cover image by Carole Stevens Disclaimer: While every attempt has been made to ensure that the accuracy of the information presented here, the producers of this leaflet assume no responsibility for damage to persons or property caused by the use of information contained in this leaflet.