If Fossil Fuel Is Too Expensive, Go for Biodiesel to Fuel Cars

by Dan Odido (Daily Nation) Popularising the use of renewable energy has several benefits to the economy. It enhances energy independence; develops non-traditional industries, broadening the manufacturing base; and provides employment. The policy framework is, largely, in place and it is up to the innovators to take up the challenge and provide us with affordable cleaner energy.

Tax and levies constitute the largest fraction to the cost of fuel in Kenya — about half of the price. Also, marketers have previously colluded and exhibited monopolistic tendencies in their pricing. The Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) has attempted to curb this by capping pump prices, which marketers take as a de facto price control and quote the maximum, regardless of costs.

‘Manufacturing’ your own fuel — such as renewable ones — will cut out the middlemen and deliver substantial cost savings. If you fuel your car with it, however, you will not be paying the road maintenance levy!

UK law now allows one tax-free usage of up to 2,500 litres of vegetable oil in vehicles yearly. Many other countries give tax breaks for use of renewable fuels in cars.

But the use of vegetable oil as fuel should, ideally, not be subject to excise duty since it is ‘green’ and not polluting.

The use of vegetable oil in cars is a mature technology and is widely applied. You can hack and modify your engine. Modification kits are commercially available in many countries. You will, however, need to consider a few issues.

Vegetable oil can be used in three forms: Straight as pure plant oil (PPO); first utilised for other purposes and then the waste used for automotive purposes (waste vegetable oil, WVO); or first converted to ‘biodiesel’. The typical diesel engine can use the fuel in any forms. Biodiesel can be used without any further processing or engine modification.

Popularising the use of renewable energy has several benefits to the economy. It releases pressure from the importation of fossil fuel, saving foreign exchange; enhances energy independence; develops non-traditional industries, broadening the manufacturing base; and provides employment.

The policy framework is, largely, in place. It is up to the innovators to take up the challenge and provide us with affordable cleaner energy. READ MORE