Trucking Study Determining Feasibility of Using 100% Biodiesel

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – A partnership was launched last week to conduct a year-long review of using 100 percent biodiesel in a real-world, high-mileage fleet application. Under this partnership, five trucks owned by ADM will be outfitted with Optimus Technologies’ Vector fuel system, a technology enabling diesel engines to run almost entirely on biodiesel. The trucks will be used in daily fleet operations for one year, with each vehicle anticipated to travel 160,000-180,000 miles. Advanced monitoring protocols will compare the performance and results of the new technology with five other trucks in a control group operating on conventional diesel. All biodiesel used in the project will come from ADM’s refinery in Mexico, Missouri. While nearly all diesel engine manufacturers support at least 20 percent biodiesel (B20), the Optimus Vector System is designed to allow conventional diesel engines to run on 100 percent biodiesel in a wide range of climates. The system is already in use in shorter-mileage, local fleet applications such as distribution and waste removal. This new project is designed to evaluate its use for longer-haul over-the-road fleets, potentially opening a pathway to significantly higher volumes of biodiesel in the U.S. truck fleet. Environmentally, the project is expected to remove up to 500,000 pounds of CO2 in the atmosphere and is being supported, in part, by the American Lung Association.