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 Canola
oil fuels Massey entry in rally
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We’ve heard of cars that run on the smell of an oily rag, but how
about the smell of an oily fish and chip wrapper? And that’s the
only thing that’s likely to be emitted from the exhaust of one of
the Massey entries in the 2002 Energy-Wise Rally.
The Energy-Wise Rally aims to highlight the fuel efficiency and environmental
friendliness of new cars. Teams driving cars of all makes and sizes compete
against each other for fuel efficiency as they complete a four-day circumnavigation
of the North Island. Cars are divided into classes depending on their
fuel source and size. The rally runs from 11 to 14 November, starting
and finishing in Auckland.
Associate Professor Ralph Sims, Director of the Centre for Energy Research,
and post-graduate students Andy Smith and Reto Keller have two entries
in the rally. Mr Smith and Mr Keller will be driving a VW Passat in the
diesel powered large car category, while Associate Professor Sims will
power up a VW Golf on ‘biodiesel’. The sustainable, environmentally
friendly fuel is made from canola oil and, after a fairly simple chemical
reaction, ends up as methyl ester (biodiesel) and glycerine (the raw material
for soap). Mr Smith says the biodiesel gives similar performance to normal
diesel, but has some significant advantages.
“It is basically carbon neutral, because the carbon dioxide produced
when biodiesel is burnt is the same amount the next season’s crop
of canola will use as it grows and other noxious exhaust emissions are
greatly reduced. Biodiesel provides much better engine lubrication, with
reports that engines run on it have many times longer life spans than
those using diesel. Dirt and other deposits left in the fuel system of
a car run on diesel are cleaned out, even if just a blend of standard
diesel and biodiesel is used. And biodiesel is non-toxic, and biodegradable.
It can even be drunk! It doesn’t taste too good but cars running
on biodiesel smell nice!”
He says biodiesel fuel efficiency is similar to normal diesel –
about 100km per four litres at normal running. The team has produced about
350 litres of biodiesel in the Massey labs, which will easily cover the
rally. After the rally, it will be used for a research project comparing
the effect on the Golf’s engine of the biodiesel with normal diesel.
He says biodiesel can be used in most modern diesel cars without modification.
In several European countries biodisel is produced in large volumes using
rapeseed oil and sold commerically at service stations. Production is
also under way in the United States, South Africa and Western Australia.
European Motors, importers of Volkswagon vehicles, has sponsored the two
cars, which have been covered in signage promoting the Centre and the
Institute of Fundamental Sciences.
Associate Professor Sims has been working on biodiesel since the 1970s.
To date, research expenditure has exceeded $1 million. ‘On-road’
testing and economic analysis has determined that crude oil would need
to reach about $30 per barrel for ‘biodiesels’ – made
out of animal fats – to become a feasible proposition.
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