Biodiesel disappointment
Posted by DavidM in Driving | 5 February 2007
I last wrote about my desire to change to using biodiesel in December after I changed from a petrol to diesel car. Two months further on I still haven't started using biodiesel.
I've changed jobs so instead of doing around 30 miles a week for work in the car I'm now doing 350 and I want to reduce the impact of this. Going diesel has increased my miles per gallon by about 50% but diesel is a dirtier fuel so moving to biodiesel is important.
Previously the nearest place I had found that sold retail biodiesel was near Oxford, which is about a 160 mile round trip. However, I have now found a supplier called Enfuels in Thatcham, which is close to work.
I rang them in January and they were just brewing their first batch of 100% biodiesel. The price was expected to be on a par with normal diesel and I could either call in and fill up or get a bulk delivery.
So last Friday was to be the big day. I half filled the car with regular diesel on the way to work - although it's a mild January I still aim to run a 50:50 mix until late spring - and gave them a call to confirm I could pop in on the way home from work.
Unfortunately although they'd finished the first batch and completed their own tests, they haven't had the results back from independent testing so they fuel wasn't for sale. However, it should be fine for next week. Although disappointed I was comforted by their commitment to producing quality fuel.
The plan is to fill up a few times and if that's okay I'll see about getting a bulk delivery at home.
