Biodiesel and diesel cars
February 21, 2008 by Eugene
Filed under Energy and Transportation, Singapore, Waste and Materials
Channel NewsAsia reported the revision in the special tax on Euro-IV diesel cars announced in the Singapore Budget speech, making it cheaper to own diesel cars. Car owners can save from 32% to 56% on the special tax depending on the car’s engine capacity. This could attract more motorists to use diesel cars instead of petrol cars.
Diesel cars tend to be more fuel efficient than petrol cars and diesel is currently cheaper than petrol. But the Straits Times reported the National Environment Agency (NEA) “saying even Euro IV diesel cars emit more soot and nitrogen oxide – another pollutant – than their petrol equivalents”. We think that diesel cars with the use of biodiesel could be more environmentally friendly. The use of biodiesel gives cleaner emissions and less particulate matter, and recycles waste cooking oil.
Alpha Synovate Pte Ltd is a local company involved in the production, research and development of biodiesel and biofuel processors. The company is producing Alpha Biodiesel BD100, a biodiesel fuel made from 100% waste vegetable oil. The biodiesel can be blended with normal petroleum diesel or used solely in diesel cars. Visit Alpha Synovate’s website for more info.
If you want to know more about biodiesel in the US, check out the documentary film, Fields of Fuel, by biodiesel expert Josh Tickell. Watch the film’s promotional video at Youtube.
Source: Channel NewsAsia; Straits Times via Wildsingapore; Alpha Synovate Pte Ltd. Photo credit: Alpha Synovate Pte Ltd.
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I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Mike Harmon
Hi Eugene,
Thanks for the link to the biodiesel company.
I’m personally very interested in diesel cars. Biodiesel is a good option. Unfortunately it’s the same old supply issue again, like with CNG cars.
Alpha Synovate does not seem to have proper pumping facilities. So biodiesel will always be a niche choice unless the major players decide to get involved.
However, this is unlikely because they already have their own “green” diesel. But it’s not at the top of their priorities. The Shell station at Jalan Jurong Kechil is their only one selling low-sulphur diesel.
Unlike in Europe, there aren’t enough government incentives to promote the use of diesel/biodiesel. So I don’t expect things to change much in the next 2-3 years.
I also have an article on the diesel tax on the Star Bamboo web site.
http://www.starbamboo.com/2008/02/25/diesel-cars-in-singapore-boon-or-bane/
Cheers.