Propel Fuels reports strong consumer adoption of renewable diesel in SoCal; retail sales up 300% over biodiesel
18 November 2015
Propel launched Diesel HPR across Southern California in August 2015, and consumer adoption of the fuel has risen 300% compared to its former biodiesel product (B20). (Earlier post.) Utilizing Neste’s NEXBTL renewable diesel, Propel’s Diesel HPR is a low-carbon, drop-in renewable fuel that meets the ASTM D-976 petroleum diesel specifications for use in diesel engines, while offering drivers better performance and lower emissions.
Performance features include a 75 cetane rating, 40 percent higher than regular diesel. Diesel HPR provides cleaner and more efficient combustion for more power and a smoother ride at a cost similar to or lower than petroleum diesel.
According to the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, renewable diesel’s high combustion quality results in similar or better vehicle performance compared to conventional diesel, while California Air Resources Board studies show that renewable diesel can reach up to 70% greenhouse gas reduction compared to petroleum diesel.
Diesel HPR improves local air quality due to the reduction of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate (PM 2.5) emissions, which are both directly linked to air quality in California, negatively impacting children, people with lung diseases such as asthma, and people who work outside.
Propel offers Diesel HPR at 32 locations across California in Los Angeles, Orange Country, San Diego, Inland Empire, Sacramento, Fresno and the Bay Area. Drivers can easily find the nearest Propel Diesel HPR location and real time pricing by downloading Propel’s mobile app available in the Android and Apple app stores.
A number of new diesel models are being introduced to the market at the LA Auto Show this week—the Chevy Colorado and Canyon, and the Nissan XD.
Wonderful, I knew synthetic and bio synthetic would do well if given a chance.
Posted by: SJC | 18 November 2015 at 10:03 AM
FWIW, this is a hydrocarbon product made from hydro-treated fatty acids and triglycerides, not a methyl or ethyl ester of fatty acids (FAME or FAEE). This is why it's interchangeable with petroleum diesel.
Unfortunately the supply of fats and oils for feedstock for this is very limited, so its potential is quite small.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 20 November 2015 at 07:05 AM