Our bio buddy: Brainy or bonkers?

BILLY: Rumor has it my pal has gone nuts. Traded in his sleek Saab convertible for a biodegradable tractor that runs on chicken grease. I mean, of all the possible rumors ... embezzlement, disorderly conduct etc., this might be the worst!

GREG: It's not a tractor and even if it was, talk about a multi-use vehicle! Cars running off of vegetable oil are nothing new and they are becoming quite chic. Chic as in the root of chicken that is. So, Dave Brewster, your Billy's pal in question. Have you, in fact, gone nuts?

DAVE: Some have questioned that in the past. No it was actually a random-access purchase. I was looking for a replacement car – business, etc. something my kid could drive in a few years, anyway. I found a diesel Jeep 4X4. I don't run grease, although I could (you can convert any diesel to run on vegetable oil). I run a mix of petroleum diesel and biodiesel.

Check out the grease cars on YouTube. This one is fun – low tech to the extreme: 

BILLY: Sounds somewhat reasonable. So, how do you fuel up your new rig?

DAVE: I joined the Piedmont Biofuel coop. They have local fueling stations. I get mine at Larry's Beans. I get diesel at the local service station and then get a proportionate amount of Biofuel. They sell B100 (100 percent bio) – I typically run B20 to B50 (20% to 50% mix bio/petroleum). You can also find commercial service stations that typically sell B15 or B20.

GREG: How many miles per are you getting?

DAVE: Little 4X4 – 20 around town – 30 on the highway (if you keep it under 80). If you want mileage, get a VW TDI. They get about 44 highway. Diesels are very fast. Check out the new Audis that race the American Le Mans circuit – zippy

BILLY: 'Zippy' is always a good choice.

DAVE: We really need more choice – natural gas – hybrid – electric – SMART etc. Biodiesel is just good alternative – get used to it.

GREG: Some might read all these terms – B100, coops – and think this is a pain in the trunk. Are they right?

DAVE: No more so than the last car. Actually a little less. Recommended oil change is once every 10,000 miles, burring the bio/diesel mix burns cleaner, less deposits and it smells better. Sometimes making change is a pain in the butt – cheesier – but not this time

BILLY: Are you actually saving money? Have the savings been enough so far, for example, to buy you and the Mrs tix to a Wilco concert (30 bucks a pop)?

DAVE: Not really about saving money – it's green – It's about lower emissions. I'm using a locally produced biodiesel made from chicken grease at the Chatham County Piedmont plant.

BILLY: Ah-ha! The chicken grease is real!

DAVE: Biofuel has about 78% percent less carbon dioxide emissions compared to regular diesel. Its renewable, and it is not tied to Gulf coast, or OPEC – current cost is about $4.70 gallon – petroleum diesel is about $4.40 – at least I know where my money is going – they didn't limit me to 10 gallons either

Now if you are an industrious teenager and you have a friend that is a fry cook – you could get your fuel for free – surf's up

GREG: We've read that green cars are the new status symbol. Are the ladies impressed when they see you fueling up on Biofuel?

DAVE: My soon-to-be driving son thinks it's great. Kid – jeep – beach – surf. Does fine in the sand and off-road in general – lots of torque. My wife likes it – lots simpler to park than the SUV. Fun little car.

BILLY: If some green soul wants to follow in your footsteps, where should he/she start?

DAVE: Great used car market. Go get a diesel something. Anything made after 2005 is super. Diesel engines need no conversion. Biodiesel is a better solvent than petroleum diesel and at higher percent mixes may degrade seals and hoses in older engines, at a B20 mix that should not be a problem.

After that it's up to you...