As part of its ongoing research into the lifecycle emissions of diesel-powered trucks compared to alternative-fuel trucks, the American Transportation Research Institute last week released a new report on the viability of renewable diesel (RD) fuel as a way to cut carbon emissions in the industry with minimal impacts on operations.
The new report looks at RD as an alternative to both traditional diesel fuel and battery-electric (BEV) trucks; the impacts of using RD on the environment, operations and its financial implications; and how the use of RD could be increased in trucking. Download the full report here.
Jeff Short, ATRI vice president, said previous research conducted by the group found that renewable diesel “looked a lot better” than battery-electric when considering the full lifecycle emissions, which includes mining for minerals for batteries, production of the trucks, use of the trucks, and recycling/disposal of the trucks. That study found a potential 30% decrease in life-cycle CO2 emissions of a BEV compared to a internal combustion engine truck using diesel, and a 67.3% decrease using renewable diesel in existing Class 8 trucks.
ATRI's research found an internal combustion engine using renewable diesel to be cleaner over the full lifecycle of the vehicle than battery-electric trucks.Charts courtesy of ATRI
The great thing for truck owners about renewable diesel, Short said, is it’s chemically identical to petroleum diesel, so no engine or equipment modifications are needed to existing diesel trucks. This makes it viable for long-haul, over-the-road operations, while BEVs are limited by range, weight and more.
“It’s absolutely identical to the diesel made out of crude oil that comes out of the ground,” he said. “It can be mixed in with petroleum diesel in any amount, or it can be used as a standalone.”
Bill Aboudi, the owner of 10-truck AB Trucking based in Oakland, California, said he’s currently using renewable diesel in his operation at the ports. He said he’s seen no change in his trucks since going to renewable seven years ago. He also experimented with biodiesel in the past -- an alternative fuel that’s chemically different from petroleum diesel that can be blended to use in existing diesel engines.
