Biodiesel in Vancouver, BC

4Refuel is the LEADER in fuel management services in Canada. We supply over 1 million liters per month of blended biodiesel to municipal and corporate fleets throughout the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Province of British Columbia. On-site biodiesel refuelling allows fleet operators to reduce overhead and improve efficiency since vehicles are refuelled during idle hours, saving you time and money. Last year our clients saved over $5.5 million in refuelling costs.

Find out more information about biodiesel or 4Refuel’s mobile fuel management offering.

British Columbia Municipalities Biodiesel Pilot Project

In 2004, the BC Municipal Fleet Managers Group (MFMG), representing 40 municipalities in Vancouver’s lower Mainland and Southern BC, undertook a biodiesel pilot project as a strategy to create awareness of the benefits of biodiesel.

The municipalities of Burnaby, Delta, North Vancouver, Richmond, the City of Vancouver and Whistler participated in the controlled study, agreeing to operate two vehicles on conventional diesel while running two similar vehicles on biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel was supplied by Canadian Biofuels Technology, Inc in 1000 litre totes in B100 (100% biodiesel) form.

Results of the Greater Vancouver Biodiesel Study

Petro-diesel and biodiesel may both thicken or “gel” in colder temperatures, which can clog fuel filters or become more difficult to pump from the fuel tank to the engine. Of the two, biodiesel is more prone to gelling. Lowering the percentage of biodiesel in the blend from B20 (20% biodiesel) to B5 (5% biodiesel) helps and is necessary in other provinces like Alberta . Vancouver enjoys relatively mild winter weather, and participants were able to use B20 fuel stored outside in normal January conditions, and no problems were reported.

In addition to gelling, due to its solvent properties, biodiesel may plug fuel filters as it picks up petroleum diesel residue from inside the fuel system. No problems were reported as the recommended filter changes were followed by the participants.

No negative effects were experienced in terms of operability. Increased power and driveability were reported by one group.

At the end of the study, it was concluded that B20 biodiesel effectively reduces emissions in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines without causing operational problems.

The BC Biodiesel Association and Fleet Challenge BC

Since 2005, the British Columbia Biodiesel Association (a division of the Canadian Biodiesel Association) has been working together with Fleet Challenge BC to help develop the local market for biodiesel fuel and work with all levels of government to promote policies, legislation and regulations affecting the biodiesel industry.

Fleet Challenge BC is funded by Natural Resources Canada and managed by the Fraser Basin Council. The program includes BC Biofleet which works with BC organizations to develop strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from on-road vehicles.

BC Biofleet / Biodiesel Demonstration Project

On April 1, 2005, the City of Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, Delta and Whistler embarked on a Canada’s largest biodiesel demonstration project for which private sector and Crown corporation fleets from these six municipalities will purchase up to 80 million litres of biodiesel blend over five years.

Among the goals of the project are increasing awareness of biodiesel and its benefits over petrodiesel among fleet managers, drivers and policy makers, building market confidence, developing biodiesel production facilities to bring biodiesel prices closer to petrodiesel and reducing air pollution.

The BC Biofleet Program – Education through Workshops

BC Biofleet held several successful workshops in various towns and cities in since the launch of the BC Biodiesel Demonstration Project that has attracted biodiesel consumers and suppliers from across British Columbia and Alberta. Topics ranged from preparing fleets for use and storage of biodiesel to production opportunities.

The BC Biodiesel Demonstration Project supporters include:

• Environment Canada
• Western Economic Diversification Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Vancity Credit Union
• West Coast Reduction Ltd.
• Fraser Basin Council
• The City of Vancouver
• BC Ministries of Agriculture and Food, Energy and Mines, and Water, Land and Air Protection
• Greater Vancouver Regional District
• Translink
• Vancouver Port Authority
• Vancouver International Airport Authority

BC Biodiesel Tax Exemptions

Effective July 1, 2004, ethanol and biodiesel are exempt from tax provided the biodiesel portion of the blend is between 5% and 50%, and mixed with clear gasoline or clear diesel fuel.

Contact 4Refuel today for more information on biodiesel fuel management in BC.