• More biodegradable than sugar

• Less toxic than table salt

• Cleaner-burning than petroleum diesel

• Reduces the need for foreign oil

• Boosts local economies and agriculture

But, Biodiesel can gel at winter temperatures causing plugged fuel filters.

Solutions include:

• Additives to enhance cold flow properties

• Heaters for fuel tanks, fuel filters or fuel lines

• Storing vehicles in a building when not in use

Biodiesel blends are cleaner-burning in current diesel engines, usually without modifications. They provide similar horsepower, torque, and mileage to diesel. Biodiesel may be a candidate to replace fossil fuels as the world's primary transport energy source.

Biodiesel can be produced with

• Rapeseed and soybean oils

• Waste vegetable oil

• Animal fats including tallow, lard

• Byproduct from the production of Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil

Waste vegetable oil is sometimes promoted as the best source of oil to produce biodiesel. However, the supply is inadequate to make significant impact on worldwide consumption of petroleum-based fuels. At present, it remains more profitable to utilize waste vegetable oil to produce soap and other products. The supply of animal fats are also limited. If animal fats that would otherwise be wasted are used for biodiesel production, it could displace some use of petroleum diesel.

Research is now focused on improving oil yields from traditional crops, and finding or developing new high-production crops. Soybeans are currently the primary crop used in biodiesel generation in the United States. However, more efficient plant sources are needed to capture major market share for biodiesel.