Find Biodiesel with your Cell Phone!

Those with diesel-powered vehicles (including big-rig truckers) would be more likely to refuel with biodiesel* if they knew where to find a filling station that carried it. Websites such as the Department of Energy's Alternative Fueling Stations Locator can help. However, the internet is not always accessible, particularly when on the road.

A new company called NearBio has created a growing database of over 1000 biodiesel filling locations across the United States. What makes NearBio special is that it delivers its database to your cell phone through either wireless internet access or text messaging! The free service includes driving directions, the phone number, and the blends available at the five closest locations. This service is good news for producers of biofuels, as it will help to stimulate demand for the product.

The picture below is of NearBio's mapper, and shows all of the U.S. biodiesel locations currently in the database, color coded by type of blend**:



* Biodiesel is a type of fuel that can run in existing diesel-engined vehicles. The "Bio" refers to the fact that it is processed fuel derived from biological sources. Biodiesel results in significantly fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel when burned. Some of the biological sources (or "feedstocks") for this fuel include: virgin oils (rapeseed and soybean oils are commonly used, though other crops such as mustard, palm oil, hemp, jatropha, and even algae show promise); waste vegetable oil; animal fats such as tallow, lard, yellow grease, and the by-products of the production of Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil; sewage; etc.

** The blends of biodiesel refer to the "B" factor used by much of the world to state the amount of biodiesel in any fuel mix. For example, fuel containing 20% biodiesel is labeled B20, and pure biodiesel is referred to as B100.

Thanks to Wired for the tip.