10/12/06 Promoting Biodiesel

Promoting Biodiesel. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. DaimlerChrysler representatives are in St. Louis yesterday to announce biodiesel factory fill for Dodge Rams built in St. Louis. DaimlerChrysler wants to reintroduce the American public to diesel passenger vehicles. And with the changes in diesel technology over the last 15 to 20 years - DaimlerChrysler spokesperson Max Gates says these vehicles have a lot to offer U.S. customers. But there are challenges - which is why Gates says every 2007 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Diesel Pickup that comes off the assembly line at a Missouri plant will be fueled with B5 - a diesel blend that contains five-percent biodiesel made from soybeans grown in the U.S. GATES: We recognize there are some challenges to diesel engines particularly meeting emissions standards and we think biodiesel is the natural component of bringing diesel back into the United States. It improves the environmental performance of the vehicle that has some good effects on engines and it helps us with what is really a national issue right now which is our dependence on oil for our transportation system. So there's lots of good things about biodiesel and renewable fuels and we see this as one small way to start educating the public about the benefits of biodiesel. Gates says DaimlerChrysler recognizes those benefits and the benefits of advanced diesel technology - including 30-percent better fuel economy and up to 20-percent reduction in carbon dioxide - and wants to be sure the public recognizes them as well. He says consumers can enjoy these benefits and get high performance vehicles at the same time. Because DaimlerChrysler is touting the benefits of clean, renewable biodiesel - and bringing that renewable energy option to Americans - National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe says they're helping the country address its energy situation - ultimately contributing to the strength and safety of the nation. Jobe says DaimlerChrysler is really on the leading edge of advanced diesel technology. And according to Gates - that's exactly where they want to be... GATES: Through our combination with Mercedes-Benz of Germany and Daimler-Chrysler Corporation we got access to some great diesel technology. They are really, probably the world's leaders in engine building and design and so we benefit from that. It's a natural progression from expertise we already have and we want to continue to build on that. We might be the leaders now but we know we need to keep working at this if we want to keep that position because I think we are going to get a lot of company in the diesel vehicle market very soon. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.