Vegetable Oil Powers New Southland Rental Car Option 'Bio-Beetle' POSTED: 2:40 pm PST February 27, 2006 UPDATED: 3:00 pm PST February 27, 2006 LOS ANGELES -- The environmentally aware are about to have a new rental car option in the Southland -- "Bio-Beetle" vehicles powered by vegetable oil. Hawaii-based Bio-Beetle Inc. announced Monday that it would open Bio-Beetle Eco Rental Cars Tuesday near Los Angeles International Airport. Full Article *************************************************** 400-800 miles per GALLON?! Are they serious?!?
I think the 400-800 miles suggested in the news piece a mistake, probably talking about range on a tank rather than range on a gallon. In practice bio-diesel cars get roughly the same MPG on a gallon of biodiesel as they get on a gallon of petroleum diesel, but with roughly 80% less net carbon emissions. Now I know where I'll be getting a rental in case my car is ever indisposed.
My buddies friend rented one a week ago in Maui. The company negoicated a price of $2.50/gallon with the bio-diesel refueling station. Gas price in Maui is $3/gal of gas. That was a great deal.
