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Henry Ford designed the first car to run on biofuel - ethanol. It was the Model T Ford.
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The inventor of the diesel engine - Rudolf Diesel - designed it to run on vegetable oil.
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As cars became more popular petroleum based fuel became more economical than biofuel and vehicles were designed to use gasoline and diesel instead of vegetable oils.
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The first generation, also called conventional biofuels, are those made from vegetable oil, sugar, or starches. Basically any first generation biofuel can be consumed as food.
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The second generation of biofuels are those that are produced through sustainable feedstock.
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The third generation of biofuels are those produced through algae, and have many advantages over the 1st and 2nd generation of biofuels because they don't have the same negative impacts on the environment.
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Most of the diesel and gasoline in Europe and in North America has been mixed with a percentage of biofuel.
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The biofuel ethanol is believed to reduce emissions and improve octane when added to gasoline.
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When biodiesel is added to traditional petro-diesel the engine life of the vehicle increases and emissions are reduced.
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Biodiesel can be produced by any plant that is capable of producing oils and fats.
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Algae can be used to create biofuel by converting carbon dioxide into fuel.
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Algae do not require the same amount of land as 1st and 2nd generation biofuels, but it requires a lot more water and fertilizer.
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Brazil and the United States together produce approximately 87% of the ethanol in the world.
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Coffee grounds can be used to produce biofuel.
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Biofuels can be a liquid, a gas, or even a solid.
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Animal dung is used as biofuel. Agricultural waste, food service waste, and municipal wastes can be used as biofuel as well.
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Primary biofuels are those used in their unprocessed form, and can include wood chips, pellets, or fuelwood.
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Secondary biofuels are those that must be processed from biomass to produce usable biofuel such as biodiesel and ethanol.
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Some people have converted their vehicles to be able to run on used oil. These people often recycle the oils used in restaurants for cooking French fries and other deep fried food and make it usable to power their cars.
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In Germany it is estimated that 3% of diesel used is biodiesel. It grows as it becomes more popular.
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Because biodiesel has a higher flash point (meaning it won't ignite as easy) than regular diesel, it is a safer fuel option.
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