Truckers have another option under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Oberon Fuel's biogas-based dimethyl ether (DME).
The EPA approved Oberon Fuel's biogas-based DME as meeting its RFS and found that it reduced greenhouse gasses by about 68 percent when compared to baseline diesel fuel, according to the company.
"Our customers are engaged in heavy-duty applications and need the power and torque of a diesel engine," said Susan Alt, Volvo Group North America's senior vice president of public affairs. "Oberon's DME offers that power without the need for the cryogenics or high compression associated with other diesel alternatives. We look forward to continuing our work with Oberon to demonstrate the benefits of this clean-burning, non-toxic diesel alternative for the heavy truck industry."
DME can be made from anything that contains methane – food, animal waste, wastewater and landfills, and natural gas. It's non-toxic, too, and is already used in hairspray and other products, according to Oberton's president, Rebecca Boudereaux.
What's good about DME is that it doesn't congeal or thicken in colder climates, like diesel does.
DME mirrors the performance qualities and energy efficiency of diesel, and burns clean without producing any soot, according to Volvo.
