Center for Transportation Research and Education

About the research

Biodiesel is a sustainable fuel for use in any diesel engine and can be adopted in varying blends from 5% biodiesel (B5) to 100% biodiesel (B100). Blends up to B20 can be used in most diesel engines with minor or no modifications. For biodiesel blends greater than 20%, advanced technologies can be integrated into existing vehicles to ensure compatibility and successful performance. B5 and B20 are the most commonly used biodiesel blends, while B100 is less commonly used due to pricing, a lack of regulatory incentives, and performance concerns.

A number of agencies have expressed interest in evaluating the use of B100 in their maintenance vehicle fleets, but concerns with engine maintenance and performance have hampered adoption. As part of a pilot program, the Iowa Department of Transportation invested in B100 conversion kits for several new and existing snowplows in July 2020.

The objective of this research was to conduct an independent evaluation of the impact of adopting B100 biodiesel on the performance of the Iowa DOT snowplow fleet, including impacts on fuel economy, maintenance, carbon reduction, and driver/maintenance personnel concerns. The resulting information can be used to address concerns and assist agencies in decision-making regarding the adoption of biodiesel in their fleets.