As the trucking industry continues to evolve, fuel options are expanding beyond traditional diesel. Among these alternatives, biodiesel has gained significant attention for its potential benefits. What is biodiesel, and how does it compare to traditional Diesel #2? Let’s break it down.

What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel from natural sources like vegetable oils, animal fats, and even recycled cooking oil. Therefore renewable fuel is cleaner and more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based diesel counterparts. What makes biodiesel unique is that it’s often a blend of diesel #2, allowing truckers to reap the benefits of both fuels.

What is Diesel #2?

Diesel #2, or regular diesel, is the standard fuel for diesel engines. It’s a petroleum-based product refined from crude oil. Diesel #2 is widely available at truck stops across the U.S., making it the go-to fuel for many drivers. It provides good energy density, which means it delivers more power and efficiency per gallon.

Key Differences Between Biodiesel and Diesel #2:

• Source: Diesel #2 is fossil fuel-based, while biodiesel is made from renewable resources.
• Emissions: renewable fuel burns cleaner, releasing fewer pollutants and lowering environmental impact, while Diesel #2 has higher emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.
• Performance: Diesel #2 typically offers better cold-weather performance since biofuel can be more susceptible to gelling at lower temperatures.
• Engine Compatibility: Biodiesel can be used in many diesel engines, though older engines may require modifications due to their solvent properties, while Diesel #2 is compatible with all diesel engines and does not need any changes.

Can You Mix Biodiesel and Diesel?

Biodiesel is typically mixed with diesel #2 in specific ratios to create biodiesel blends like B5, B11, or B20. These numbers represent the percentage of biodiesel in the mix. B20, for example, has a 20% blend of renewable fuel and 80% diesel #2. These blends work seamlessly with standard diesel engines, providing truckers with an option to reduce emissions without sacrificing performance.

What About Costs?

Biodiesel tends to be more expensive when compared to traditional diesel; however, pricing can vary based on location. Some truck stops participate in the Blenders Tax Credit, which can lower the price of biodiesel blends, making them a more affordable option for truckers.

Where Can You Find Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is widely available at truck stops and fuel stations across the country, including many in the TCS network. Some TCS partners offering biodiesel include:

• Casey’s: Provides B11 to B20 blends year-round in 16 states.
• TA® and Petro Stopping Centers®: A reliable option for biodiesel year-round, including the famous Iowa 80 truck stop.
• Kwik Trip: Offers biodiesel blends ranging from 5% to 20%.

How to Save on Fuel

No matter what type of fuel you choose, keeping costs down is essential. To save on biodiesel blends* and diesel #2 at over 2,000 in-network locations get the TCS Fuel Card. On average, TCS cardholders save 50 cents per gallon**, which can add up quickly over time.

Sign up for the TCS Fuel Card and save on your next fill-up!

*TCS discounts apply only to biodiesel blends dispensed as diesel #2 at participating in-network locations.

**Average savings of 50 cents per gallon is based on actual in-network TCS client transactions for Q3 of 2024.