Much has already been written about the subject of B10 biodiesel, which still hasn’t been introduced despite plans to have done so. Delayed several times, it was announced last November that its implementation has been deferred indefinitely, although that move was said to have been due to the unfavourable price of crude palm oil versus that of regular diesel.
A lot of the reservations about the fuel centres around the fuel’s suitability for Malaysia’s diesel-powered vehicles, and there’s been no shortage of conjecture on that front. Over the past year, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has been actively seeking to clear misconceptions and address public concerns regarding B10 through various forms of engagement and explaining aspects of B10 in detail.
Still, nothing like actual field tests to offer reliable evidence as to the suitability of B10, and that’s what the MPOB has done, announcing that the fuel has aced a long-term test carried out by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
In just a little over three-and-a-half-years, more than three million km of independent testing has been carried out on B10 by DBKL without a single case of fuel-related breakdown being experienced. The authority has been one of the first third-party consumers of B10 biodiesel – testing commenced in January 2014 involving 50 vehicles of various sizes and engine capacity, from pick-up trucks and five-tonne lorries to vans, heavy machinery and excavators.
These vehicles obtained their supply of B10 via two 16,000 litre skid tanks at DBKL, and in terms of mileage, accumulated an average between 60,000 to 70,000 km of travel, with one of its five-tonne lorries recording more than 200,000 km. The vehicles in service with DBKL’s fleet range from three years to 15 years in age, and are Euro 2 and Euro 3 compliant.
Two specific vehicles, a Nissan Navara pick-up truck and a Nissan five-tonne lorry are due for a more detailed inspection involving an engine tear down, which is expected to be jointly-conducted by MPOB, Nissan Japan and Edaran Tan Chong Motor.
According to Muhammad Alif Muhammad Noor, a mechanical engineer at DBKL’s mechanical and electrical engineering department, the city council is seriously considering extending the use of B10 to its entire 2,040 vehicle fleet.
“The use of B10 biodiesel is in line with DBKL’s very own policy of creating a greener city. What is most obvious is that B10 has reduced exhaust emissions and lower toxicity levels compared to petroleum-based diesel,” he explained. In a Department of Environment (DOE) free acceleration test to measure Hartridge Smoke Unit (HSU) levels, the DBKL vehicles using B10 registered a HSU reading of between 2.7 and 2.8, well under the stipulated level of 50 HSU.
Positives were also reported by those using B10 out in the field. “The use of B10 also registered minimal fuel savings. We normally consume about 11 litres per hour, but with B10 that consumption was reduced to 10 litres per hour. What is visibly obvious is the reduced smoke emissions when the machine is in use,” said Hamdan Main, the driver of DBKL’s Hitachi excavator.
The difference in power between B10 and the current grade of commercially-available diesel for heavy vehicles was negligible, according to five-tonne lorry driver Rahman Ismail, who is primarily responsible for ferrying heavy loads of tree trimmings and averages between 70 and 80 km of travel a day. This was echoed by Ballu Subayan, who drives DBKL’s general workers in the Nissan Navara pick-up truck daily.
The B10 blend that is slated to be introduced at petrol stations nationwide consists of 10% palm methyl ester and 90% regular diesel fuel. Cleaner Euro 5 diesel will remain on a B7 blend, as will all diesel fuels sold in the highlands such as Cameron and Genting Highlands.
The MPOB says the formulation is not only cleaner, but superlatively more beneficial – it has been estimated that the introduction of B10 and B7 for the transport and industrial sectors will remove emissions equivalent to 600,000 cars on the road.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
So bmw, merc all stupider than them?
They create their own engine, but these clowns know about their engine more than them?
Tak boleh tu tak boleh la.
What about Indonesia..? They were using B20 biodiesel now..
Sell those excess FED palm oil to Indonesia so no problem
What lies. 3 million KM is like to the moon la. Even moon also few hundred thousand km
you sure 3 miilion km???
YB
3 million / 50 vehicles = 60,000km average per vehicle
U sure they lied?
Interesting how the gomen is actively pushing for B10 when our main Ron95 petrol is still dinosaur Euro2 standard. The will to upgrade to Euro4M seems lacking, planned for Oct 2018 (Euro5 proposed for 2025). Current Euro emissions standard is Euro6, with Euro2 superseeded in year 2000) We have been stuck in Euro2 standard for at least 17 years, whereas Thailand & Indonesia has surpassed us (& in many other things too).
Gomen “hidden” agenda in this biodiesel seems to be utilising excess palm oil rather than “go green” environmental factors. Money & protectionism as usual the driving force.
it’s not about who knew more about what cars. ever wonder why only japanese vehicles took part in the test and none from europe.
3 mil km compared to 7000km for jazz hybrid? Pfft!
Palm oil should remain as food not fuel. Excess production should result in cheaper cooking oil n food products. But now with compulsory demand for palm oil as fuel, cooking oil will stay pricey.
In bolehland oni…Bolehland produce a lot palm oil annually but cannot sell in Europe because of ban for use in food. Some Europe country buy palm oil as fuel for their bio-diesel plant.
Palm oil, as sold in KK or 99 or the likes, r not that exp actually. Slightly above, for profit margin. Most cost goes to packaging, unless buy polybag type.
And too many on shelf wud then become bad go waste.
Can also make biodiesel from used cooking oil. Problem is, not enough quantity vs fresh palm oil. Plus gomen need to use up the excess palm oil, hence the biodiesel idea. It’s never about the “go green” environmental factor, it’s about money.
Its about killin 2 birds with 1 stone.
this b10 is from used/recycle cooking oil or fresh palm oil ?
Easy to implement only… price it RM 0.50 cheaper than normal diesel because IT IS a cheaper blend.
Been running P1 Saga for 25year w cooking oil. No issue
“We normally consume about 11 litres per hour, but with B10 that consumption was reduced to 10 litres per hour.”
Just this statement I know that MPOB and DBKL are a bunch of liars. All researches in the world will tell you that palm oil has lesser energy content than petroleum diesel. Any lawyer would like to sue MPOB for spreading lies?
Best thing is MPOB could have funded universities or independent firm to conduct the research independently as a thesis. Why MPOB is giving all these findings?
Of course the results are lies based on the palm oil owner’s pocket. Petroleum diesel now is RM1.90 per liter, palm oil bio-diesel is RM2.80 per liter.
Sometimes I wonder who are the people running this country.
Talking about saving the environment by using a Euro 2 and 3 compliant engine vehicle is same as like puasa but sleeping the whole day
B10 for pick-up trucks, five-tonne lorries, vans, heavy machinery and excavators.
Their trustworthiness is as good as then saying they will cover any pothole within 24 hours. There is nothing trust worthy of a test done by the same people with huge vested interest in it especially money wise
Come back and tell us when your Biodiesel can actually generate more milleage than regular diesel. We all know this will not happen since regular diesel has more energy content than biodiesel. Conclusion is, the end-users will have to pay more for biodiesel since your vehicle will consume more fuel.