The National Biodiesel Board has awarded General Motors with this year’s Innovation Award for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel. The annual award is given to the individual, organization, or company with the best new product, idea, research results, invention or marketing strategy which furthers biodiesel developments.
The Cruze Diesel is the only passenger sedan sold in the United States which supports the use of B20 biodiesel blends. B20 is a mixture of 80 percent regular diesel and 20 percent biodiesel, which lowers carbon emissions and reduces dependence on petroleum fuels. According to GM, cars running on biodiesel emit 90 percent less Nitrogen Oxide and particulate emissions compared to conventional diesel.
The Cruze Diesel delivers 46 mpg on the highway, better than any non-hybrid passenger car in America. GM claims the car can travel about 717 miles on a single tank, but when we tested it, it didn’t just beat that figure, it crushed it, travelling 817 miles between fuel stops.
GM says biodiesels are just one component of their strategy to reduce the carbon footprint left from driving. Increasing production of electric vehicles, improving efficiency in gas engines and producing vehicles powered by Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas are all part of GM’s diverse sustainability strategy.
Comments
GM should continue to improve this Diesel engine to run on pure organic fuels (zero petroleum), so America will never need to import oil, and all fuel need is home-grown.
Using 100% biodiesel, made from pennycress oil, is the most economical and efficient (economically and environmentally) way to go. Any diesel engine, built after 1991 can run 100% biodiesel with no engine modifications. GM is moving in the right direction. Hooray for GM. Come on Ford, I thought you are “think Ford first”!!