EKOS Communications, Inc.

Biodiesel

Parks Canada is using biodiesel fuel in a variety of equipment ranging from small turf mowers to a large tractor, and in other heavy equipment such as loaders and heavy trucks.

Biodiesel fuel is made from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil, animal fats or tall oil (a waste product of pulp and paper processing).

Biodiesel is created by separating out glycerin from oil to create "methyl esters" (bio-fuel) which can then be blended at any level with petroleum diesel. Unmodified diesel engines in cars, buses, trucks, tractors and boats can all use biodiesel. Not only does the fuel burn cleaner, but it increases engine life as a result of the built-in lubricant.

Biodiesel fuel combusts better than conventional diesel fuel and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. All diesel engines can use low-level biodiesel blends. The most common mixtures are B5 to B20, which are a blend of petroleum diesel with 5 to 20 percent of biodiesel. Some additives may be needed during winter months, to keep the fuel flowing properly through the engine.

In November 2005, the province of Manitoba launched a 10-point action plan to ramp up the use of biodiesel including the removal of all taxes on the biodiesel portion of blends with diesel fuels, development of a biodiesel preference policy to apply to government tendering, a long-haul trucking demonstration project and encouraging fleets to switch to biodiesel thus increasing the demand for it.

For more information:

Manitoba Energy, Science and Technology www.gov.mb.ca/est/energy/agr

Ethanol

Ethanol-blended fuel is on the rise throughout many areas of North America and the world. Ethanol fuel is a mixture of conventional gasoline and ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol typically produced by fermenting and distilling grain (such as corn), and as a fuel source it burns cleaner than most fossil fuels. When mixed with gasoline (typically 10 % ethanol, to 90% gasoline), a fluid more commonly referred to as "gasohol" is created that can be used in any non-diesel vehicle in place of gasoline.

Ethanol as a motor fuel and fuel additive is being used across the globe. Brazil currently possesses one of the single largest ethanol fuel industries in the world. In Brazil, ethanol is created using sugarcane, rather than corn. This country produces enough ethanol fuel each year to replace approximately 40% of its gasoline demands. All vehicle fuel sold in Brazil contains at least 25% ethanol.

For more information:

Canadian Renewable Fuels Association www.greenfuels.org

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are quiet, environmentally alternative to gasoline powered cars. They're battery powered and do not emit greenhouse gases. The electric cars being used at Riding Mountain National Park were manufactured by Dynasty Motorcar of Delta, British Columbia and are designed to seat two people with some extra room for cargo or storage. To keep an electric car running, the vehicle must be re-charged when not in used by being plugged into a slightly modified electrical outlet.

Not only do electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions, but they are 80% more efficient to operate than gasoline-powered vehicles and there is virtually no noise pollution.

For more information:

Dynasty Electric Car Corp www.itiselectric.com