Car-switch to FPPO
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Car-switch to FPPO |
The conversion of a diesel engine to FPPO (Fairtrade Pure Plant Oils) = not using "biodiesel" ! = not using cheap and exploiting deep-frying oil (nog legal by the way) = driving Pure Plant Oil and driving Fair !
Before: It is hard for me as a musician to give concerts without a car or a (light) van. This idea sprung to mind at the beginning of this year after a meeting with an environmental organization and ecological company. I wanted to know how I, as an artist, could perform as human and as environmentally friendly as possible and in the most attainable and interesting manner by using renewable energy.This means no extra cost for the organiser (the same price per kilometre) but with an extra stimulation (namely an environmentally friendly artist). For the artist and the management of the artist, on the other hand, there is an extra though limited cost and therefore budget friendly… Seeing that someone has to take the first step, why not the artists? We cannot take public transport to get to venues. With all our instruments and material, that is impossible. We cannot limit our kilometres and consuming less is not as easy as it seems, as we appear to be the ‘product’ that is ‘consumed’ by the public. Nonetheless, the most important step remains that we drive less & more moderately and that we think about the necessity of getting the car out just to drive a few metres! Because we are burning everything we find on Our Planet, many times only because we like to have a 'good' time... (Wood, gas, fossil and plants fuel, forests, charcoal, water in the future ?,...)
However, it remains a personal quest to find your own way in how live human and environmentally friendly. Now, if everyone would drive an electric or hydrogen powered car (?), or pressed-air-car (google one moment those subjects), that would already be a nice change to more and more environmently transport, even though a car remains a piece of undegradable waste. You do not have to imagine that most existing diesel cars will be converted. It is possible and feasible for many. The older your diesel car, the easier it will be to convert and the better the combustion will be…Here below you will find some tips and facts and a short picture show. The information is especially interesting for people who need their car badly. Those of you who can take public transport or can sleep over (instead of driving to and fro twice), please do. Driving around with the car as little as possible is the best we can do and it will help a lot. Good luck and keep ‘energy’ in your forehead! Be prepared – FPPO offers many advantages! Several Belgian governmental departments as the FOD Volksgezondheid, Leefmilieu, Economie & Energie are sensitising Belgian Citizens!
I found Federale OverheidsDienst (België) Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu (see Milieu - Duurzame producten en consumptie - Producten - biobrandstoffen) in cooperation with the Federale OverheidsDienst (België) Economie, KMO, Middenstand en Energie (zie Energie) via www.zuinigewagen.be. They send me a leaflet with all the information on coleseed oil, also a PPO. The leaflet also gives you sound advice and lets you know that the government encourages the use of coleseed oil and that they have conducted their own research.
If you want to receive this leaflet, you can mail to info_environment@health.fgov.be or dial the number (0032) (0)2 524 95 26 and ask to receive it. The leaflet also mentions the KB from 2006 that states hat Coleseed oil as a PPO remains tax free. The reason it is tax free is because there are no subsidies because of the high production cost and because the user has to pay for the conversion costs himself.
Here an excerpt from the leaflet issued by the Belgian Federal Government Dep. Environment - May 2007:
THE ADVANTAGES of COLESEED OIL ( = FPPO ) :
The climate: Coleseed oil reduces the total CO2-emmission and therefore counters the climate changes.
The environment: It is a renewable energy source, a natural product, and biodegradable, harmless to groundwater and does not contain any sulphur or heavy metals.
Supplies: Coleseed oil is a renewable energy source. Our country will be less dependent on the importof fossil fuels from oil producing countries.
Health: The oil is not poisonous. When it is burned, it emits less carcinogenic particles which is positive for the environment and our health.
Technique: It provides better lubrication and the engine wears off less quickly.
Agriculture: Coleseed is a good soil improver. The culture offers new possibilities to farmers and bee-keepers and ensures employment in this vulnerable sector.
My car drives a lot easier, so better lubrication and combustion...
And the smell of the outlet is the same as that of oil heated in a pan…
What I also like is that the use of coleseed oil is totally CO2-neutral. As much CO2 is emitted as is done by the plant during its life cycle...
Another positive consequence is that I think more about the use of my vehicle how to use it, and if I should use it
Advantages for the emission: no longer heavy metals and sulphur in the exhaust like with diesel engines + the emission of little soot particles is 50 % less than with for example diesel fuel. totally CO2-neutral !!! no superfine and cancer-provoking dust, entering our bloodway immediately through our lungs like it happens to be by the new CO2-low-emmission-cars !!! Soot particles 50 x bigger and hair in the nostrils stops it there already.
Status Quo or reduction as far emission is concerned: NOx (ozon) is not higher than for example with diesel fuel between 90 en 120 km/h (highway speed) NOx lower than with diesel fuel using your car moderately (untill 90 km/h - average speed) > by new cars after re-using emission-gasses. In this way the atoms of oxygen become free of the emissionmolecule. For the newest cars, using software solutions can reduce the NOx-values to 1/3th of the value when using diesel fuel (untill 90 km/h - average speed) Expenditure ~ the same Tractive power ~the same (inquiries by contacting www.ppo.be - testing results KULeuven 2007 / University)
Disadvantages? Possibly you will have to install an extra tank in the car if you want to drive solely on FPPO (available in all shapes and sizes) + switch 1 button when you start en at the five final kilometres (= switchover from diesel-PPO-diesel. You need diesel to start up the car during the winter.) + you have an extra fuel filter for FPPO to replace in some systems, the same time you would do with a diesel filter also. (on the other side less replacement of your dieselfilter, depending on the distances you drive on FPPO) + in Belgium, it is needed to keep the proof that you bought this fuel legaly (keep it in your car)
Facts:
>>> Look locally for a PPO-supplier and/or converter who thinks globally (Fairtrade PPO)
I
found one and converted my light van via and they also deliver my PPO to my house where I have fuel tank with a capacity of about 1200 litres. They can guarantee me that the oil they deliver comes from fair trade. That is why I changed PPO to FPPO, so you can enquire how fair your fuel is. The fuel I get is delivered by a farmer from Gistel (Flanders) who cultivates and presses the coleseed himself. He receives a fixed and fair price per litre . The oil all comes from regionally cultivated coleseed. Coleseed oil will never be imported for example from Africa or South-America without consent, whenever demand should increase. Nor is it cultivated on soil which was previously woodland but cut in order to gain a larger production and profit in a short period of time. Other kinds of oil can be applied as well… and there already exist some agreements on this point. The result is that Africa becomes a PPO-continent, with all its consequences if there is no fair trade. Green Energy Creations has also cooperated on the basis of the development of the electronic build-in device.
At the same time they are working explicitly within local networks, which also helps them to keep the transport distance of their PPO down. By doing so, they boost the regional agriculture and. They also support initiatives like the Gents Ecologisch Centrum (GEC) by for example giving reductions on all their products to people who have bought shares of the GEC. On the one side, pure idealism, on the other side, networking in a positive and constructive manner…
They also give you the freedom to convert your car yourself with the help of the conversion module they sell or to let them convert is for you.
FPPO is a wonderful product as it is also supporting Artists for Mother Earth's 5 acting points, against threats to The Planet and Mankind, as there are our pollution and intoxication of our living place, the Earth & ourselves, the growing militarization, the increasing gap between poor and rich, the increasing scarcity of natural resources, the rise of nuclear energy and weapons when used in a dignified way
>>> Look for a Fair-trade PPO filling station in your neighbourhood
Enquire via www.ppo.be and/or install an FPPO tank at home and get your supplies direct from a FPPO farmer. Large orders can lower the cost per litre for everyone…
I wanted tobe as sonsistent as possible and drive as much as possible on FPPO. So I chose to completely convert my van in order to be able to drive solely on FPPO. Because you still need diesel to start the car and at the end at the drive, my car has a special build-in module which allows me to switch and to take care of an inferior emission. Because it is possible to drive on a mixture of diesel and FPPO bút (!) combustion and emission are worse than using dieseloil or FPPO seperately, because of their different properties and heating values.
If you cannot find a FPPO supplier in your surroundings, you can always contact local farmers or organizations like , who can in their turn take up contact with a FPPO supplier. Every farmer can and is allowed to cultivate coleseed and press it cold. There is even an organisation for (F)PPO farmers (more information at Green Energy Creations) or co-operative partnerships where farmers as well as Fppo-drivers participate, like f.e.
You can also ask your local mechanic whether he would like to do the conversion. Or you can start up a little company in your neighbourhood that specialises in FPPO and conversions to FPPO.
You will possibly find a link at FPPO-artists to a company in your neighbourhood/country and the people of www.ppo.be can also help you to put you on your way. Ask them!
>>> Let everyone know of the fact that your are driving on FPPO
Put it on your car, mention it on your website, in your mails, in your letters...
and do not forget to mention that you only use FAIRTRADE PPO (FPPO).
Feel
free to copy and use this logo: and put a link to this website to this website www.artistsformotherearth.org behind it.
>>> What does this mean financially?
> Going less than one or twice on holiday a year? > A cheaper Christmas present? > in 2006 Flemish people spend an average of 516 EUR per present > Plundering your savings account to invest? > Many people save a lot. It even reaches the headlines of the news. > Learn how to save > instead of consuming, learn how to consume less? By the way, this is good for a lot of things. > ... ???
The costs for conversion are*: 1. DIY: +/- 900 EUR (excl. VAT) electronic conversion module (f.e. Econet Bvba) +/- 120 EUR for placing an extra tank (see overview) in the car for FPPO (is rather large, about 70 l for a van, smaller ones are available as well) + fuel pipes and electrical wires. + possible reductions can be reached upon agreement with the supplier.
2. Let them convert your car: This will amount to between 1500 and 3000 EUR, depending on your car and the company that provides the service. + possible reductions can be reached upon agreement with the supplier.. + you have the possibility of choosing your own mechanic.
Fuel costs*: Pric per litre depending on any possible reductions (e.g. via chares, agreements, large quantities...) The big advantage is that it makes you supporting your own region and direct environment (see other advantages above) Furthermore, you can enter into regional (fairtrade) agreements with a local farmer or an organization or honest ecoligical company (with f.e. a Co-operative Partnerschip of farmers and Fppo-drivers) to deliver larger amounts to for example your own tank at home. This can be interesting concerning price agreements between drivers and farmers, both benefiting.
* These prices are the basic prices as I received from Green Energy Creations in April 2007.
Calculate and count !!! With a conversion of about 2,000 EUR, you will recuperate the conversion cost entirely after you have driven between 100,000 and 300,000 km. All, of course, depending on your costs, cost per litre and the fact whether or not you can declare it on your tax form. This is easily attainable for any diesel car. An extra cost at the beginning for which you can save until you have enough (= feasible) and at the end a guaranteed lower cost label (better lubrication + less wear and tear). This is mostly reached after a few years of driving, after which you will still be driving cheaper and still as human and environmentally friendly as before. Still doubting? Then go and have a look at a converted car and/or drive a few kilometres with it. Or for more information, contact www.ppo.be>>> For whom should FPPO be self-evident?
Artists, Self-employed, Companies, Lorry firms, (Federal) Public services, Provincial services, City services, Local diensten, Ministers and their co-workers, the different regions, Journalists, Tv the Police, the Fire brigade, Ambulance services… and YOU.
Picture show: conversion by Pether – the first artist on FPPO
8 hours lifetime / conversion time ánd lots of fun ...
grateful to those two hands and this face ...
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
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