Today, biofuels can be a fantastic ally for electric transport, and therefore, for continuing to promote sustainability.

The use of biofuels is a rule to a greater or lesser extent around the world. Brazil and the United States are the largest producers at the global level and, together with the European Union, they are also the largest consumers. Above all, they are used as additives to diesel and gasoline in different percentages.

A bit of history and context

The term biofuels encompass all those liquid or gaseous fuels that are derived, in one way or another, from plant biomass. They may seem something new, but in reality, Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the engine that bears his last name, demonstrated that his machine was ready to run on vegetable oil. He did it at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, in 1900, using peanut oil.

Currently, the two main plant-based fuels are biodiesel and bioethanol. While the former is commonly used as an additive for fossil diesel, the latter is used as a supplement to gasoline. And how are the two biofuels different?

Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and fats and is changed through a simple chemical reaction to lose viscosity. For its production, palm, soybean or rapeseed oils are mainly used.

Bioethanol is ethanol derived from fermentation. It is mainly produced from sugar cane and corn.

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