Converting to Biofuel?
My husband justified buying the almost-vintage 1.2.3 body (according to him it will become a collector’s item in a few years’ time) Mercedes Benz to me by telling me the following:
- It runs on diesel (Diesel is cheaper than gasoline here).
- It’s the ONLY car he’ll ever ever want to drive and therefore will NEVER want to buy a new car (Yeah, right! If he finds a ’68 Volkswagen Beetle for sale… I bet he’d buy ANOTHER vintage car.)
- It’s safe (It should! It feels like I’m inside a tank when I ride in it).
- It’s value will appreciate in time (but what’s the point since it’s the ONLY car he’ll drive???).
- He can convert to biofuel without tinkering with the engine later on (he wanted to concoct his own biofuel but time isn’t on his side – too busy).
After asking him time and time again if he’s sure. Really sure that he can take the headaches (and heartaches) of restoring that car to its former glory. I mean, an old car will have its kinks and attitudes (every car has its own personality, I believe.) that he’ll have to deal with on a daily basis. He told me he was ready for it so, okay, fine. Go ahead.
Actually, he had me at “biofuel”.
Now, I’m thankful he did. We got rid of one car and is now using his beloved Benz. He hasn’t converted to using biofuel but it takes an aching wallet to spur us into action.
As you can see the image to your right, gas prices went up again. Diesel prices back in 2005 were at P25/liter (about $0.50/liter at the time)… now it’s practically doubled at P55.26/liter ($1.23/liter). Earlier today, we discussed that we’ll convert to using gassing up with biofuel. I’m all too aware that there’s still much debate on whether or not biofuel is as efficient as it is worked up to be but it costs about $0.22/liter less and for us, it makes a huge difference.
Whether or not biofuel is good alternative to diesel, its properties are more organic and less harmful to our ground water. Plus the fact that it’s much cheaper than the alternative. I’m happy to say that we are reducing our carbon footprint even though we’re mostly driven by cost. We have always intended to do so.
Good thing he bought that car. Though I was pretty much against it, I’m glad he did in more ways than one. 
July 9th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Our gas price at the pump keeps climbing too. It varies across the province, but here where I am, it’s up to $1.42/litre! I was shocked when I saw it, and I wonder where it’s going to end.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:51 am
[...] had a conversation with my husband about my earlier blog post: “Converting to Biofuel?” and how I was looking for a photo of his car in my computer to add to that post but [...]
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
[...] wrote about Philippine fuel costs last July 7, 2008. I was complaining how high it has gotten within a span of 2 months. At the time, diesel prices [...]