As with the automobile industry, many recreational boat owners are also looking for ways to “boat green” and lessen the environmental impact as they begin transitioning away from fossil fuels. The problem with all this greenness is that it currently costs a lot of green, and not everyone has the desire or funds to purchase a new hybrid or electric vessel.
The trick to making the transition from fossil fuels to greener alternatives more attractive to the average boater is providing a suitable bridge between the two—one that allows boat owners to start on the path toward electric or completely renewable fuels without the need for new boats or major modifications to existing engines. That’s where the benefits of the new sustainable marine fuels showcased at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show really shine.
“With a focus on sustainability, marine fuel advancements in reducing emissions are one of several ways the marine industry is working to lower CO2 emissions,” said Jeff Wasil, director of Environment, Health and Safety Compliance at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so we are focused on providing boaters with access to a variety of technologies and products that make it easy and affordable for them to do their part to minimize CO2 emissions, including fueling your boat with sustainable marine fuel.”
The three fuels highlighted by NMMA (PurFuels Ethanol-Free Reformulated Gasoline, Neste MY Renewable Diesel, and EcoGen Ethanol-Free Gasoline) are “drop-in” fuels, meaning they can be used in current craft without modification to the engines. The benefit of this approach is that it gives boaters an opportunity to start green boating now with their current boat rather than having to wait for that newer boat or engine.
Here’s a look at each of these renewable fuels.
PurFuels Ethanol-Free Reformulated Gasoline
HYPERFUELS recently announced that it is marketing PurFuels ethanol-free gasoline to petroleum distributors and gas station convenience stores in 12 states: Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
“This sustainable fuel is now available to the petroleum industry and can be available to consumers at a local gas station,” said Jess Hewitt, president of Houston-based HYPERFUELS. “We can show any petroleum distributor, with access to gasoline blendstocks or E0, how to create an ethanol-free gasoline and at the same time improve octane. Our program allows any dealer to start selling premium ethanol-free gasoline.”
HYPERFUELS is responsible for all marketing of the product to petroleum distributors and gas station convenience stores where it can be offered as an alternative to ethanol-blended gasoline. PurFuels brand of fuels includes not only the above-mentioned ethanol-free gasoline, but a number of boutique fuels as well, such as nitromethane, methanol, and 2-cycle premix gasoline.
Neste MY Renewable Diesel
Neste MY Renewable Diesel (R99 diesel) is a Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a drop-in option that is chemically identical to and performs like fossil diesel, meaning it can be used at any ratio (blended or non-blended).
Made from 100 percent sustainably sourced renewable raw materials, R99 diesel meets ASTM D975 and EN 15490 specifications, meaning it is 100 percent compatible with all diesel engines without the need for modification. The company states that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions up to 75 percent (compared to fossil diesel), while providing reliable cold weather performance and is free of sulfur, oxygen, and aromatic compounds. Neste MY Renewable Diesel is available on the U.S. West Coast and meets California Low Carbon Fuel Standard requirements.
VP Racing EcoGenFuel
“VP Racing is excited to showcase our new EcoGen fuel, which is a drop-in fuel for gasoline-powered boats,” said Mark Walls, director of Research and Development, Fuel Technology and Quality at VP Racing. “EcoGen delivers the same performance and range as current fuels but adds 10 percent renewable content to reduce the carbon footprint of the recreational marine industry.”
EcoGen is a non-alcohol alternative to ethanol and butanol-based fuels that helps meet the demand for higher-octane cleaner burning fuels for the recreational marine and off-road markets.
Alan Cerwick, VP Racing’s president and CEO, states, “With our experience in developing over eighty race fuels, our chemists applied their expertise to solving a problem and answering a need. Innovation is what VP is all about.”
The benefits of EcoGen touted by VP includes improved fuel economy (higher energy content than standard pump gas), low water affinity (a plus for marine use), reduced carbon and tailpipe pollutant emissions, and no ethanol corrosion of fuel system components. EcoGen fuel is available at limited locations in Texas; however, the company says it has plans to expand into the southern Gulf states and Florida by 2024.
While renewable fuels may not be the goal with regard to a complete transition from fossil fuels, the improvements and increased availability of more eco-friendly drop-in fuels provides an easier option for greener boating. If boat owners purchase these fossil fuel alternatives, the availability of sustainable marine fuels and e-fuels will only increase, greatly assisting the goal of carbon neutrality for recreational boating.
