Katerina Swanson
Due to its strict environmental regulations, California requires all vehicles on its roads to use a special blend of diesel fuel, known as California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG). This blend is designed to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins. CaRFG is considered the cleanest-burning fuel in the world, and its production costs are reflected in the pump price. California's diesel fuel blend includes renewable diesel, which is produced from non-petroleum sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats. This renewable diesel can be used as a direct substitute for conventional diesel or blended with biodiesel, which is derived from similar feedstocks. To comply with California's regulations, rental fleets must include language in their rental contracts stating that renters must use the appropriate renewable diesel fuel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Special blend name | California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG) |
| Blend type | Renewable diesel |
| Feedstocks | Soybean oil, used cooking oil, tallow, and other plant- and animal-based oils |
| Biodiesel blends | Up to B20 with diesel fuel and/or renewable diesel |
| Regulatory body | California Air Resources Board (CARB) |
| Goal | Reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins |
| Emissions equivalence test | Using a 2004-2006 Cummins ISM370 heavy-duty diesel engine |
| Fuel grade 1-D | Special-purpose volatile distillate fuel |
| Fuel grade 2-D | General-purpose, middle distillate fuel for automotive diesel engines |
| Lubricity limit | 520 µm wear scar diameter (HFRR test, ASTM D6079) |
| Cold temperature exemption | Applicable when temperature drops below 20°F |
| Reporting requirements | Daily reports of conventional diesel usage, fleet location, temperature record, and volume of renewable conventional diesel fuel |
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What You'll Learn
- California's fuel blend is unique and the cleanest-burning in the world
- Renewable diesel is chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel
- Biodiesel can increase oxides of nitrogen emissions
- California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard requires biofuel blending
- Chevron's diesel blend includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, and petroleum diesel
California's fuel blend is unique and the cleanest-burning in the world
California has strict environmental regulations, and as a result, every car on the state's roads uses a special fuel blend unique to California, often referred to as California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG). This blend is formulated to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins. CaRFG is considered the cleanest-burning fuel in the world.
CaRFG is created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The production costs for this fuel blend are higher than those for conventional gasoline due to the blend's unique composition and specialized refining process. The refining process starts in distillation towers, where liquids and vapors are separated into components according to weight and boiling point. The lighter, more valuable fuels are separated from the heavier products. From crude units, the products are then treated to remove sulfur and nitrogen, primarily by "hydrotreating". The Catalytic Reforming and Alkylation processes result in higher-octane fuels. After blending over 200 hydrocarbons and additives into the fuel, the finished product is stored in tanks, ready for shipping via tanker, truck, or pipeline.
California's fuel blend is unique in its composition and the specialized refining process it undergoes. The blend incorporates renewable diesel, which is produced from non-petroleum renewable sources, specifically vegetable oils and animal fats. Renewable diesel has similar chemical and structural properties to conventional diesel, allowing it to be used as a direct substitute for conventional diesel. It meets federal registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives and the ASTM D975-21 Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel.
In addition to renewable diesel, California's fuel blend also includes biodiesel, which is used as a diesel blend stock. Biodiesel can increase oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions in some engines, so its blend level is limited. Only renewable diesel complies with the 2022 amendments to the Off-Road Regulation. By January 1, 2024, all California fleets subject to this regulation will be required to use R99 or R100 renewable diesel fuel, with limited exceptions.
The state's blend is also characterized by its low carbon intensity. Chevron's Renewable Diesel Blend, for example, has a lower lifecycle Carbon Intensity (CI) than conventional diesel. This blend is primarily derived from renewable feedstocks, such as soybean oil, used cooking oil, tallow, and other plant- and animal-based oils. It also has a greater cetane number, improving cold start performance in certain engines, and high lubricity, minimizing friction and damage. California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) requires transportation fuels used in the state to be mixed with biofuels to lower their carbon intensities. This has led to a substantial increase in the consumption of renewable diesel in California since 2011.
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Renewable diesel is chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel
Due to California's strict environmental regulations, every car on the state's roads fuels up with a special blend unique to California, often referred to as California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG). This fuel blend is formulated to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins.
Renewable diesel is a fuel that is chemically similar to petroleum diesel but is 100% renewable and sustainable. It is made from non-petroleum renewable feedstocks such as soybean oil, used cooking oil, tallow, and other plant- and animal-based oils. The chemical and structural properties of renewable diesel are similar to those of conventional diesel. Renewable diesel is processed in a refinery, similarly to conventional diesel, but it does not rely on fossil fuels. Instead, it is made from vegetable oils and/or animal fats, which are renewable.
Renewable diesel is processed similarly to the way petroleum diesel is produced, which makes it chemically the same as petroleum diesel. It is produced using advanced refining processes and testing procedures for blending with renewable diesel. It undergoes a hydrogenation process rather than the esterification process used to produce biodiesel. Because it’s hydrogenated, renewable diesel doesn’t contain oxygen, and therefore users will not encounter the challenges biodiesel presents relating to freezing temperature and storage. Thanks to hydrogenation, renewable diesel also burns cleaner than biodiesel. Because it has the same chemical structure as petroleum diesel, renewable diesel can be used in engines that are designed to run on conventional diesel fuel—with no blending required.
There are several technology pathways to produce renewable diesel, including traditional hydrotreating, biological sugar upgrading, catalytic conversion of sugars, gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal processing, and other biochemical and thermochemical technologies. Renewable diesel meets the ASTM D975 specification for petroleum in the United States but not the minimum density requirement of 0.820 kg/m3 in the EN 590 petroleum diesel standard in Europe. However, it does meet the EN15940 standard for paraffinic diesel fuels.
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Biodiesel can increase oxides of nitrogen emissions
Due to strict environmental regulations, California requires a special blend of diesel fuel. This blend, called California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG), is designed to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins. As a result, California's fuel is the cleanest-burning in the world.
One component of California's special blend of diesel fuel is biodiesel, which is made from non-petroleum renewable feedstocks such as soybean oil, used cooking oil, tallow, and other plant- and animal-based oils. Biodiesel can be blended with renewable diesel and conventional diesel to produce a fuel with lower carbon intensity and improved performance in certain engines.
However, one disadvantage of biodiesel is that it can increase oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions in some engines. This "biodiesel NOx effect" has been observed in multiple studies and is a major concern, as NOx emissions contribute to air pollution and have negative effects on human health and the environment. The increase in NOx emissions due to biodiesel blends has been found to range from 1-7% for B20 blends to 10-30% for neat biodiesel (B100). The exact increase depends on factors such as the type of biodiesel feedstock, engine technology, and operating conditions.
The biodiesel NOx effect is influenced by several factors related to fuel composition and engine control strategies. For example, injection timing, ignition delay, adiabatic flame temperature, and radiative heat loss have all been found to play a role in the increase in NOx emissions. Additionally, the average drive cycle power affects the NOx increase, with higher power resulting in higher NOx emissions.
To mitigate the biodiesel NOx effect, engine control settings can be modified. For example, retarding injection timing and increasing exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) can help reduce NOx emissions. Additionally, using more saturated feedstocks, such as animal fats, can yield a smaller NOx increase compared to highly unsaturated fuels like soybean, rapeseed, and soapstock-based biodiesel.
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California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard requires biofuel blending
California has a unique fuel blend due to its strict environmental regulations. This blend, known as California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG), was formulated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins. As a result, California's fuel is the cleanest-burning in the world.
California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) requires transportation fuels used in the state to be mixed with biofuels to lower their carbon intensities. This has led to a significant increase in the consumption of renewable diesel, which is a liquid biofuel chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel can be used as an additive or a substitute for diesel fuel in vehicles, and unlike biodiesel, it can be transported and sold without blending with petroleum diesel.
The LCFS was implemented in 2011, and since then, California's renewable diesel consumption has grown substantially. Between 2011 and 2021, consumption increased from 1 million barrels to 28 million barrels per year, a more than eighteenfold increase. This growth is expected to continue, with U.S. renewable diesel production capacity projected to more than double by 2025.
Chevron, for example, offers a Renewable Diesel Blend that is sourced primarily from renewable feedstocks and has a lower carbon intensity than conventional diesel. This blend meets or exceeds industry standards and has a greater cetane number, improving cold start performance in certain engines. As of the end of 2022, renewable and biodiesel made up 47% of all diesel sales in California.
California's regulations require all fleets subject to the Off-Road Regulation to use R99 or R100 renewable diesel fuel in their vehicles by January 1, 2024, with limited exceptions. This regulation ensures that there are no unwanted increases in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from older diesel engines due to the increased use of biodiesel.
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Chevron's diesel blend includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, and petroleum diesel
Due to California's strict environmental regulations, all vehicles on California's roads use a special blend of fuel unique to the state, known as California Reformulated Gasoline (CARFG). This blend is designed to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins, making it the cleanest-burning fuel in the world.
Chevron, a major fuel producer in California, has developed its own diesel blend to meet the state's environmental standards. Chevron's diesel blend includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, and petroleum diesel. The blend is designed to provide a lower life cycle carbon intensity than conventional diesel and to meet or exceed industry standards.
Chevron's Renewable Diesel Blend is primarily sourced from renewable feedstocks such as soybean oil, used cooking oil, tallow, and other plant- and animal-based oils. It is produced using advanced refining processes and testing procedures to create a high-quality biodiesel that can be blended with renewable diesel. The final blend typically consists of 80% renewable diesel, up to 20% biodiesel, and no more than 1% conventional petroleum diesel.
In certain geographies, the blend may be adjusted to include additional petroleum diesel to manage cold flow properties and improve cold start performance. For example, in the Pacific Northwest, the blend ratio may be adjusted to 55% renewable diesel, 20% biodiesel, and 25% petroleum diesel to prevent the fuel from freezing in extended periods of low temperatures.
Chevron's Renewable Diesel Blend provides several benefits, including improved combustion, reduced emissions, and higher lubricity compared to conventional diesel. It can be used interchangeably with conventional diesel in most modern vehicles, and it meets the ASTM D7467 specification for diesel fuels.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, California has a special blend of diesel fuel known as California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG). This blend is formulated to reduce air pollution, improve air quality, and decrease emissions of smog-forming pollutants and toxins.
California's diesel blend contains renewable diesel, biodiesel, and conventional petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel is processed in a refinery, similarly to conventional diesel, and meets the ASTM D975 specification. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is an alternative fuel made primarily from non-petroleum renewable feedstocks such as soybean oil, used cooking oil, and plant- and animal-based oils.
California introduced its special diesel blend due to the state's strict environmental regulations. The blend is designed to reduce air pollution and improve air quality, making California's fuel the cleanest burning in the world.
California's special diesel blend is produced by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The state also receives a large portion of its renewable diesel from Louisiana, which has been the state with the most renewable diesel production since 2011.
