The final location in Pilot’s B99 biodiesel retail program has opened in Dallas.

In March, Pilot celebrated the installation of what it said was the country’s first B99 biodiesel retail offering for commercial fleets at its travel center in Decatur, Illinois, through a collaboration with PepsiCo and ADM.

A second location opened in the spring in Des Moines, Iowa, with the third and final location opening September 16. 

B99 biodiesel is a lower-carbon fuel, manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled grease.

Historically, trucks with diesel engines have been able to run on biodiesel/diesel blends, such as 20% biodiesel or B20. However, higher blends of biodiesel caused problems, especially in colder ambient temperatures.

Optimus Technologies has developed an add-on technology that upgrades diesel engines to operate on up to 100% biodiesel.

Frity-Lay on B99 Biodiesel

Frito-Lay out of Topeka, Kansas, is operating a Volvo VNL sleeper tractor with an Optimus Technologies system using B99 biodiesel in the Run on Less – Messy Middle demonstration program being put on by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency.

The truck is a Volvo VNL day cab with a Volvo D13 engine using B99 biodiesel, fueling on-site and at Pilot Flying J.

Adam Buttgenbach, director of fleet engineering and sustainability for Pepsico, told NACFE, “Outside of the range of EVs and renewable natural gas vehicles, we leverage biodiesel as the third leg of that strategy for our over-the-road fleet to decarbonize those operations.”

Scott Offerman, head of marketing for Optimus Technologies, stressed that biodiesel is a renewable fuel.

“It’s something that’s clean. When it burns, it’s getting rid of up to 90% of the carbon emissions that would come out of the tailpipe of a commercial vehicle [using diesel].”

Pilot: Supporting Fleets Committed to Reducing Carbon Emissions

According to a news release, biodiesel can improve fuel efficiency and help reduce carbon emissions in commercial trucking. 

"We know how important sustainability is to our customers and strive to help meet these growing needs for more sustainable fuel options for commercial fleets," said Eric Fobes, head of renewables at Pilot, in a news release.

"Introducing B99 at our travel centers is another way we support fleets committed to reducing carbon emissions.”

At the Dallas ribbon-cutting ceremony, Karl Thomas, Optimus Technologies director of strategic partnerships, explained, “Really, the goal for us is how do we impact millions of trucks? How do we impact this industry at scale?

"It's about fuel. Are you going to buy a biodiesel truck if you can’t fuel? This is just the third travel center of many to offer B99, and we hope this unlocks biodiesel at scale.” 

This initiative is supported by the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Illinois Soybean Association Checkoff Program, and the American Lung Association.