Biodiesel Used in GSMA Truck

The purchase in 2004 of a diesel delivery van by the Great Smoky Mountain Association has proved itself to be a good one. The van is used to transport merchandise from the warehouse to visitor centers, and the new generation engine gets very good mileage and produces much less pollution than a regular diesel or gas vehicle.

“Standing right beside it,” says Terry Maddox, GSMA Executive Director, “You can’t hear it or smell it.”

A Maryville supplier provides biodiesel and delivers the fuel to a tank at the Sugarlands center in the park. The fuel is 20% vegetable product and some of it comes from recycled fat from restaurant deep fat fryers.

Next year, regular diesel will be refined in a new process that will remove sulfur and other pollutants and the park vehicles will be able to use either fuel. Biodiesel fuel gets about the same mileage as gasoline, but it burns cleaner with less pollution.