MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

PetroCard is committed to advancing the mobility, reliability, and productivity of their customers—to enrich lives today and create a better, more sustainable tomorrow. To that end, PetroCard is leading the industry in the transition to greener and more sustainable fuels and lubricant solutions. PetroCard supports the mobility of thousands of commercial, national, and municipal fleets in the Northwest and is eager to support customer carbon reduction goals with “now solutions” for greenhouse gas reduction in transportation activities. PetroCard is proud to provide customers with knowledge and access to sustainable solutions such as renewable diesel (R-99), compressed natural gas, and environmentally friendly lubricants.  

  

What is Renewable Diesel? 

Renewable diesel is a high-quality diesel made from non-petroleum renewable materials that do not release new carbon into the atmosphere. It has the same molecular composition as petroleum diesel. In fact, it meets the exact same American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard as conventional diesel - D975. Renewable diesel is a drop-in fuel, meaning it can be blended with any ratio of conventional diesel or used in its pure form. It is fully compatible with all diesel engines and requires no vehicle modifications. This enables quick and easy switching between diesel types without conversion costs to vehicles or storage infrastructure. It has a high flash point and zero aromatics which makes for a safer and more pleasant working environment. The clean burning nature of renewable diesel is evident from the first fill as it is truly clear, colorless, and has no smell. 

 

Renewable diesel is not biodiesel. Biodiesel and renewable diesel have different manufacturing processes that result in products with different molecular structures—biodiesel is a methyl-ester and renewable diesel is a hydrocarbon. Renewable diesel does not contain oxygen and therefore does not present the same freezing, storage, and algae growth nuisances that biodiesel may present at higher concentrations. There is no limit for the amount of renewable diesel that can be blended with petroleum diesel because they are chemically identical. Both renewable diesel and biodiesel can help fleets reduce their carbon emissions.  

  

Reliable Access  

In addition to a robust commercial fleet fuel offering, PetroCard holds multiple competitively bid municipal contracts for conventional and renewable diesel in the PNW that can be leveraged to include new state and municipal fleet customers. Supported by staff and facilities statewide, customers access PetroCard’s fuel services via a large network of commercial fueling stations, bulk delivery, and mobile on-site fueling.  

 

PetroCard features renewable diesel at four commercial sites in Oregon alongside conventional diesel dispensers. Moving forward, the company plans to expand access to additional locations in both Oregon and Washington. The company actively promotes the use of this climate-friendly diesel drop-in product throughout their bulk and mobile fleet delivery network.    

 

Making a Greener Choice 

Using renewable diesel can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions up to 85% depending on what materials it is made from. Waste products such as tallow and used cooking oil have the greatest reductions while vegetable oils are slightly less. Renewable diesel has a higher cetane value than petroleum diesel, which means it combusts more completely in an engine. This results in a substantial reduction in tailpipe pollution, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, total hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. 

 

Fleets that have made the switch to renewable diesel note immediate, noticeable improvements in maintenance costs and vehicle performance thanks to this cleaner burning fuel. As a drop-in replacement, consumers are able to switch between both renewable diesel and fossil diesel with no adverse effects or equipment changes. Several PetroCard customers have already made the switch and are reaping the benefits of renewable diesel such as City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities, and Snohomish County. Snohomish County has been using renewable diesel to fuel roughly 40% of their diesel-burning trucks and equipment.  

  

Additional Sustainable Solutions 

PetroCard is a partner of Waste Management and offers a greener fueling option, compressed natural gas (CNG), at Clean N’ Green stations across the country. CNG is a natural gas mainly comprised of methane that is stored under high pressures. It is clear, odorless, and non-corrosive. CNG burns cleaner than gasoline and has an average reduction in emissions of 80%.  

 

PetroCard also supplies BioBlend, a full spectrum of industrial lubricant products that are environmentally friendly—without sacrificing performance or value. Using environmentally responsible formulations and biodegradable products helps prevent environmental risks associated with petroleum spills. By moving away from petroleum, users can seamlessly transition to more sustainable, biobased products while also benefiting from enhanced environmental and carbon reduction objectives.  

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