Toyota and PTT to develop BHD

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. and Thailand’s PTT will jointly study and develop bio-hydrogenated diesel or BHD. They announced their R&D collaboration with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Toyota Motor Thailand and PTT Research and Technology Institute. Under the MOU, Toyota is responsible for the development of fuel-related components and materials, the manufacture of automobiles fueled by BHD, and test runs, and PTT for the development of BHD. The two parties, together with Thailand’s Kasetsart University, have already been working for several years on a joint project to develop first-generation biodiesel and gasohol based on jatropha and palm oils, as well as the technology to efficiently extract these oils. The two companies say that since BHD can be produced from various sources of raw materials, including non-food feedstock such as jatropha and seaweed, this would help reduce the current supply shortage of feedstock. (June 12, 2008)