Champagne gets a lift from bio-diesel

Local business takes earth-friendly approach to luxury limousine service

Matt Terrell
Vail, CO Colorado
January 15, 2007

 
EAGLE COUNTY - A strange mix of excess and conservation - that's Seth Bounds' 2002 Ford Excursion.

It's a behemoth of a vehicle: 7,190 pounds, V-8 engine, barely fits in a home garage. It eats fuel like we suck air. There's plenty of room for legs and luggage, which makes it perfect for his limousine service.

When Bounds picks up passengers from the Eagle County Airport, they notice that the champagne and snacks they're eating are organic. They watch a DVD, talk and relax. He mentions that his uniform is cleaned at Avon Natural Cleaners and that the car was scrubbed with environment friendly products.

And they're really surprised when they find out that the Excursion, a vehicle not usually associated with fuel efficiency, is running on bio-diesel. Bounds, owner of Green Limousine in Vail, has been making a living on what some people don't even realize is possible.

"A lot of people we serve don't realize you can do this with bio-diesel, thinking it's only something hippies in Southern California use." Bounds said. "It's something I believe in with my whole heart."

Bounds used to drive for a limousine service in Austin, Texas. The amount of gasoline used, he said, was unbelievable.

"They wanted to save on gas, but they didn't realize there are other options out there," Bounds said.

He kept that in mind when he moved to Colorado five years ago to ski. When he decided to start his own limousine service, something he's always liked doing, he wanted to do it with an environmental conscious.

This is the second year for Green Limousine, and Bounds is starting to see regular clientele. Most of his business revolves around the airport and people who don't feel comfortable navigating the mountain roads.

He said he's only booked one client so far who was specifically looking for a green limousine service. For the rest, there's a bit of education involved. 

"We're not trying to be in your face, but we do like to spread the word about how we do things," Bounds said. "And a lot of rides say they like what I'm doing. I'd like to think that people here in the valley, which is such a beautiful place, care a little bit more."

For now, Bounds has to travel out of county for his bio-diesel. He goes as far as Denver, Carbondale or Steamboat Springs to get his fuel. He wishes there were fueling stations closer and believes people in Vail would use it.

Jeff Probst, chief executive of Blue Sun Bio Diesel, said use of his product is growing in Colorado, but some places still need convincing.

"A few years ago, no one from any government would answer my calls," Probst said. "We are now statewide though, and it's the guys who suck in the air and worry about global warming who make the difference."

He believes Vail, for instance, will become more interested in using bio-diesel when the customers start saying, "Where's it at?"

"Change is difficult though, especially with private companies who are looking at the bottom line and money," Probst said. "It may take another few years."

Bounds said it won't be long before he's running his Excursion on straight vegetable oil.

"It's a step beyond bio-diesel," Bounds said. "You're basically recycling used fry oil in your car that comes out of McDonald's fries. It reduces emissions, greenhouse gases, and it doesn't need to be refined."



Staff writer Matt Terrell can be reached at 748-2955 or mterrell@vaildaily.com.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20070115/NEWS/101150046

 The flagship of Seth Bounds' Green Limousine fleet is this Ford Excursion, which runs biodiesel fuel. He also serves organic wine and beer in the back and cleans the truck with natural products.

Kira Horvath/Vail Daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Bio-diesel? 
Bio-diesel is a processed fuel derived from biological sources such as vegetable and can be used in unmodified diesel engines. It can be used in an engine by itself or blended with petroleum based diesel fuel. 

Engines require modifications to use straight vegetable oils or waste vegetable oils as fuel. Bio-diesel is generally considered to be better for the environment because it's made from renewable resources and has lower greenhouse emissions compared to petroleum diesel.

Green Limousine Home
Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation Magazine

Jan 17, 2007 

Limousine Company Proves Itself Totally Green 
EAGLE COUNTY, COLO. — Green Limousine in Vail, Colo. runs its Ford Excursion fleet strictly on bio-diesel fuel, organic champagne, and snacks, and cleans its vehicles with only environmentally friendly products. 
“A lot of people we serve don’t realize you can do this with bio-diesel, thinking it’s only something hippies in California use,” said owner Seth Bounds. “It’s something I believe in with my whole heart.” Bounds even has his uniform cleaned at Avon Natural Cleaners. 

The two-year-old company is starting to see steady clientele and does most of its business in airport transfers and people who prefer not to drive the mountain roads. Bounds said his clientele are not specifically in search of a green limousine service but become educated during the experience. Green Limousines’ bio-diesel supplier, Blue Sun Bio Diesel, said use of its product is growing in Colorado. 

Source: Vail Daily News, Colorado 
http://www.lctmag.com/index.cfm?action=news&type=view&days=60&nid=b9c90114-5894-4569-b381-a792805ee38d