The biodiesel revolution just got a roaring new symbol: a 1999 Harley-Davidson running not on gasoline, but used cooking oil. Alex Jennison, a 22-year-old engineering student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), converted the iconic Heritage Softail into a working biodiesel motorcycle using fryer grease collected from campus restaurants.
Biodiesel revolution hits the highway
Jennison’s bold project is part of a university initiative to test alternative fuels for UBC’s 400-vehicle fleet. Rather than following the electric trend, he leaned into something simpler: waste. By converting vegetable oil into fuel, he created a clean-burning solution that tackles both carbon emissions and food waste.
To prove the concept, he’s riding the custom Harley on a 1,931 km trip down the U.S. West Coast powered entirely by homemade biodiesel.
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Inside the biodiesel-powered Harley
Why this Harley? Jennison chose the 1999 model because it was the last to feature a separate engine and transmission, making the swap easier. He removed the original engine and replaced it with a three-cylinder Kubota diesel motor, then modified it to run on biodiesel.
The result is a street-legal bike that smells like fries and emits 74% less CO₂ than traditional diesel engines. It’s gritty, loud, and surprisingly clean.
Why the biodiesel revolution matters now
Electric vehicles aren’t the only path to sustainable transport. Jennison believes the biodiesel revolution offers a more ethical and immediate option, especially as EVs raise concerns around lithium mining and supply chain abuses.
Used cooking oil is local, free, and abundant. Refined into biodiesel, it becomes a circular fuel source that doesn’t require rare minerals or billion-dollar battery factories.
What sets this Harley apart in the biodiesel revolution?
- Powered by waste oil from local restaurants
- Emits 74% less CO₂ than diesel engines
- Uses a retrofitted Kubota tractor engine
- Road-tested over 1,931 km
- Designed to challenge EV-only thinking
Grease, grit, and a new kind of green
The biodiesel revolution isn’t flashy, but it’s real. Jennison’s Harley may run on leftovers, but the message is fresh: green innovation doesn’t always come from high-tech labs. Sometimes, it comes from the back of a kitchen and a student with a wrench.
