FUEL FOR THOUGHT
A songstress with talent, wit and a heart of green, Brooklyn-based
April Smith converted a diesel bus to run on veggie oil to save money
and the planet. April may be pulling up to re-fuel at a fast-food joint
near you, but we were lucky to catch up with her just before she and
Mr. Belvedere set off on their eco-friendly cross-country tour.
AP: When & why did you decide to use vegetable oil for your tour bus?
AS: I did this because I was shocked at how much gas we burned traveling to
Austin in 2007. It really seemed a shame to me that we didn't have a better
alternative. I decided that the only way I would tour was if I could do it on
veggie oil. And once I decide to do something, there's pretty much no
changing my mind.
I had wanted to do this for a few years, but I needed a diesel bus to convert.
It's not easy to find an inexpensive diesel bus in good condition. And the
bigger, full-size buses are harder to maintain so I wanted a smaller bus. But
I'll probably move on to a diesel RV next. For now, Mr. Belvedere (our bus)
will do just fine.
AP: Mr. Belvedere?
AS: Our last tour vehicle was Mrs. Garrett, an 86 Vandura. We outgrew her pretty
quickly and she used a lot of gas. So we are getting rid of her. We figured we'd
stick with the 80's sitcom names. We hope Mr. Belvedere will take care of us as
well as Mrs. G, may she rest in pieces.
AP: Where did you find an inexpensive diesel bus in good enough condition?
AS: I just searched ebay and craigslist for months until I found the right bus. You
just have to know what you want and make sure that you don't buy something on
an impulse.
AP: How did you determine what you would need to outfit your bus – is there
a kit or an organization that supplies a list or instructions?
AS: I connected with a friend who is actually a wiz when it comes to this stuff.
He converted his own car and was up for the challenge of a bus. He's
seriously one of the smartest people I've ever met. He's currently designing an
on-board filtering system for me.
AP: From start to finish - how long did it take you to find &
retro-fit ?
AS: Just a week or 2 really. The hardest part is getting all of the parts you need
and getting them to arrive on time. A lot of this stuff isspecialized so the parts
often need to be made before they're shipped.
AP: How large of a container will it take to fill your tank &
what does that usually cost?
AS: our veggie tank hold 32 gallons. So we can probably get about 320 – 375
miles from one veggie tank, depending on how many people and how much
equipment we have with us. We also plan on taking 2 (two) 30 gallon drums of oil
as back-up. It will probably wind up costing about 1-2 bucks a gallon, which is
great.
AP: What brand of vegetable oil will you use - does it matter if
it's a name brand or generic? Or will you be using used restaurant oil?
AS: I'd love to be sponsored by Wesson because then it would be "Smith &
Wesson" which would be pretty funny. In all seriousness, it doesn't matter what
brand but more what type of oil you use. Canola is the best. And the less it has
been used for cooking, the better it is for your tank. We're hoping restaurants here
in Williamsburg will be kind and give us whatever they can.
AP: If restaurant oil - do you get it from a dealer or do you
pull up to the drive-thru window? Is that free?
(Do you think a fast food chain might fund your tour??)
AS: No, you have to give the restaurant containers and they will fill them for you.
Then you pick them up every few days and filter them before using them for fuel.
AP: Will the fumes smell any differently than regular diesel?
AS: They will smell like whatever was cooked in the oil. A lot of people say
veggie buses smell like popcorn.
AP: Apparently converting a car engine to burn vegetable oil is
not officially legal, though the EPA & Government haven't charged anyone with a
crime. Are you concerned about that or do you think, with gasprices so high & the
economy so low that they won't bother
self-sufficient, eco-friendly artists?
AS: It's not legal, but I don't know that the government is all that hard on veggie
car owners. I think that as long as you pay a road tax, you should be fine. And
we're still using diesel, just significantly less than we would if we couldn't run on
veggie oil. we can also run the bus on biodiesel so if they do crack down, at least
we've got that. I'm sure it won't be long before the government gets involved,
which is unfortunate. But at least we can feel good about what we're doing for the
time being.
AP: How much will it cost to retro-fit your bus?
AS: About 2k after all is said and done.
AP: How much do you expect to save?
AS: Thousands of dollars and millions of people!
AP: Will this be permanent or just for this tour?
AS: This is permanent for sure. I want to perfect my system and oil filtering
methods so that we're a self sufficient band. Then we can help other bands do
the same.
AP: Have you been getting press about this?
AS: Well we just did it so not too many people know yet. We have done a few
interviews and we have some lined up already. We can't wait to go to
Chicago. I heard that there's a huge green marketplace and I'm dying to take
Mr. Belvedere there! That just sounds so strange, doesn't it?
AP: Do you have any other green initiatives – packaging, sign up sheets for
environmental causes, etc?
AS: We're looking for like-minded groups and companies to team up with.
Ideally, we'd love to be sponsored by companies that are really trying to
reduce their carbon footprints and green up. We also want to have solar
panels installed on the bus so we can charge phones and run small things like
laptops and GPS devices.
I'd also like to introduce more green merch..but that's coming soon so you'll
find out!
AP: Describe your music & your fan base:
AS: I'd say that my music is like a retro pop sounds…sort of like the Beatles
meets the Andrews Sisters. My fan base is really diverse and sort of all over
the place. I met this guy recently who was all inked up and built like a tank
and he was like, "Colors is the best song ever!". I was so floored by that!
AP: How have your fans responded to this?
AS: My fans have all told me that they're really proud of what I'm doing. I've
been talking about it for so long so I think everyone's hoping maybe I'll shut
up for a minute. But I think they're all excited for me.
AP: How have other artists responded?
AS: Other artists have expressed interest in doing the same thing, which is
really great. When I have the money, I'd like to buy an RV and convert it to
be super green. Then I'll sell the bus to a band who promises to carry the
torch for me.
AP: Do you think that all artists can easily turn more green?
AS: Yes, it's actually not that hard. You don't need a diesel bus with an extra
tank. You can limit your waste as a band…don't drink bottled water. Get a
brita pitcher and some plastic tumblers. Start composting. Ask for green
packaging when you order CDs. Print on recycled paper. The list is endless!
AP: Where should artists go to learn more about your efforts & learn how
they can be more eco-friendly?
AS:Just go to my Myspace page (www.myspace.com/aprilsmithmusic) and read
my blogs. I'm trying to keep them current so that everyone can watch Mr.
Belvedere's transition. He's going to be such a ladykiller.
