In my post #120 of this thread, I pasted a clip from AOPA about the new Cessna "Turbo NXT" Diesel Skylane, later renamed the JT-A. It is one of the first biofuel compatible GA aircraft and it evens burns Jet-A rather than Swift fuel, or another avgas biofuel. It's ungodly expensive to most people, but it is also a solid move forward in this area. Here's a followup clip (you gotta like "game changer", now that's an original phrase).

Cessna website- Skylane JT-A
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Cessna Closing In On Certification For JT-A Skylane.

The Wichita (KS) Eagle (1/16, McMillin) reports, "Cessna Aircraft is nearing certification of its four-seat 182 JT-A Skylane equipped with a diesel engine, which is designed to burn jet fuel." The article notes with the "uncertain future for low-lead aviation gasoline," or avgas, "worldwide, Cessna officials said the 182 JT-A - with its 230-horsepower engine - is poised to be an industry game-changer." Brian Cozine, an engineer specialist in advanced design at Cessna, stressed that not only does it use less fuel than avgas engines, but can fly longer distances as well. Currently, the company "is scheduled for Federal Aviation Administration certification by the end of March, with first delivery in the second quarter followed by certification from European authorities in the third quarter."

West Lafayette-based [avgas maker] Swift Fuels expands reach into Europe

(02/01/2013, H. Colombo, JCOnline) The Purdue Research Park company that is working to develop a sustainable commercial replacement for aviation gasoline announced Friday that it has expanded its reach in Europe. Swift Fuels LLC has acquired 50 percent of German firm Swift Fuel GmbH, a move that will give it greater access to foreign investors. Swift Fuel GmbH was registered in January 2011 as a Swift Fuels subsidiary. The deal allows Swift Fuel GmbH the ability to license the intellectual property and technical expertise from the West Lafayette firm. “This is a major milestone in our efforts to broaden Swift Fuels’ market coverage and deepen our technical base,” said Swift Fuels chief executive officer Chris D’Acosta. D’Acosta would not release financial terms of the deal. The acquisition took place in Germany. “The strategy is to allow (Swift Fuel GmbH CEO) Thomas Albuzat and (civil engineer) Andreas Penner to serve as our partners in behalf of Swift Fuels LLC throughout Europe,” D’Acosta said via email. “They have contacts of potential investors. We thought our commitment to license our intellectual property and technical expertise (will) help position us with more European investors.”

Diesel Cessna JT-A on Track for Imminent Certification

(M. Phelps, Flying, 4/25/2013) With 13 airplanes on the production line, Cessna's jet-A-burning Turbo Skylane JT-A is on schedule for certification and first deliveries before the end of June. "We are on track," said Jeff Umscheid, business leader for the project. "We have been taking orders since [EAA AirVenture 2012 last summer]." The JT-A's SMA diesel engine is exhibiting a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency, compared with gasoline engines, said Umscheid, and its electronic engine controls (with mechanical backup) and single power lever simplify the pilot's engine management chores. "The reduction in pilot workload is substantial," he said. An important goal of the program was to market a Skylane able to use more widely available jet fuel, because avgas is scarce in many parts of the world. And even where it is available, leaded avgas is costly to manufacture and deliver, since equipment used to make and deliver it cannot be used with unleaded auto fuels. Cessna also announced its composite TTx is preparing for first deliveries in May. The first flight of a production airplane was in March. With a cruise speed of 235 knots, the TTx is billed as the fastest certified single-engine fixed gear aircraft. Brian Steele, business leader for the TTx program, pointed out that speed isn't the only virtue of the new model.
Its Garmin 2000 avionics suite includes touch-screen panels. Touch-screen control pads, air conditioning, side sticks, golf-bag-friendly baggage space and stitched leather on the seats contribute to the overall value.