E10 Fuel Is Coming – How Will It Impact You?

Due to EU regulations, so-called ‘greener’ fuel is coming to the UK. Named E10 fuel, it contains 10% bio-ethanol and is being rolled out across the UK as part of the Government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conforming to the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive. This requires 10% of road transport energy to be from renewable sources by 2020.

What Car? undertook the first ever real-world tests on the new blend of petrol. Until now, the fuel had only been tested in laboratory conditions and the potential impact on fuel economy had not been communicated to motorists.

Testing showed that  E10 is less efficient than the current E5 (up to 5% bio-ethanol) blend of fuel across every engine type tested. This means cars have to use more of the new fuel, costing drivers much more each year.

“The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the detrimental effect of E10 on fuel economy is between three and four percent, but even our small sample of tests proves otherwise,” Chad Hallett, Editor-in-Chief said.

“To lead consumers into E10 without fully communicating the significant impact on fuel economy, particularly for drivers least able to absorb the extra costs, is irresponsible.”

It’s not just economy that is harmed by the use of E10 – CO₂ tailpipe emissions also increased in every vehicle tested by What Car?, although the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership asserts that these increases would be partially offset by the renewable properties of bio-ethanol and the fact that the crops used to produce it absorb CO₂ while growing.

Overall, the What Car? tests suggest that more powerful cars cope better with a higher ethanol content, leaving smaller cars – often bought by drivers on a tighter budget – worst affected.

Furthermore, not every car on the roads will even be able to use E10 – the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says that 92% of UK cars are compatible, but that leaves approximately 1.5 million petrol vehicles potentially at risk. These are more likely to be older vehicles, again of the sort owned by those on tighter budgets.

Visit http://www.whatcar.com/e10 for the full story.