What is E10 petrol and why is the UK introducing it in September?
The Government will be allowing E10 petrol into the UK from September 2021. But what is it? And does it affect you?
Everything you need to know about E10 petrol
The Government will be allowing E10 petrol into the UK from September 2021. But what is it? And does it affect you?
What is E10 petrol? E10 refers to the amount of ethanol allowed in petrol, in this case, up to 10 per cent. It’s not new: E5 (with up to five per cent ethanol) has been sold for a while. Diesel is unaffected by this change.
Ethanol is classed as a biofuel, a renewable fuel component made by the fermentation of sugars from plants such as sugar cane, wheat and waste wood.
Why do we need to use more ethanol?
The plants used for ethanol partially off-set the CO2 emissions by absorbing CO2 as they grow. Using less fossil fuel therefore helps cut CO2 and helps us meet climate change targets.
Are there any downsides?
Other parts of the world are using E10 already so the effects are understood. In fact cars built over the last few years will have been tested using E10 and the performance and fuel consumption figures will reflect this.
But is e10 petrol compatible with my car? Well while new cars are designed to run with E10 petrol, many older vehicles have components in their engines and fuel systems which may become damaged over longer periods because of bioethanol's corrosive properties. Specifically, the RAC recommends E10 is not used in cars registered prior to 2002.
What Car? revealed that E10 is potentially less efficient than the current E5 blend of fuel, with the problem exacerbated in cars with smaller engines.
What are the alternatives?
Some garages will still stock E5 fuel but many won’t have pump space and so E5 will continue to be available only for the higher octane ‘super’ petrol. This means drivers of older cars may have to pay more for their fuel.
What if I put E10 in an old car?
You might find it runs a bit rough but one tank-full is unlikely to cause damage; simply re-fill with the correct fuel once there is room in the tank.
By the end of the year, the government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation bill expects 9.75% of all fuels to be extracted from renewable sources such as biofuels. The introduction of E10 will contribute to the fight against climate change, aiming towards a greener footprint like electric vehicles. For more on electric vehicles and their sustainability, check out our blog here.