Later this year, UK filling stations will begin offering a more eco-friendly petrol which the government intends to make the new standard grade fuel.
Sounds great, right? While this eco-friendly alternative will help reduce the UK’s consumption of fossil fuels and play its part in helping the country reach our climate-change goals, the main downside of E10 petrol is that not all cars will be able to run it.
So, what is this new petrol and will your current car be compatible? In this blog, we’ll provide all the answers you need about E10 and how it will affect UK drivers.
What is E10 Petrol?
While countries such as Brazil have shown it is possible to run cars on pure ethanol, the UK and other European countries have made it standard to blend petrol and ethanol.
The current petrol grade in the UK is known as E5 – otherwise known as 95 octane. E10 is simply fuel with a higher percentage of renewable ethanol and is set to replace E5 as the standard this summer. It is important to note that diesel and electric cars will not be able to use E10.
This higher percentage of renewable ethanol in E10 petrol (10%) will help to reduce CO2 emissions associated with petrol cars and tackle the prolific issue of climate change in the UK.
Eco-Friendly Petrol?
With the government’s plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030, it seems to be a real pipedream to think that petrol could actually be good for the environment. However, it is believed that introducing E10 petrol could cut CO2 emissions by up to 750,000 tonnes per year – the equivalent of taking over 300,000 cars off the road.
On the other hand, the idea of using carbon-neutral ethanol in fuel has been a matter of debate amongst environmental campaigners. As a plant based fuel, ethanol absorbs CO2 from the air as it grows, which offsets the CO2 emitted when it is later burnt – though there is debate around whether the two actually cancel each other out. Some campaigners also object to the use of plant based fuels on the moral standing that it could cause food shortages or even increases in food prices and tax.
However, the majority settle with the thought that if ethanol is even slightly better for the planet, then we should be using a higher percentage in petrol.
E10 FAQ’s
Can my car run E10 Petrol?
Around 95% of petrol cars are compatible with E10 petrol and as new cars are manufactured, this number is always increasing. As a rule of thumb, all cars made since 2011 will be compatible with E10 and most cars & motorbikes manufactured in the late 1990’s will also be approved.
There are a number of cars and vehicles which will most likely not be compatible with the new E10 fuel. These include classic cars, mopeds and some specific models of car from the early 2000’s.
To make it easier for drivers to find out whether their car is compatible, the government has launched an E10 petrol compatibility checker, allowing drivers to quickly find out if their car will be able to run E10. If your vehicle is not compatible with E10, E5 petrol will still be available at larger filling stations and the different fuels will be clearly labelled.
This website requires you to enter your vehicle manufacturer, model, engine size and the year it was manufactured.
What if I put E10 fuel in my older car?
Unlike filling your petrol car with diesel (or vice versa) and needing to drain your tank, using E10 in a car that isn’t compatible will not have any adverse effects as long as it is not prolonged.
If you accidentally fill your car with E10 when it is not compatible, your car won’t suffer any engine damage and you should simply fill up with E5 petrol next time. The RAC actually recommends that if you fill up with E10 by accident that you top with E5 after using a third of a tank.
However, prolonged use of a non-compatible fuel can cause more serious problems to your car, such as damage to rubber seals, plastic, metals and the engine.
Can I mix E5 and E10 Fuel?
As long as your car is compatible with E10 fuel, it is perfectly safe to mix E5 and E10 in the same tank or to fill up with E5 if E10 isn’t available.
Where will E10 be available?
As the new standard grade of petrol in the UK, E10 petrol will be available at the majority of petrol stations across the country. Smaller filling stations may only sell one of the two fuels as standard, however larger petrol stations should stock both grades.
Both petrol grades will be clearly labelled on the petrol dispensers, making it easy for you to check you are filling with the correct petrol.
Will E10 be more expensive than E5?
Once E10 fuel is introduced as the standard grade in the UK, it’s expected to be the cheaper option. This is simply due to its availability across the country and does not reflect on the quality of the petrol.
However, it is estimated that the lower energy content of E10 fuel will slightly reduce the fuel economy of the cars which run it, resulting in a more frequent need to fill up and consequently, an increase in the amount spent on fuel over a longer period of time.