The government have implemented a big change, which has affected all petrol vehicle owners. The traditional ‘Unleaded’ petrol we are all used to, has now been replaced with ‘E10’ petrol.
This new petrol is made from a blend of fossil fuels and renewable ethanol. It has already been implemented across Europe, Australia and the US.
What is the difference between E10 petrol and E5 petrol?
E5 petrol, or ‘super unleaded’ petrol as we commonly know it, is 95 octane and contains up to 5% ethanol. Whereas E10 petrol is a lot higher in octane and contains up to 10% bioethanol. This change only has an impact on petrol vehicles. Those that require diesel will not be affected by this change.
Why has E10 petrol been introduced?
The main reason for this change is due to the huge environmental benefits of switching to E10. This change will see a reduction in CO2 produced from petrol vehicle emissions. This will help reach the targets set out by the government in regards to climate change.
By switching to this new fuel, we could see a reduction in CO2 emissions from up to 750,000 vehicles This is the equivalent of taking 350,000 vehicles off the UK roads. Not only does implementing E10 reduce the impact the automotive industry has on the planet, but it also produces a useful by-product which is used as animal feed, the rest is used as stored CO2.
Can my vehicle use E10 petrol?
It is important to know how this change has affected you. There are some vehicles that cannot use E10 petrol. The Government have advised that this is around 5% of the vehicles in the UK. This includes classic cars, vehicles manufactured before 2011, some machinery and gardening equipment, boats and jet skis, and also mopeds, particularly if they are under 50cc.
If your vehicle does not take the new E10 petrol, you will need to keep using the E5 petrol. However, this will only be available in higher octanes of 97+, which is typically known as ‘Super Unleaded’. Using E10 petrol is unfortunately not as economical as other options, however this is only marginally and too small to really notice in day-to-day driving. Of course, this depends on your driving style including tyre wear, wheel alignment etc. All of these factors contribute to fuel efficiency.
All vehicles manufactured since 2011 will be compatible, whereas older vehicles may not. Check if your vehicle can run on E10 petrol here
What happens if I put E10 into a non-compatible vehicle?
Putting E10 petrol in your vehicle rather than E5 will not have a major affect on your vehicle like switching petrol for diesel would. However, we would not suggest that you make it a common mistake that you make. On a one-off accident, your vehicle should be fine. Just finish using the E10 petrol and ensure you fill up with E5 next time.
The two types of petrol are perfectly safe to mix together, so you do not need to worry about the fuels mixing when topping up your fuel tank.
