What is eco-petrol?

George Sweeney (DipFA) — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 12:30:35 +0000

You may have come across terms like ‘eco-tourism’ or ‘eco-warrior’, but how about ‘eco-petrol’?

I’m going to explain all the details so that you’re crystal clear about what this type of fuel is, whether it’s any good and whether you should be sticking it in your car.

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What is the new E10 eco-petrol?

September saw the release of a new type of fuel into petrol stations all around the country. The technical name for this super fuel is E10.

Standard petrol has the much more lowly name of E5. The number following the E refers to the percentage of ethanol, so E5 petrol contains:

5% ethanol
95% regular unleaded petrol

Whereas the new E10 petrol contains:

10% ethanol
90% regular unleaded petrol

What are the benefits of using eco-petrol?

This new fuel contains less carbon than regular petrol and the extra ethanol is a form of alcohol coming from plants. I suppose this is why some people refer to strong boozy drinks as rocket fuel!

The whole point of introducing this new fuel is to try and help the UK cut carbon emissions. It’s slightly less-efficient than regular petrol, but the pay-off is a massive reduction in your carbon footprpint.

Where can you find this fuel?

In the majority of the UK, this new carbon-friendly fuel is already available at petrol stations. However, if you live in Northern Ireland, you will have to wait until 2022 before you can get your hands on it.

This eco-petrol is already the fuel standard in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and Finland.

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Is it safe to use?

The fuel itself is perfectly safe. Whether you should use it depends on the type of car you have because it’s not compatible with all petrol engines.

Thankfully, we’ve got a handy article that will help you see if your car is compatible with E10 fuel.

Is eco-petrol actually eco-friendly?

Although this fuel comes with big claims, it’s tough to say whether it will have the impact it promises.

Even though E10 cuts emissions and reduces the use of fossil fuels, it still has drawbacks:

Fuel economy is around 1% lower
It doesn’t improve air quality
The manufacturing process of bioethanol can use a lot of resources

Eco-petrol is supposed to be a temporary stepping stone in the right direction as we move towards more mainstream use of EV (electric vehicles). Seeing as the government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, fuel arguments will slowly become a topic of the past.

How can you save money with your car and fuel?

Like all fuel at the pumps, this new eco-petrol isn’t designed to do good things for your wallet.

However, it’s still a good idea to make the most of things like Nectar points or rewards credit cards whenever filling up your car. Whichever fuel you use, savvy shopping like this can lead to savings in the long run.

Another easy way to slash the cost of running your car is by comparing car insurance policies to make sure you have the best deal possible. Always shop around before renewing. Paying for a cheaper quote with a cashback credit card can put some money back in your pocket!

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