Bioethanol

What is bioethanol?

Like biodiesel, bioethanol is a liquid biofuel. It is made from starch plants (like corn, wheat and cassava), sugar plants (beet and cane) and sometimes cellulose plants (trees). It is produced first by fermentation, followed by distillation and finally dehydration.

How is bioethanol used?

Bioethanol can be used as a fuel in a number of different ways:

1. As a blend (ranging between 5 per cent and 85 per cent). As a 5 per cent blend it can be used in all petrol engines. However, higher E85 blends require some modifications.
2. As a direct substitute for petrol in cars with appropriately modified engines.

What are the environmental benefits of bioethanol?

E85 produced from bioethanol typically gives around a 24% CO2 reduction compared to petrol. (However the actual savings depend on the country of origin and the feedstock of the fuel.)

How much does it cost to buy and maintain a bioethanol vehicle?

A bioethanol vehicle costs around £500 more than the petrol equivalent. The running costs however are very similar.

Where can I refuel with bioethanol?

5 per cent blend bioethanol is only available at a limited number of outlets and is not generally advertised. The availability of higher blends is detailed on our refuelling map.

The availability of bioethanol in the UK looks set to increase as car manufacturers begin to produce vehicles that can run on all blends up to 85 per cent.

Is bioethanol currently being used anywhere?

Currently Brazil is the world's largest producer of bioethanol, with 45per cent of all fuel used in cars there being bioethanol. Brazil has two fuels - petrol containing 25per cent ethanol and 100 per cent ethanol. 60 per cent of new cars sold are 100per cent ethanol fuelled.

The USA and Sweden also have well-established bioethanol networks. The USA, for example, has 6 million E85 vehicles.

Technical information for bioethanol:

Manufacture - Made from crops e.g. sugar beet, wheat, wood (cellulosics). Requires chemical plant to convert it to alcohol (ethanol) in the same way as drinking alcohol is made. Additives are put in to stop it being used for drinking purposes.

Specification - There is a European specification being developed for E85 (85per cent ethanol / 15per cent petrol) blend. Other blends include E10. Current European specification petrol (EN228) can contain up to 5per cent ethanol without any need to declare it. Motor manufacturers warrant their vehicles to run on EN228. Although some manufacturers are happy for you to use a 10 per cent blend, provided it is obtained from a respected supplier (check before using).

Taxes - Gets a 20p/l duty reduction from the current (Oct 2005) rate of 47.1p/l

Environment - Depending on the production method and source, it is generally accepted that bioethanol gives a 70 per cent carbon dioxide reduction, which means 3.5 per cent in a 5 per cent blend or 50 per cent in an E85 blend.