Autoblog UK

2. Can my car run on bioethanol?

The German automobile association, ADAC, warns that the new ethanol fuels E50 and E85 are likely to cause costly damage to ordinary petrol-driven cars, since these are not adapted to run on them. It is a different story when the engine and its surrounding parts are compatible with the fuel. A specially-developed engine-management system recognises the particular fuel mix ratio, the valves and seats have been toughened and all parts that come into contact with the fuel are made from particularly corrosion-resistant materials. Thanks to an efficient engine-preheating system, the vehicle starts easily – even at temperatures below minus 15°C. Engine conversions are not an option – they would be far too expensive. A bioethanol-compatible car will usually be labelled 'Flexible Fuel Vehicle' or 'FFV' for short.

In Germany, the only models available at present are by Ford (Focus 1.8 FFV, Focus C-MAX 1.8 FFV), Saab (9.5 2.0t BioPower) and Volvo (C30 1.8F Flexifuel, S40 1.8F Flexifuel, V50 1.8F Flexifuel). The Ford models cost around €300 more, the Volvos around €400 more and the Saabs around €1000 more than the petrol versions. Any ratio of ethanol to petrol can be used, up to a maximum of 85% ethanol (E85), but the cars can also run on petrol alone. No additional fuel tank is required, unlike in other bivalent vehicles. Ordinary petrol engines, conversely, will only run on petrol containing a maximum of 5% ethanol or 15% ETBE (ethanol and isobutylene). This is specified in the fuel standard DIN EN 228. No indication of this is to be found on the petrol pumps, as engine performance is not affected.

3. Where can I fill up with bioethanol?

Until now, only a few service stations have stocked bioethanol, with striking names such as 'Bio Super' or 'CropPower85' (at OIL service stations). These are either the E50 (50% ethanol, 50% petrol) or the E85 (85% ethanol, 15% petrol). Warning: these fuels should only ever be used in 'flexible-fuel vehicles' (FFVs)!

4. Is it cheaper to run a car on bioethanol than on petrol?

You should reckon on using up to a third more ethanol than you would petrol, due to ethanol's 35% lower energy content. E50 and E85 cost between just 82 and 98 euro cents per litre. If you look at the price in relation to energy content though, you could say that it costs between120 and 130 euro cents per litre. Bioethanol is exempt from the tax on energy until the end of 2009, but prices could rise after that. As far as E85 is concerned, the tax exemption on its bioethanol content will continue until the end of 2015.

5. Is bioethanol better for the environment?

The carbon neutrality of bioethanol is most often cited as its major benefit. This assumes that only as much climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2) is released when bioethanol is used as was absorbed by the plants during growth. Since the plants are cultivated and, more significantly, since the bio fuels made from them are produced using fossil fuels for the most part, the carbon cycle is not closed. How significant to the CO2 balance sheet is the energy used in the bio fuel-conversion process is shown in a study entitled 'Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Future Automotive Fuels and Powertrains in the European Context', jointly authored by EUCAR, JRC and CONCAWE and published in December 2005. This report found that the processes used to produce bioethanol, for example the burning of German lignite, lead not to a reduction but to an increase of approximately 30% in greenhouse-gas emissions. If natural gas is used as the primary source of energy, however, there is potential for savings of up to 35%. It is possible to achieve considerably higher savings – potentially up to 85% – if the whole plant can be used, as is the case with sugar cane. Relatively high levels of greenhouse-gas emissions are produced during the manufacture of biodiesel (RME; potential savings of around 50%). The main reason for this though, is the use of nitrogenenous fertilisers, which leads to higher N20 emissions. (Source: ADAC)