In September 2021 the standard petrol in the UK will become E10, which is being enforced by the government. We understand that this may be a worry to some people. Why is it being enforced? What are the benefits? All of the typical questions we hear from vehicle owners in regards to this. In order to prevent any confusion, we have detailed the core details of this change and answered your most common questions.
Why Is E10 Becoming the Standard?
The issue surrounding E5 and E10 is all to do with carbon emissions and the environment. E10 petrol blends up to 10% renewable ethanol which means less fossil fuel is needed to create it, ensuring we can reduce carbon emissions and support the plan to tackle climate change. Ethanol is a fuel produced by a range of plants which includes sugarcane and grains.
Is My Vehicle Compatible with E10 Fuel?
Petrol pumps will be clearly labelled so you will be able to easily tell which ones contain E10 fuel and which ones contain E5 fuel. This change is also only for petrol vehicles and diesel fuel sees no change for the near future.
It is estimated that around 95% of vehicles are compatible with E10 so most vehicle owners should face no problems with the standardisation. All new vehicles that were manufactured from 2011 onwards will definitely be compatible. If you are unsure as to whether your vehicle can take E10 fuel, use the government’s E10 checker to be sure.
If you are unable to use E10 fuel then do not worry, E5 will still likely be available at bigger petrol stations with the pump marked as ‘super’ grade fuel.
Is E10 Fuel More Expensive?
There are lots of different factors that affect the price of fuel and this is no different. Fuel will likely continue to fluctuate up and down in terms of price throughout the year and it is hard to predict these changes. Ethanol is a relatively low factor in these prices.
Is It Safe to Mix E5 & E10 Fuel?
If your vehicle is able to take E10 petrol then there is no reason you can’t mix both E5 and E10 petrol. There are no concerns to be aware of and it is very safe to mix them in the same tank. A good example of this would be if you usually fill up with E10 but it isn’t available at the petrol station you go to fill your car up at - you can safely fill it up with E5 if this is the case.
If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the change to E10 fuel, please get in touch with our friendly team today.
Written on 31st August 2021