New Fuel
Rising fuel costs: Is there a cheaper way to run your van?
Prices at the pumps are reaching record highs. There is a cheaper alternative, at least for water-cooled Brazibay owners. We just can’t get to it.
That’s not strictly true. We can get to it, just not very easily in the UK.
I’m talking about E85, often labelled bio-ethanol fuel. As mentioned in a previous post on this site, we’ve moved recently from E5 to E10 as the standard petrol in this country. The number represents the percentage of the fuel which is ethanol and was raised in standard fuel in the UK in 2021 as part of the government and fuel companies’ commitments towards reducing emissions.
So, as you’ve probably guessed E85 is 85% ethanol. This, in theory, is a much cleaner fuel and should be cheaper to produce. So why don’t we have it here in the UK.
There are a few reasons. Firstly, not all petrol vehicles can run on it. However, while digging around on this subject, it seems that most modern engines can be remapped to accommodate the fuel and even 100% ethanol. But, for many, this is itself costly.
Secondly, while in theory it is cheap to produce, means of producing it are lacking in the UK. It is found on a significant number of forecourts across the continent, where crops used in the production of bio-ethanol are much larger than in the UK. With added import and processing costs etc, it wouldn’t be as cheap as it is on the continent (Around 85¢ a litre in France, June 2022).
For a short period circa 2006, Morrisons supermarket began offering E85 at its petrols stations. However, the venture into this market was short-lived and the fuel was eventually fully withdrawn, seemingly due to a lack of customer demand.
However, there are a number of driving factors which could be cited as valid reasons for a resumptions of sale of E85 in the UK. In the early 2000’s, while fuel in the UK was considered highly priced, the gap between the price of bio-ethanol and regular fuel was not as high, possibly being a reason for people not opting for often pricey vehicle changes or alterations. The price gap has since significantly widened (As I write this, petrol in the UK is passing £2/litre on many forecourts).
Engine compatibility has improved, meaning more drivers are able to make the direct switch from E5/E10 straight to high ethanol content petrols. LPG and diesel are being are being phased out in the coming years, meaning the demand for petrol will increase, meaning a greater need to make the stock go further. E85 is a ready made solution.
However, the production supply chain may also be put under further strain, due to the ongoing effect of the conflict in Ukraine on the country’s crop exports.
It is, as mentioned earlier, in theory a cleaner fuel, even taking into account the fact fuel consumption can increase up to 25%. However, there is much debate over whether the production is energy efficient, with claims that production contributes more carbon emissions through the small-yield farming processes and supply chains.
I haven’t seen the figures, so can’t comment on those claims. But as cost of living rises, even a small saving at the forecourt could be significant to many families.
If you’re lucky enough to be taking your van, be it a Brazibay or other compatible vehicle to the continent, plan ahead. Get E85 while you can. Total garages seem to supply it as standard, as do many supermarkets and Aires (service stations/camping areas) in France. To put into the context the savings it can offer, I drove from Paris back to the Cotswolds for €45. When I next filled up back in the UK I got around two thirds of a tank for roughly the same price!