In September unleaded petrol was changed throughout the UK from E5 to E10. There was little information surrounding this change, other than, asking drivers to check their vehicle was still able to run on E10 fuel before filling up. In this article we look at some of the commonly asked questions surrounding the change and consider how this change may impact on your drivers, and business. All fuelGenie customers can continue to use their fuelGenie fuel card to fill up with E10, E5, unleaded petrol, and diesel.
Why the change?
The change has been implemented to help with the environmental impact of vehicles. The E10 fuel contains 10% renewable ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol. The previous E5 fuel contained 5% renewable ethanol and 95% unleaded petrol. The new E10 fuel will help the environment by reducing the CO2 emissions. It is estimated that this change will help reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year, which is the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.
Can my drivers use E10?
Most vehicles registered after 2002 are compatible with E10 fuel. There are however some exceptions to this rule, if you are unsure or want to check your fleet of vehicles we recommend using the official E10 petrol checker on the government website. All new vehicles built from 2011 onwards are compatible with E10 fuel as this was implemented as a requirement as part of the manufacturing process.
The vehicles in my fleet are diesel, are we impacted?
No, this change only impacts vehicles that run on petrol fuel, nothing has changed for diesel vehicles, continue to fill up as normal using your fuelGenie fuel card.
What if my vehicle isn’t compatible?
If your vehicle isn’t compatible, we recommend continuing to purchase E5 fuel. This is likely to be the premium fuel option available at most petrol stations soon. Therefore, the cost of filling up your vehicle is going to increase. The department for transport has previously estimated that there could be around 700,000 vehicles on the road that are not E10 compatible. Your fuelGenie fuel card can still be used to purchase E5 fuel, where you will benefit from the savings made by filling up at lower cost supermarket petrol stations.
What happens if I use E10 on a car that’s not compatible?
If you have filled your car up with E10 and it’s not compatible then don’t panic, its likely not to be a big issue unless you continue to use E10 over a sustained period. E10 may cause the vehicle to run a little less smoothly especially during cold starts. The recommendation is to add E5 to your tank as soon as some space becomes available and to continue to use E5 for your vehicle.
What’s the impact on fuel efficiency?
One of the key changes with E10 unleaded petrol is the difference in fuel efficiency compared to E5. Your drivers who fill up with E10 will get fewer miles per gallon due to it containing 5% more ethanol. This reduction is said to be very small in comparison to the reduction in CO2 released in the atmosphere, but it is something to consider when planning your fuel costs.
Do other countries use E10?
Other European countries such as Belgium, Finland, France, and Germany already use E10 fuel and have been doing for a while. France introduced E10 in 2009 and it has been well received due to the tax break. This type of fuel is not new and has been tested and used around Europe for a considerable period.
Can I still use my fuelGenie fuel card?
Yes, fuelGenie can be used to purchase E10 fuel, continue to use your fuelGenie card as normal and instruct your drivers to do the same. If your vehicles require E5 fuel you can continue to use your fuelGenie fuel card to fill up with both E5, E10 and diesel fuel.
