The Department for Transport has announced plans to require fuel retailers to offer the E10 fuel grade from 2021.
E10 fuel is a biofuel made up of 90% regular unleaded and 10% ethanol, and is already sold alongside regular unleaded (E5) and diesel (B7) fuel grades in a number of European countries. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimates that around 90% of the petrol-engined vehicles in the UK are compatible with E10, but the remainder are not. All new cars sold in the UK from 2011 must have been E10 compatible. As a rule, drivers of cars registered prior to 2002 are advised not to use E10 in their vehicle.
The Department of Transport is planning to introduce the E10 fuel grade to help meet its targets under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme, which requires fuel suppliers to ensure minimum volumes of renewable fuels are supplied.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "We have been asking for Government to mandate the introduction of E10 and to confirm the terms under which E5 can be offered. This consultation gives us the chance to ensure that E10 can be introduced on a timescale that's feasible for fuel retailers, and we will work with members toward that objective."
ACS submitted evidence to the Department for Transport’s initial consultation on fuel grades in 2018, where we made the following recommendations:
- The introduction of the E10 fuel grade should be mandatory so as to ensure a level playing field for all fuel retailers
- The E5 protection grade should not mandate retailers to offer 95 E5 as a premium grade. Fuel retailers should have the flexibility to offer E5 as a ‘super’ grade
- The protection grade should apply to filling stations that supply two grades of petrol and more than 3 million litres of all fuel (petrol and diesel) in the previous calendar year
In September 2019, new fuel labelling requirements came into force which were designed to make the public familiar with the current fuel grades on offer. More information about the different fuel grades and what they mean is available at knowyourfuel.campaign.gov.uk
The full announcement from the Department for Transport is available here.
