E10 fuel, a more eco-friendly alternative to E5, could be introduced into petrol stations across the UK by September 2021 to accelerate the net-zero commitment efforts.

The UK is committed to a path to net-zero by 2050 as per the Paris Agreement which means that large changes such as transitioning to all-electric vehicles will take place to tackle climate change. However, this transition period will not be instant as people must adjust and make small changes over time.

Small changes such as consuming a more eco-friendly fuel, which does not greatly impact the consumer, can build to have a big impact on the efforts to stop climate change and become net-zero. This is where E10 fuel will contribute; The lower carbon emission emitting fuel will be introduced across the UK at a large scale in petrol stations to reduce individuals emissions from their vehicle and make travel greener.

As Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary said:

“Although more and more motorists are driving electric vehicles, there are steps we can take to reduce emissions from the millions of vehicles already on our roads – the small switch to E10 petrol will help drivers across the country reduce the environmental impact of every journey, as we build back greener.”

What is E10 fuel?

The E10 fuel mixture is a combination of 90% unleaded and 10% ethanol. The 10% ethanol is where the E10 name comes from. Currently, the standard fuel is E5 with a 5% ethanol mixture.

This fuel utilises a higher concentration of renewable energy which is produced by green material, known as biofuel or bioethanol. The green properties in E10 mean that it has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 tons per year or the same as removing 350,000 vehicles in the UK.

Biofuel is produced from the decomposition of crops, sugars, grains and wasted food. These materials are given a renewable purpose by being produced into E10 fuel and are burned with lower emissions produced.

Currently, around 95% of vehicles in the UK will be able to utilise the E10 mixture as it is compatible with the majority of motor engines. If you are unsure if your vehicle is E10 compatible you can check the government provided checker: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol