See all Motoring NewsIf you've filled your car at a petrol station recently, you might have seen signs dotted around the forecourt telling you about the arrival of E10 petrol to Ireland. It's going to be the default option at fuel retailers across the country from 1 July 2023, and it's designed to be an eco-friendlier type of fuel when compared with the E5 petrol that is currently offered at petrol station forecourts.
But what does the name E10 mean? Well, the labelling is simple enough: The 'E' of E10 stands for ethanol, while the '10' means the petrol contains 10 per cent ethanol. At the moment, Irish petrol pumps dispense E5 unleaded, so it has a five per cent ethanol mix.
Ireland is a relatively late adopter of E10 petrol. It has been offered in the USA for over 20 years, while Great Britain and Northern Ireland switched to it in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In Brazil, where ethanol production is major business, a 25 per cent mix is common, while E85 (85 per cent mix) offers greater performance and fewer greenhouse gas emissions than regular petrol, although it's not as common.
The Irish government's own research states that switching to E10 petrol could help save 330,000-550,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its introduction this year up to 2030. The savings come from the fact that the CO2 emitted by vehicles is balanced by the absorption of CO2 by the plants that are grown to produce the ethanol in the first place. However, growing plants for fuel is a contentious subject in itself because that land could just as easily be used to grow food, while some countries are cutting down vast swathes of rainforest to make room for more ethanol crops.
While the switch to E10 petrol will help reduce the environmental damage contributed by combustion engines, it's not without its sticking points. One issue is its suitability for older cars. If you drive a car built after 2011, then EU legislation means it's legally required to be compatible with E10 fuels, while most cars built in the decade before then are also likely be fine.
The issues come about with classic cars and the hygroscopic nature of E10 petrol, i.e. its ability to absorb water from the atmosphere. There's also a risk of damage due to the fact that ethanol can act as a solvent. Running a classic car on E10 fuel puts items such as fuel lines and seals at risk of damage from any condensation and steel fuel tanks at the risk of rust, so it's recommended that any vulnerable items are replaced before using E10 petrol.
Most modern car electronics will be able to adjust the fuelling of an engine when using E10, but since it's not as energy-dense as pure petrol, poorer fuel economy to the tune of 1-4 per cent is likely.
If you really want to avoid using E10 petrol, then higher octane super unleaded will still be available in the older E5 mix, although of course this costs more per litre than regular fuel.