Government consults on E10 at the pump
Published: 05 March, 2020
Petrol with a higher bioethanol content could be sold in the UK from next year. The government is consulting on whether E10, which has 10% bioethanol content, should become the new standard grade of petrol. The E5 grade, containing 5% bioethanol, has a higher carbon content. The Department for Transport says the move could reduce transport CO2 emissions by 750,000 per year.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The next 15 years will be absolutely crucial for slashing emissions from our roads, as we all start to feel the benefits of the transition to a zero-emission future. Before electric cars become the norm, we want to take advantage of reduced CO2 emissions today. This small switch to petrol containing bioethanol at 10% will help drivers across country reduce the environmental impact of every journey. Overall this could equate to about 350,000 cars being taken off our roads entirely.
The E10 blend is already common other countries including Belgium, Finland, France and Germany.
The PRA welcomed the government opening a consultation on the issue, as PRA Chairman Brian Madderson observed: “The introduction of this standard is a good step in reducing CO2 emission from petrol vehicles. The fuel is also easy to introduce smoothly, as E5 ‘premium’ tanks at filling stations can have E10 petrol put into them without any changes aside from relabelling. An orderly mandated introduction by the government, backed by a consumer education plan is the best way to successfully introduce this.”
Commenting on the technical implications that garages could face, Dan Morgan, Director, Sales and Operations at Lucas Oil Products UK said: “European and Asian car manufacturers have already dealt with this issue in the US, where, for the last six years, up to 10% ethanol has been the standard.
“There are specific implications for older cars, but precisely how the potential for change will affect UK motorists driving more recent models in the UK depends a lot on how the car making operations in Europe have been prepared for this change – how they have prepared their UK offerings to meet the challenge.
“Most likely concerns relate to oil contamination, fuel economy, fuel hose and seal damage in older vehicles, and corrosion related to increased water in the fuel system. Ethanol is hydroscopic, meaning that it pulls water from the air and, therefore, there is potential for corrosion of metal part inside exhausts, the engine itself and throughout the fuel system. Oil contamination may be a potential issue, too. Ethanol has a corrosive influence on the inside of rubber fuel hoses. Many older vehicles are at risk.”
Dan added: “UK drivers may see a small decrease in fuel economy, which is probably not noticeable at 5%, but may be at 10%. There is simply less heat energy in the same volume of ethanol than there is in petrol. Minor adjustments in driving habits, such as consolidating short trips into single longer trips when practical might be advisable for drivers. More frequent oil changes may be required.”
The consultation announcement follows the announcement in February of a revised 2035 cut-off for the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles, which Grant Shapps then subsequently said could be rolled forward to 2032.
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- Looking back but motoring ahead
Just 12 months ago, the future of the UK aftermarket appeared to be in good shape with the emphasis on moving motorists to newer, greener vehicles. Then along came COVID-19 and everything changed. Although government objectives remain the same, the average motorist now finds themselves looking at a significantly altered work-life balance with new priorities and new challenges.
Sure, many would like to get their hands on the latest eco-vehicle but now most are struggling to keep their existing vehicle running and in good order. Budgets are tight. Undoubtedly this will have a big impact on the shape of the aftermarket in 2021.
Car sales statistics since lockdown began are already showing a sharp move from new car sales towards used car sales and an ever-ageing car parc; especially in those areas suffering the greatest economic impact. Motorists will naturally avoid spending money where possible and this has inevitably led to routine servicing being put off. The net result of this? Higher costs when their vehicle breaks down due to poor maintenance. It’s crucial therefore that the aftermarket emphasises the importance of preventative maintenance to motorists plus swift reaction to any dashboard faults.
Promotion
As a result, savvy motorists will save money in the longer term but vehicle manufacturers will not be letting up on marketing their shiny new models. This means the independent aftermarket, from parts manufacturers, to motor factors and workshops, need to up their game when it comes to promoting the benefits of good quality maintenance for used and ageing cars.
The motorist is aware they should be greener in all aspects of life and a well-maintained vehicle ticks the green box. A good service will immediately improve emissions. Introducing a preventative regime with additives will help the motorist maintain lower emissions and it reduces the risk of major mechanical failures such as damaged exhaust filters, blocked injectors, and fouled turbos.
Focus
Drilling down to the specifics, what should the aftermarket focus on in 2021?
Diesel Particulate Filters: Ongoing lockdowns have meant that vehicle use has changed, with normality but a pipe dream. Journeys will be shorter and more frequent leading to increasing DPF problems because the filter is unable to regenerate. Ignore it and the motorist will end up with unwelcome high bills or worse still, an unusable vehicle. The aftermarket must promote prevention which is easily accomplished with a quality DPF additive regime. For a few pounds every month the motorist will avoid unnecessary bills of hundreds, potentially thousands of pounds. JLM Lubricants, for example, provide superb quality DPF products including a professional cleaning toolkit – the dirtiest of DPFs can be cleaned by a mechanic in situ. Between services, a high-quality additive will keep the DPF in good shape.
Catalytic Converters: A CAT will often become blocked because of a poorly maintained engine. Keeping the engine clean helps keep the CAT clean, prolonging its life and avoiding unnecessary replacement costs for the motorist.
Turbos: A dirty turbo will strangle an otherwise good engine. Untreated it will lead to poor fuel consumption and increased emissions. On its own this means higher running costs for the motorist, but nothing compared to replacing a turbo. A professional quality additive will clean the turbo and importantly help prevent further contamination.
Approach
This approach to prevention and cure with additives should not be viewed as doing mechanics out of business, because in most cases it’s the mechanics using the additives as part of their service and servicing regime. Keeping a vehicle on the road by avoiding preventable DPF, CAT or Turbo issues means that the vehicle is still rolling, rather than being mothballed or scrapped. This means that suspension, brakes, and routine serving still need seeing to. The aftermarket must show it can help the motorist save money and keep their car on the road for longer. It’s likely to be three years or more before we return to anything like pre-Coronavirus normality.
The move to greener motoring should not be put on hold because of the impact of COVID-19 but it will have a different look to what the government initially envisaged. With the support of the independent aftermarket, motorists can reduce their impact on the environment and save money. They can keep themselves on the road whether they use their car for work, the school run or for that much-needed staycation. The government should embrace this approach and incorporate it into their green agenda. They too must accept there is an even tougher road ahead between today’s hard-pressed lockdown motorist and their vision of all electric motoring.
For more information visit www.jlmlubricants.com and www.the-dpf-doctor.com
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