Transport written question – answered at on 20 December 2012.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the relative calorific values of (i) E10 fuel and (ii) petrol and (b) the potential effect of introduction of E10 fuel on the retail price of petrol.
E10 is a petrol-ethanol blend of up to 10% ethanol and is not yet available in the UK. Most petrol sold in the UK contains up to 5% ethanol. Ethanol's energy content is lower than that of petrol (petrol's energy content is 32MJ per litre while ethanol's energy content is 21MJ per litre). This means that E10 has a lower energy density than E5 (about 2% less energy per litre of fuel). Vehicles will be able to travel slightly further with a tank full of E5 than a tank full of E10.
It is for fuel retailers to determine the price of the different products that they sell. However, it seems unlikely that E10 would be priced higher than E5, as there is no requirement on suppliers to change the product they sell.
Yes5 people think so
No6 people think not
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