‘It affects every single car on the road’
E10 fuel, widely pegged as a more “climate friendly” alternative, could spell “worse problems” for drivers and mean they have to stop to refill more frequently.
Motoring experts across the UK have criticised the fuel that was released in September this year. E10 contains a higher percentage of renewable fuel components like bioethanol, consequently making it better for the environment than the standard E5 fuel choice.
However despite it being greener, users have reported issues while using it. YouTube motoring channel Number 27 is warning that E10 may have “far worse problems” than its less green cousin – but what could be worse than carbon emissions?
Well, due to E10 being less “energy dense”, motorists could find themselves having fill up more often as their car guzzles significantly more of the fuel to cover similar distances to those using E5.
“It affects every single car on the road which uses petrol, whether it is one of the oldest or the very newest car that’s out,” said Jack, host of the Number 27 YouTube channel.
He continued: “E10 actually causes an increase in fuel consumption for any car that’s using it. Ethanol is actually less energy-dense than unleaded fuel.
How’s everyone enjoying the much more expensive E10 fuel they manipulated you into buying & covered up the price increase with a crisis?
— Josh Packham 🗽 (@photographerXA) October 27, 2021
“So that means that because it has this lower energy density you have to use more and therefore your fuel consumption in your car will go up.
“You’re not going to lose any power because your car’s computer will alter the air-fuel balance to make up for that loss of energy density.
“But your fuel consumption will go up. I really couldn’t believe it.”
The Department of Transport’s introductory study into E10 actually said that drivers would experience lower fuel economy.
Really? Yes I've noticed I'm filling up more.
Or am I putting in less because it's so expensive so filling more often 🤔— Bruno (@Sweepy58) October 27, 2021
The DFT said: “We have considered the impact on fuel economy and decreasing MPG, which is due to the lower energy density of ethanol compared with fossil petrol, when developing our proposals.
“Analysis based on average calorific values of the two products suggests fuel economy could reduce by between one and two percent.
https://twitter.com/tweetd99/status/1454379854430937093
“However, the impact will vary based on driving style and refinements in fuel blending by suppliers.”
Related links:
- David Attenborough has viewers in tears with powerful COP26 speech
- Boris Johnson pictured maskless next to David Attenborough sparks outrage
- The 10 most burning climate questions COP26 must address
