France allows cars to run on biofuels

Since January 1, 2007, gas stations in France have been officially approved to sell a new biofuel, bioethanol (or superethanol).

More precisely, this is the type of E85 gasoline consisting of 85% bioethanol and 15% SP95 which will soon appear on the market. To be able to run on this new fuel, we have to buy a car with a motor called ' flex fuel ', use a flexible fuel, as well as be compatible with classic gasoline. Bioethanol fuel is completely tax free, so it will be competitively priced.

The French government plans to open 500 to 600 E85 petrol pumping stations throughout the country from now until the end of 2007. The goal is to reach 5.75% of biofuels consumed in 2008 and 7% in the next 3 years. (2010). E85 will be produced from fermentation of grain and beetroot.

With just two compatible car manufacturers, flex fuel engines are not yet popular, but other manufacturers will have to quickly recommend this type of engine. Bioethanol will definitely be available in France as well as other countries like the US, Sweden, Germany and Poland. But these countries are still far behind Brazil, which is leading the way, with flex fuel cars accounting for two-thirds of the market and bioethanol reaching 40% of domestic fuel consumption.

Peugeot 2006 with ' flex fuel ' engine was introduced at the 2006 Auto World Exhibition
(Photo: techno-science.net)

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