Caltex announces roll-out of E85 fuel

Oil company Caltex has announced the roll-out of up to 100 E85 petrol outlets over the next 12 months -- but only a handful of new cars will be able to run on the fuel.

E85 is a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and regular unleaded and cars must be specially modified to cope with the high ethanol content or risk damage to the car's fuel system.

To date, only six of the more than 500 new cars on sale in Australia can run on E85 -- four Saabs, one Dodge and one Chrysler.

But in an attempt to address the chicken-versus-egg argument, Holden confirmed that Australia's biggest selling car, the Commodore, will be able to run on E85 from the Series II update due on sale in September.

All 3.0-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 Commodore models built from next month will be able to run on E85, but the high performance 3.6-litre V6 (which powers the sports versions of the Commodore as well as the Statesman and Caprice limousines) won't be E85-ready until this time next year.

A statement from Caltex said it will begin selling E85 from the end of August and will have E85 available in 31 service stations across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra by the end of October, increasing to 100 metropolitan and regional locations in 2011.

The 100 E85 outlets will account for a fraction of the 1400 Caltex outlets nationally (7 per cent) and an even smaller proportion of the 6000 petrol stations across all brands and independent operators nationally (1.6 per cent).

Until recently there have been fewer than 10 pumps nationally for E85.

"Biofuels such as ethanol are fuels of the future as they are produced from renewable sources and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Caltex Australia Manager Government Affairs and Media, Frank Topham.

"This is an important step in the development of a first generation bio-fuels market in Australia and will help pave the way for more sustainable, lower cost bio-fuels in the future.

"[E85]is part of our strategy to provide transport fuels beyond the traditional fuel mix, reflecting our commitment to addressing the issues of climate change and energy security."

Litre for litre, ethanol produces about 37 per cent less C02 tailpipe emissions than regular unleaded -- 1.51kg per litre compared to 2.39kg per litre. And, General Motors estimates, combustion of 1 litre of E85 produces 1.65kg of C02.

But you need to burn more ethanol-blended fuel to travel the same distance as a car using unleaded.

According to scientific tests, E85 burns 34 per cent faster than regular unleaded, but in the real world it can be even higher.

This means the benefit at the tailpipe is diminished: in a car running on 85 per cent ethanol, the reduction in C02 emissions at the tailpipe is estimated to be between only 2 and 10 per cent, according to local tests.

Holden's Energy and Environment Director Richard Marshall said: "The introduction of [E85] capability on Series II vehicles highlights Holden's leadership position in reducing the impact of personal transportation on the environment.

"As part of our EcoLine strategy, we have a commitment to offering our customers a broad range of vehicles that use alternative fuel or fuel-saving technologies. These solutions are designed to make motoring affordable as well as being better for the environment."

What's E85 compatible now:

What's E85 compatible soon:

What happens to fuel economy on E85:
Caltex says: "When driving on Bio E-Flex [E85], the fuel consumption per kilometre will be higher because a litre of ethanol contains less energy than a litre of petrol. As a result, it takes more litres of ethanol to drive a certain number of kilometres."

What happens if you put E85 in a normal car:
Holden says: "It won't cause an immediate engine failure like putting petrol in a diesel car would, but it is certainly not good. E85 in a car not prepared for it will damage the fuel system because the material is not compatible and, ultimately, the fuel pump and its ancillaries will fail.

"The hardware in the engine won't be harmed but the engine will run very rough, especially on a cold morning. If you accidentally put E85 in a car not prepared for it you will notice a rough idle. Stop the engine and drain the tank."

Caltex says: "At this stage, very few cars on Australian roads are capable of running on high ethanol blend fuels like Bio E-Flex and when they are introduced, vehicles in the Holden VE Series II range will be the first Australian-made cars able to run on this fuel.

"This innovative fuel is not suitable for use in any motor vehicles other than those designed or modified specifically to use it. Caltex only endorses the use of Bio E-Flex in vehicles originally manufactured to use fuels containing up to 85 per cent ethanol."

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