'Biofuel Mania' Takes Hold of France
by Eric Béziat (Le Monde) Thousands of French motorists are wondering whether they should switch to E85 superethanol because of its unbeatable price, around 0.90 euros per liter. --
Jean-Michel hesitated... He did his calculations: With SP95 gasoline at about 2.10 euros, filling the tank of his second-hand Peugeot 2008 would cost him 2,500 euros per year. Modifying the engine to switch to superethanol would save him 1,250 euros per year in fuel and the price of installing a conversion box (about 1,000 euros) would be paid off in less than six months thanks to the regional aid of 500 euros per box. Jean-Michel had not planned to change, but the numbers don't lie.
Like Jean-Michel, thousands of motorists are debating switching to E85 superethanol (which contains between 65% and 85% agricultural ethanol, 90% from beets, corn and wheat). Its unbeatable price, around 0.90 euros per liter, makes it a star at the fuel pumps on French roads.
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The share of superethanol E85 has risen from a stable level of about 3.5% of the gasoline market before October 2021 to over 6% since March. Between January and May, 48,000 conversion boxes were installed, a record in four months, pushing the number of installed conversion boxes up 35% to 183,000 units.
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Similarly, the number of registrations of "flexfuel" vehicles, that is, those running directly on E85, has soared this year and particularly since March (5,000 registrations, compared to 200 in March 2021 and 900 in September 2021). These are almost exclusively Fords, the American manufacturer having been the only one to bet on superethanol in France, with the launch of five flexfuel models, including its best-seller, the Ford Puma.
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The trend for bio-based energy has also extended to heavy vehicles (23% of CO2 emissions) and, more experimentally, to boats and airplanes.
As for heavy vehicles like trucks, buses and construction vehicles, the equivalent of superethanol for the diesel sector is B100, a biodiesel that is made from 100% vegetable oils (canola, soybean, palm) and which is taking off. B100 is not yet as established as E85 (it is not available to individuals), but here and there, the number of initiatives is increasing. On June 21, FlixBus, the leader in long-distance bus transportation, inaugurated its first B100 line between Paris and Grand-Champ (northwest France). Earlier this year, Colas signed a partnership with Saipol, France's leading B100 producer, for its fleet of trucks. SNCF is also starting to run some diesel locomotives on B100. READ MORE
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