Austria's Gasoline: Is Ethanol Added?

Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plant materials and is often blended with gasoline to oxygenate the fuel and reduce air pollution. In 2023, about 0.33 billion barrels (13.73 billion gallons) of fuel ethanol were blended into the 3.26 billion barrels (137.11 billion gallons) of finished motor gasoline consumed in the United States. While the use of pure ethanol in internal combustion engines requires engine modifications, ethanol is commonly blended with gasoline for use in conventional vehicles. The percentage of ethanol in these blends is indicated by an E number, with E10 being the most common blend, containing up to 10% ethanol.

In Austria, the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel is gaining traction, with the Austrian government promoting the conversion of vehicle fleets and the construction of filling stations for alternative fuels. The country currently has 33 filling stations offering ethanol, E85, or E100 supply. Additionally, Austria's only industrial bioethanol producer, AGRANA, has supported the conversion of filling stations to SuperEthanol E85 pumps.

E85 is a biofuel mix of 15% gasoline and 85% bioethanol

E85 is a biofuel blend of 15% gasoline and 85% bioethanol. The exact ratio of ethanol to gasoline in E85 may vary depending on the location and time of year. In the United States, for example, the ethanol content in E85 can range from 51% to 83%. The higher ethanol content in summer compared to winter helps to address challenges with engine cold-cranking in cold climates.

E85 is commonly used in flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which can run on various blends of gasoline and ethanol. FFVs have sensors that measure the blend ratio of bioethanol and supergasoline, adjusting the vehicle electronics accordingly. E85 is particularly suitable for FFVs as it offers higher octane content, leading to increased engine power.

E85 is widely used in countries like Brazil, where the warm climate allows the use of pure ethanol (E100) at filling stations. In contrast, the addition of gasoline to ethanol in E85 helps address cold-start issues in colder regions. E85 is also available in several European countries, including Sweden, France, and Austria, which has 33 ethanol filling stations.

The use of E85 offers several advantages, including reduced dependence on foreign oil, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and higher engine performance. However, there are also some drawbacks, such as reduced fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) compared to gasoline, and limited availability in certain regions.

E85 is available in Austria at around 40 service stations

E85, or SuperEthanol, is a biofuel mix of 15% gasoline and 85% bioethanol. It is used exclusively by special flexifuel cars, which can also be fuelled with gasoline. E85 is not suitable for normal petrol cars.

Austria has around 40 service stations offering E85. The country's Environment Minister has praised the environmental benefits of bioethanol, and the government has been promoting the construction of filling stations for alternative fuels. AGRANA, Austria's only industrial bioethanol producer, has supported the conversion of filling stations to SuperEthanol E85 pumps.

The bioethanol content of E85 is produced at AGRANA's bioethanol plant in Pischelsdorf, Lower Austria, from the domestic renewable raw materials wheat and corn. The company has also decided to convert its fleet of company cars to SuperEthanol.

A map and list of ethanol stations in Austria can be found on glpautogas.info. This includes the addresses of 33 filling stations offering ethanol, E85, or E100 supply.

E10 is a fuel mixture of 10% anhydrous ethanol and 90% gasoline

E10 blends are considered to be useful in decreasing US dependence on foreign oil and can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 20-30% under the right conditions. Although E10 does decrease emissions of CO and greenhouse gases such as CO2 by an estimated 2% over regular gasoline, it can cause increases in evaporative emissions and some pollutants depending on factors such as the age of the vehicle and weather conditions.

E10 became the standard fuel at petrol stations in the UK in September 2021. It was also introduced nationwide in Thailand in 2007, replacing 91 octane pure gasoline in that country in 2013. E10 is commonly available in the Midwestern United States and was mandated for use in all standard automobile fuel in the state of Florida by the end of 2010.

E10 is sourced from fuel terminals. In contrast, E85 is sourced from a terminal or directly from an ethanol production facility.

E10 is the standard fuel at petrol stations in the UK

In Austria, there are 33 filling stations offering ethanol, E85, or E100 supply. The Austrian Environment Minister's official vehicle runs on SuperEthanol, and the minister has expressed support for the expansion of SuperEthanol E85 pumps. SuperEthanol E85 consists of up to 85% bioethanol and the rest petrol. The bioethanol is produced domestically from renewable raw materials like wheat and corn.

In the UK, E10 is the standard grade of petrol available at almost all petrol stations. Since September 1, 2021, standard (or 'premium') grade petrol in Great Britain has contained a higher ethanol content, known as E10. E10 contains up to 10% renewable ethanol, which helps to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with petrol vehicles. Previously, standard petrol contained up to 5% ethanol, known as E5. The introduction of E10 is expected to cut transport CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road.

Almost all (95%) of petrol-powered vehicles on the road today can use E10 petrol, and this includes all cars built since 2011. However, some vehicles may not be compatible with E10 petrol, including classic, cherished, and older vehicles, some specific models (especially from the early 2000s), and some mopeds (particularly those with an engine size of 50cc or under). Petrol stations that offer two grades of petrol will typically stock both E10 (95 octane) and E5 (97+ octane) petrol.

The use of E10 petrol can slightly reduce fuel economy, but the impact is expected to be minimal, around a 1% reduction, and unlikely to be noticeable in everyday driving. Other factors, such as driving style, under-inflated tires, or carrying a roof rack, have a much more significant impact on fuel economy than using E10 petrol.

E10 is commonly available in the Midwestern United States

E10, a fuel mixture of 10% anhydrous ethanol and 90% gasoline, is commonly available in the Midwestern United States. This blend is sometimes called gasohol and can be used in the internal combustion engines of most modern automobiles and light-duty vehicles without the need for any modifications to the engine or fuel system.

The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the country and consists of 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

E10 blends are typically rated 2 to 3 octane numbers higher than regular gasoline and are approved for use in all new automobiles in the United States. In 2011, ethanol represented 10% of the U.S. gasoline fuel supply, and by 2024, almost all U.S. gasoline was blended with 10% ethanol.

The use of E10 is considered beneficial in decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and can reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 20-30% under the right conditions. However, it can also cause increases in evaporative emissions and some pollutants, depending on factors such as vehicle age and weather conditions.

While E10 is commonly available in the Midwestern United States, it is also mandated for use in other parts of the country. For example, it was mandated for use in all standard automobile fuel in the state of Florida by the end of 2010. The use of E10 and other ethanol blends has increased throughout the United States due to the phasing out of MTBE as a gasoline additive and the mandates established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

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