A miracle solution for a full tank of fuel at half price? While the liter of gasoline flirts with 2 euros, more and more drivers are turning to E85 fuel and its liter at 70 cents. Composed of 85% bioethanol, it is a godsend for those who commute to work every day. In France, more than 70,000 vehicles have been equipped with these ethanol kits which allow a classic petrol car to use this fuel, according to the AD garage network. Philippe Mametz, manager of a garage in Meaux, in Seine-et-Marne, explains to 20 minutes the growing interest in these kits over the last three months.
What is the interest of bioethanol?
It is a cheaper fuel than gasoline because it is taxed less. It is a quick response for improving purchasing power. The results are visible from the first fill-up. Last week, we went to the pump with a customer who had just switched to E85 fuel. Before, it was full for 85 euros, with bioethanol it cost him 35 euros. What puts people off a bit is the price of the conversion. Depending on the vehicle and its age, this can range from 800 to 1,200 euros. For a car that does 10,000 kilometers a year, with consumption around 8 litres, it takes an average of 10 months to make this investment profitable.
How is bioethanol made?
It is a product from agriculture, made from beet alcohol. It is called E85 because it still contains 85% bioethanol and 15% gasoline. To allow conventional gasoline vehicles to use this fuel, which has a lower energy output, they install electronic boxes under the hood. These devices adapt the vehicle settings to the lack of performance of bioethanol. This leads to a slight overconsumption.
Are you seeing a surge in conversion demand?
Demand has exploded with rising fuel prices. Since February, there has been a big increase in sales of ethanol kits. There, I am already at 36 over the first three months of 2022, compared to 31 in 2021. On the other hand, the deadlines for obtaining the electronic boxes are getting longer. Like all sectors, we are facing a shortage of electronic components following the pandemic. Now it takes about three weeks to get a case, from the time it is ordered.
Is bioethanol more ecological?
Bioethanol does not necessarily produce less greenhouse gas emissions at the exhaust level. On the other hand, the development of this product requires less CO2 than that of gasoline. It comes from short circuits since it comes from French production and we use local resources. It is a more ecological production, which makes us less dependent on oil. But neither should we try to convert the entire automotive market to bioethanol, France does not yet have the capacity to meet such a demand.
What advice for those interested?
Beware of pirate boxes or reprogramming, which can be found mainly on the Internet. Whenever there is a fashion, people seek to take advantage of it to make money. Some sell boxes that are neither approved nor tested at UTAC [Union technique de l’automobile, du motocycle et du cycle], at the risk of damaging the motors. This can be a problem with insurance in the event of an accident or technical inspections because these boxes do not meet regulatory standards.