Why bet on bioethanol for gasoline cars?



Drawing. Service station, gasoline. – G. VARELA / 20 MINUTES

  • E85, a fuel composed of between 65 and 85% bioethanol, is sold much cheaper than other “gasoline” fuels.
  • The Grand-Est region, the largest producer of this biofuel in France, is renewing its “1,000 E85 boxes for 1 euro” operation. A state-approved ethanol kit allowing you to convert your gasoline car to this fuel.
  • Bioethanol, produced from agricultural crops such as beetroot, wheat or corn, would, depending on the region, help the purchasing power of families, support the agricultural economy and the activity sector of garage owners. and mechanics.

Barely relaunched, already successful. The operation of the Grand-Est Region for 1,000 bioethanol units at 1 euro to convert private cars that run on gasoline to biofuel has once again met with great success. In a few days, “more than 1,600 requests were made, welcomes Jean Rottner, the President of the Region. This will therefore be extended significantly because it is an aid to purchasing power, to our agricultural economy, to support for mechanics and mechanics. “

Half the price of its fossil fuel equivalent at the pump (SP95), this biofuel is sometimes called bioethanol, superethanol or even E85 because of its alcohol percentage. It can be found in nearly 200 gas stations (50%) in the region. This “new fuel” has the double advantage of costing less but also of contributing to the ecological transition.

Grand-Est, France’s leading producer of bioethanol

Aid for the development of this biofuel which is timely because the Grand-Est is the second largest producer of sugar beets and soft wheat, components which are used to produce, once distilled, bioethanol. What could also explain that the Region is the largest French producer of bioethanol, or 40% of national production, which allows it to resell its surplus (five times more bioethanol is produced in the Grand-Est than consumed ) to other French regions and even exported to the European Union or the United Kingdom.

Financial assistance but also a good boost to the energy transition because bioethanol, produced from agro-industrial residues, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to fossil gasoline. Manufactured in distilleries located near farms and from biomass, this biofuel has something to appeal to owners of gasoline vehicles (but unfortunately not diesel) and communities that multiply aid, even if its environmental impact is often disputed by the ecologists. These criticisms should however be removed with the study of second generation bioethanol (from green waste) and why not third generation, perhaps based on green algae.

The operation will therefore be renewed from June 1 with a first batch of 1,000 boxes at 1 euro, for installation on the vehicle capped at 900 euros, then a second wave, once the 1,000 boxes are exhausted, of 5,000 boxes but this time supported up to 500 euros. Already 2,700 vehicles have been converted since the device was put in place in 2019 and nearly 180 garages are now authorized in the Grand-Est to install an E85 unit approved by the State.
What to stand by for the next help from June, because there will certainly not be something for everyone …



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