Sales of gasoline containing ethanol now represent 50% of total sales. At the pump, it is the one marked 95 E10. E for ethanol and 10 because this essence contains 10% biofuel, therefore produced with beet sugar or starch-based content in cereals. For the French agricultural sector, this is a significant outlet which represents 7,000 jobs.
More and more motorists are getting involved, gasoline containing ethanol now accounts for half of sales in France.
It is a dazzling success indeed. Half of the fuel tanks in France today are made with petrol containing ethanol. At the pump, it is the one marked 95 E10. E for ethanol and 10 because this essence contains 10% biofuel, therefore produced with beet sugar or starch-based content in cereals. In ten years, we have roughly gone from 10 to 50% of gasoline containing ethanol. How? 'Or' What ? Because it is less taxed therefore cheaper by a few cents. Suddenly, 70% of French service stations offer it.
It's all very well, but does it pollute less?
Yes, when you burn ethanol, you emit 71% less greenhouse gases. So when you have 10% ethanol in your fuel tank, you are not driving organic, but finally you are emitting 7% less CO2. Another fuel that is also developing rapidly is E85, which contains 85% ethanol. For the moment, only a limited number of cars tolerate it, but it is becoming more and more popular. It is not to everyone's taste: some environmental activists fight biofuels by believing that agriculture should focus on food production. But for the French agricultural sector, this is a significant outlet and this represents 7,000 jobs, or 2.5 times the Renault factory in Flins.