Super-ethanol E85, a "miracle" fuel at a price of 0,70 euros per liter!

Superethanol E70 at an unbeatable price at 85 cents per liter - the new star of filling stations! And the good news is that if you drive on petrol, chances are your car is compatible with E85 fuel. What car can run on E85? How to modify your car? We will explain everything to you!

Are you ready to take the plunge? Find a secure garage to convert your vehicle to the E85 with our garage comparator.

(I.e. What is Super Ethanol E85?

There is nothing wonderful about the E85, except for the price! E85 is simply a mixture of ethanol, alcohol and regular unleaded gasoline. Depending on the time of year, E85 contains between 65% and 85% ethanol.

Unlike unleaded gasoline, ethanol is a vegetable fuel: in Europe it is produced from grain crops and sugar beets.

Even if E85 has only been sold in France since 2007, ethanol has long been used as a fuel! In Brazil, it was used after the 1973 oil crisis. And today all types of gasoline sold in France contain some amount of alcohol. For example, SP95 E10 contains 10% ethanol!

?? How much does E85 fuel actually cost?

With the E85, you can finally drive without breaking the bank! Its gas station price is unbeatable: an average of 70 cents per liter of E85 versus 1,5 euros for the SP95. It's almost hard to believe!

But how is this possible? Beware of preconceived ideas! The fact that super ethanol is a vegetable fuel does not mean that it is cheaper. In fact, producing ethanol is slightly more expensive than producing regular gasoline.

If it is cheaper, then thanks to a very favorable tax system! Simply put, it pollutes less, so it is less taxed. In 2018, for every liter of E85, the state levied a tax of 12 euro cents versus 68 cents for a liter of unleaded gasoline ... and that's not including VAT!

🚗 How to work on super-ethanol E85?

We'll cover 3 main ways the E85 is currently being used.

Solution 1: buy a new car

This is not the easiest solution! At the moment, only Ford offers the E85 petrol and super-ethanol hybrid vehicle in the catalog: the Kuga 1.5 Flexifuel E85 150 hp. But if the enthusiasm for the E85 is confirmed, other manufacturers should follow it: Volkswagen, Dacia?

Solution 2. Install the E85 box on your gasoline vehicle.

The good news is that most gasoline vehicles sold since 2000 can be easily converted to E85 super ethanol. To do this, all you have to do is install the E85 conversion kit, which costs between 750 and 1500 euros.

This kit contains an electronic unit that will constantly analyze the fuel mixture in your tank and change the way the engine works. Thanks to this box, you can drive all types of gasoline: SP95, SP98 and E85. And you can even confuse them!

More than 1000 mechanics have already offered the installation of E85 boxes in France. You can use our garage comparator to find an installer near you. But be sure to check first if your vehicle meets the criteria for the E85 Super Ethanol upgrade.

Solution 3: Drive the E85 without modifying your vehicle

In theory, since 2000 on gasoline, all components in direct contact with fuel are compatible with ethanol and have no risk of being damaged!

But in practice, without a converter on board, there is a danger of panic! The engine ECU is not programmed to control the E85. It will be difficult for you to start cold weather at first. Then the engine light will flash quickly until the engine is in a safe state!

🔧 How do you know if your car is compatible with E85 fuel?

Everything is very simple! Your car must meet 5 criteria:

• Run on gasoline
• Put into circulation after January 1, 2001 (Euro 3 - Euro 6 standards).
• Do not have a particulate filter
• Have a maximum fiscal power of 14 hp.
• Get your final license plates
  
  

?? Where can I find filling stations selling E85 fuel?

At the moment, only 10% of stations in France offer E85, that is, 1106 stations. These are mainly Intermarché and Total stations.

But with the enthusiasm for E85, the number of stations is growing very quickly. This year, 200 to 300 new stations will be equipped.

🌍 Is E85 fuel environmentally friendly?

When burned, super-ethanol gives off half of the CO2. But the intensive agriculture that allows it to be produced is very polluting. And we consume 30% more fuel when driving super ethanol rather than unleaded gasoline ...

While Super Ethanol E85 works wonders for your wallet, it doesn't really work for the environment. After all, driving E85 super ethanol only gives you 20% less pollution than driving unleaded gasoline.

All in all, the E85 can save you several hundred dollars a year. Give a maximum of 2 years to make your car retrofit profitable! Are you ready for this? Our trusted mechanics can install the box for you at very competitive prices.