Australia’s Queensland government praises E10 to encourage drivers to use green fuel this Christmas

Australia’s Queensland government is encouraging motorists to use E10 fuel when driving over the Christmas break.

“During the festive season Queenslanders frequently get on the road to visit families and friends, as well as to take a well-earned holiday,” Queensland’s Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey said in a statement.

He added: “When fuelling up during this period, I encourage motorists to consider using E10 fuel.

“The ethanol in E10 is a renewable energy source made right here in Queensland and by using it, motorists are supporting local industry and jobs. The lower life cycle emissions of E10 mean they are also supporting the environment.

“The Palaszczuk government [current Queensland government] recognises the important need to educate motorists about E10 fuel. That’s why we’re committed to an education campaign so Queenslanders fully understand the benefits of using E10 fuel.”

E10 checker

He also said that motorists could use an ‘E10 OK compatibility checker’ to allow them to check whether they can use E10 simply by entering their registration or by searching by make and model.

He explained: “Since the launch of the campaign more than 275,000 vehicle searches have been completed.”

Australian Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers CEO Peter Blanshard said an education campaign was important because of the belief that ethanol enriched fuels could damage all car engines which was no longer true.

“Most cars built after 2000 are designed with E10 in mind,” Blanshard said.

He added: "As the years rolled on and as technology improved and more globalisation occurred in the manufacture of motor vehicles more cars are being specifically designed to run on ethanol enriched fuels.

“This has culminated in vehicles now being manufactured to run on fuels as high as 85 percent ethanol, or E85.”

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association CEO Mark McKenzie said Queensland’s implementation of its biofuels mandate will benefit motorists because it has been designed around the principal of maintaining choice.

“This is different to the New South Wales Government’s initial implementation of its biofuels mandate which sought to prohibit regular unleaded petrol,” McKenzie said. “As a result of Queensland’s policy, fuel retailers are able to make individual choices about the least-cost way to accommodate the mandate.”

He explained: “Importantly, the Queensland Government has developed an exemption framework which should maintain consumer choice, protect against increased compliance costs for fuel sellers and the subsequently increased fuel costs to motorists.”

Bailey said the education campaign supports the 1 January commencement of the Palaszczuk Government’s biofuels mandate, which requires certain fuel businesses to sell a minimum amount of biofuels, like E10 fuel, boosting the Queensland fuel industry and the jobs that come with it.

“The biofuels mandate will help grow Queensland’s biofuels industry - an industry that builds on our strong agricultural sector, encourages innovation, and will diversify the economy while creating the knowledge-based jobs for the future - all in a sustainable way. I encourage motorists to become E10 OK this holiday season,” Bailey said.