In September last year Gull New Zealand announced the introduction of its B5 blended biodiesel at its public service stations. That particular fuel consisted of a 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent ordinary diesel blend.
Now Gull has upped the fuel anti with the introduction of a fuel blend it says, based on calculations by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 to 40 percent when compared to ordinary fuel—something Gull’s general manager Dave Bodger says will go some lengths towards meeting the government’s recently announced (though controversial) target of a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. The fuel is called Gull Force Pro (E85) and is made up of 85 percent bioethanol and 15 percent petrol.
Bodger says Gull had taken care to source the bioethanol from sustainable sources, representing a real cut in greenhouse emissions.
“Gull is committed to sustainable motoring through the introduction of renewable fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he says.
It’s received the backing of the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ), with executive officer Brian Cox, who says the adoption of biofuels is of benefit to to New Zealnders both financially and environmentally.
“If New Zealand is serious about cutting emissions from private transport, biofuel needs to take centre stage in our everyday driving,” says Cox. “This is the next step towards increasing the availability of high-percentage biofuels and cars that can run on them.”
But a note of caution. The fuel isn’t for everyone, or rather, every car. Only motorists with flex-fuel vehicles can use E85. Flex-fuel vehicles can use either E85 or ordinary petrol or any mixture of the two in the same tank. And if you’re a Celsias reader who also happens to be a race car driver, it’s good news for you. To bring the race car message home, V8 Supercar drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney, who will be racing in the Hamilton ITM400 tomorrow, helped launch the fuel today. ITM400 V8 Supercars have been powered by 85 per cent ethanol (E85) since the beginning of the 2009 season.
