E10 petrol bad for the environment? This says a new study

E10 has been sold at all filling stations in the Netherlands since 2019 instead of the old Euro 95. The extra addition of ethanol is said to be good for the environment. However, this is not entirely true according to a new study.

Transport & Environment commissioned a study by the German Institut (IFEU) into biofuels. This states that a lot of CO2 is emitted during the production of ethanol in E10.

Isn’t E10 Bad for the Environment?

The research shows what ethanol in E10 is made of. As German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke also reported earlier, ethanol is made from foodstuffs, such as sugar cane, beet, or corn, but also vegetable waste.

According to the research, the plants on the land would absorb twice as much CO2 if nature could just take its course here. In fact, if we use the agricultural land that is currently being used to install solar panels, it will generate just as much energy as all biofuels put together.

The Tricky Gasoline Issue

Whether or not E10 is greener than the old Euro 95 is a complex question. Although this study shows that the production of E10 may not be the most efficient, Germany claims that it has saved 7.8 million tons of CO2 in 2019 alone through the introduction of E10.

The average consumer hardly notices whether E10 or old Euro 95 comes out of the pump. However, with some cars, you have to pay attention. For example, some hybrid drivers should not fill up with E10, and old-timers and garden machines are also sensitive to less pure petrol.