Check first before filling car with biofuel - AA

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

FILLING UP: Prime Minister Helen Clark filled the first car with biofuel at a Gull station in Auckland yesterday. Gull is the first fuel company to offer biofuel in New Zealand, in response to a Government call for the fuel to be available from all companies next year.

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Vehicle manufacturers are being urged to tell motorists whether their cars can use biofuels following yesterday's introduction of New Zealand's first commercially-available biofuel.
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Independent fuel retailer Gull yesterday launched Gull Force 10, a 98 octane fuel with a 10 per cent ethanol blend made from whey provided by dairy giant Fonterra.

But the Automobile Association yesterday warned that many cars are not compatible with the E10 biofuel sold by Gull and using it could result in damage that may invalidate a car's warranty.

"The arrival of Gull Force 10 in the New Zealand market offers motorists the option of choosing a more environmentally friendly fuel for their vehicles," AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon said.

"However, it is important that motorists only use it if it is compatible with their vehicles."

He said using a 10 per cent ethanol fuel on a car which wasn't designed to take it "could lead to a number of problems including fuel leaks and fuel line deterioration, and possibly invalidate your vehicle's mechanical warranty".

"If you don't know whether your vehicle can use Gull Force 10, then the AA recommends contacting the vehicle's manufacturer prior to filling up."

The AA has asked manufacturers for a list of all vehicles that can use the biofuel, and will make it available on its website as soon as possible.

But AA technical advice manager Jack Biddle said the matter was complicated by the fact that the ability for a car to take a biofuel can differ within the same make and model.

"There is no ethanol in Japan so when they build a car for the domestic market that's not a consideration," Mr Biddle said.

"But cars built in Japan for the export market may be going to countries with biofuels so they are compatible.

"It means that, for example, a Toyota Rav4 built for the overseas market may be able to use a biofuel but a Rav4 made for the Japanese domestic market and subsequently imported to New Zealand may not be able to be used."

Mr Noon said the AA recommended ethanol-blended biofuels never be used for marine use, and people should contact manufacturers before using it for mowers, chainsaws and generators.

Volkswagen said all new petrol-powered vehicles bought in New Zealand since January 1, 2006 could use the biofuel. Ford said several models can use the biofuel and advised Ford drivers to check compatibility on its website.

Honda said all its vehicles produced in the last decade were E10 ready, and Holden advised its drivers to check their owners handbooks.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, who poured the first Gull biofuel at Albany on Auckland's North Shore yesterday, said efforts were being made to lift the standards of imported cars so New Zealand's car fleet would be less old and more able to use biofuels.

Gull said the fuel was cleaner burning and had lower emissions.

It was also more sustainable as it used whey – a natural by-product from the dairy industry – provided by Fonterra to produce the ethanol. This was more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels taken from the ground.

Miss Clark commended Gull for introducing the biofuel eight months ahead of the April deadline by which fuel retailers must begin offering biofuels.

She said the regulation was needed in order for New Zealand retailers to be offering biofuels, which have been available in many countries overseas for up to 20 years.

"We had to set it at a level which was feasible to be reached. What we've said is that we will be reviewing it regularly."

The Government earlier this year set a biofuel sales obligation of 3.4 per cent of total petrol and diesel sales by 2012.

Gull Force 10 replaced Gull's previous high octane petrol and was retailing at $1.61.5 per litre, as compared to the $1.53.5 per litre at Gull for 91 unleaded petrol and a higher price offered for the previous 95 octane petrol.

Miss Clark said tax breaks to bring the biofuel price down to the level of 91 unleaded petrol or below were not necessary to help encourage biofuel use.

"This has been done without any incentives whatsoever. It's a market solution and we think that putting on the mandatory sales obligation actually creates a lot of opportunities for kiwi industry to get in behind biofuels."

She said cleaner electric cars were also becoming a distinct possibility in the future.

"When I go to Apec meetings I hear President Bush talk in a very excited way about the availability of electric cars in the US market in the not too distant future so we're going to see all those improvements here."

A biofuel is any fuel derived from biomass, recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure, forest or crop waste, or even pond scum.

Gull will first offer the biofuel in three Auckland Gull stations – Albany on the North Shore, Kingsland in Auckland City and Wiri in Manukau City – and hopes to gradually extend it to its other 27 sites in New Zealand.

- NZPA