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Almost One Million Cars Will Be Affected By Today's E10 Petrol Change

Almost One Million Cars Will Be Affected By Today's E10 Petrol Change

The government has warned that around five percent of vehicles won't be able to use the new petrol

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Almost a million vehicles will struggle to use the new standard petrol that comes into action today.

Until now, the UK's standard type of petrol was E5 - which is made with five percent bioethanol - but from today (Wednesday 1 September) the standard will be E10 - which, as the name suggests, is made with 10 percent bioethanol and is better for the environment.

The change is part of a government initiative to combat climate change - and while this is good news for the planet, it could be a bit of a pain for motorists who have older vehicles.

PA

While the majority of cars will be compatible with E10 fuel, it's worth checking for sure as there are a number of vehicles built before 2011 that may be at risk of either damage or void insurance if drivers use the new petrol.

Cars that may be incompatible include 'classic, cherished and older vehicles', 'some specific models, particularly those from the early 2000s' and 'some mopeds, particularly those with an engine size of 50cc or under'.

The government has said that, in total, around five percent of vehicles currently on the road won't be compatible.

To help motorists out, the government has set up an E10 checker on its website, where motorists can enter the model of their car to see whether or not the new fuel will work with their vehicle.

"You'll need to know the vehicle manufacturer to use the service," the checker explains.

"You may also need the vehicle model, engine size and year it was manufactured.

"Most petrol vehicles will be able to use E10."

The government has said: "All new cars manufactured since 2011 are compatible with E10 petrol, and most cars and motorcycles manufactured since the late 1990s are also approved by manufacturers to use E10."

PA

According to an estimate for 2020 by the RAC Foundation, there are 10 manufacturers with the highest number of E10 incompatible cars on the road.

These are:

  • Rover - 91,624 vehicles
  • MG - 75,827
  • VW - 61,398
  • Nissan - 55,139
  • Mazda - 46,040
  • Ford - 37,578
  • Toyota - 36,646
  • Peugeot - 27,217
  • Austin - 26,368
  • Triumph - 24,943

Malcolm McKay, spokesperson for the Historic and Classic Vehicle Association, said the E5 fuel would likely be available 'for a while' due to the popularity for higher octane fuels.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, climate change, Cars

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

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@ClaireReid19