Questions/Answers

In Switzerland and in the EU, bioethanol is mainly used as a fuel in the form of E5 (a mixture of 95% gasoline and 5% anhydrous bioethanol) in gasoline vehicles or E85 (a mixture 15% gasoline and 85% anhydrous bioethanol) in flex-fuel vehicles. Technically, it can be blended with gasoline up to 20-25% in volume, with no special modification of the engine. This is particularly the case in Brazil and the United States, where bioethanol is blended with gasoline at rates of 20-25% and 10% respectively.

Technically, anhydrous bioethanol can be used as a mixture with conventional gasoline up to 20-25% vol., without modification of the engine, except at the level of material compatibility (which becomes essential at such alcohol levels). Brazil uses a mixture of up to 20-25% bioethanol in gasoline-fuelled vehicles. The United States and Sweden recommend a mixture of 5-10% ethanol without modification of the engine. In the United States, almost all vehicle manufacturers maintain their guarantees up to 10% vol. ethanol mixed with gasoline.

According to the EU, the potential of bioethanol to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) is about 2.0-2.5 kg CO2 eq. per liter. In its explanatory report on the amendment of the mineral oil taxation law, the Swiss Federal Department of Finance (FDF) mentions (and uses in its calculations) a value of 2.3 kg CO2/l. Various studies by ENERS Energy Concept and the LASEN and in the specialized press indicate very similar data. It should be noted however that the actual reduction of GHG emissions is very specific to the context of biofuels production and use. The data given here is an average.