Seems like Germans don't like E10, either. Later article regarding BMW. --------------------- Fuel boycott in Germany: ministers refuse to drop alcohol mix Berlin - Government ministers urged oil industry chiefs in Berlin Tuesday to mount a public-education campaign to counter a boycott by millions of German motorists of a new grade of petrol, Super E10. To conserve oil, many nations have been stretching gasoline with alcohol made from sugar and other crops and calling the mix gasohol. Last month Germany further increased the proportion of the alcohol in 95-octane gasoline from 5 to 10 per cent. Many German motorists have started buying the next higher grade of fuel for fear the additive might harm engines. At the meeting, dubbed the petrol summit by the media, ministers refused to slow down the introduction of the mix. They said oil chief executives and the carmaking industry had agreed to an urgent information campaign to explain that the new fuel was safe for 93 per cent of the engines that burn 95-octane gasoline. "Information will be reinforced," said Rainer Bruederle, economics minister. "We'll stick to E10 because it is the right way to go." The boycott, supported by part of the media, has left Germany with a supply overhang of 95-octane petrol, a shortage of 98-octane petrol and a political disaster for Chancellor Angela Merkel's government. The dispute has led to mutual blame, with the oil industry upset that Berlin will be imposing penalties if it does not put a minimum of alchohol in its overall mix. Berlin has accused the industry of doing too little in the past three years to reassure motorists. Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen told reporters later, "It's a political consensus to introduce 'bio' motor fuel." E10 stands for 10 per cent ethanol, referring to the chemical name of the alcohol used. Volkswagen, for example, has said that it is not suited to direct-injection fuel pumps on some of its pre-2004 models. Many nations already put a small amount of ethanol in gasoline. France introduced subsidized E10 in April 2009 without any problem, but other nations such as Britain and Italy have yet to increase the proportion of alcohol to 10 per cent in any fuel. Environmentalists and food activists are broadly critical of energy crops, arguing they led to deforestation and higher food prices. Environmentalists demand that people reduce energy use instead. One German refinery, at Schwedt on the Polish border, said customers were only lifting one quarter of its low-octane output and -------------------- Bmw supports the introduction of Super E10 fuel Despite other media reports, Bmw announced today that it supports the introduction of Super E10 fuel in Germany and Europe. According to the Bavarian manufacturer, the statements made by Mr Brüner on the matter of E10 in the cars produced by Bmw did not refer to the countries with fuel standards such as those applicable in the EU. Bmw says that Mr Brüner referred to countries with clearly inferior fuel grades. Moreover, the Bavarian manufacturer wanted to assure us that the E10 fuels can be safely used in all BMW passenger car models from any production year. Still, some older Bmw models require Super Plus RON 98 fuel to reduce knock. "Contrary to current media reports which state otherwise, we affirm our declaration that E10 fuels can be safely used in all BMW passenger car models from any production year.A small number of older BMW vehicles require Super Plus RON 98 to reduce knock. Irrespective of ethanol content, these vehicles are therefore not suited for Super fuel. The relevant list of these vehicles was already published by the ADAC on March 1st this year. All oil-change intervals as prescribed by us remain unchanged, irrespective of the use of E10 fuel." said Dr Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management BMW AG, Development.
