Classics at risk with E10 This is the lead article in Classic Car Weekly out today. DfT open consultation on E10 petrol, consumer protection and fuel pump labelling Launched in July 2018, the DfT consultation was "seeking views on a range of issues related to renewable transport fuel supply in the UK". The consultation closed on 16th September 2018. GOV.UK consultation See our earlier NEWS report. 180720 More E10 contains more bioethanol than traditional petrol in the UK The DfT publicity says introducing E10 "would help reduce carbon emissions from petrol vehicles, helping the UK meet its climate change targets". The Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: "this Government is ambitiously seeking to reduce the UK’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions from transport. But drivers of older vehicles should not be hit hard in the pocket as a result. We have launched this consultation in order to understand the impact of E10 on the UK market better, and to ensure that drivers are protected if any changes come into effect". See our biofuels "information gateway" with links to earlier news items and articles on the ethanol topic. More Posted: 181010 Classic Car Weekly reports that calls to save classic cars from the negative effects of introducing E10 petrol in the UK have not been addressed by four main political parties. CCW approached the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green parties for comment, but only Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties responded. Shadow Transport Secretary, Andy McDonald, is reported to have said "Labour supports the introduction of E10 in order to tackle climate change." However the Labour member on the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group (APPHVG) in Westminster called for E5 to be available on forecourts for modern classic cars as well as older ones. The LibDems political advisor on environmental matters indicated that given the problems classics have with E10 they support the option of a protection grade suggested in the DfT's consultation. CCW report that the environmental lobbyists' calls to put E10 on the forecourts before 2020 are growing and have attracted considerable support at recent Labour and Conservative party conferences. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) is supporting the case for introducing an E5 "protection grade" of less harmful fuel for classic cars if E10 is rolled out in the UK. The FBHVC also highlights that as historic vehicles cover on average 1,124 miles a year, this means a negligible environmental impact in the UK. Clearly the FBHVC has the tread carefully and with tact here. Around one million cars registered in the UK before 2000 could not use E10 In a report in the Times today it says "these cars include Rovers (91,600), MGs (75,800), VWs (61,400) and Nissans (55,100). Under the DfT plan motor fuel retailers would be expected to sell E10 alongside existing petrol which contains up to 5% ethanol. It raises the prospect of some larger fuel stations selling three types of petrol: E10, E5 and the more expensive high octane petrol usually with far lower levels of ethanol. Whilst expensive, many classic car enthusiasts do opt for the "super" grades with the general result of lower ethanol impact on the fuel systems. The DfT announcement does not suggest a start date for the new rules but says that E5 will be protected "beyond 20120", raising the prospect that E10 may be available by then. Clearly many smaller filling stations around the UK will not have sufficient storage infrastructure or fuel pumps to offer motorists three grades of fuel on their forecourts. The continued availability of low ethanol fuels is essential for classic car enthusiasts so following this news item closely will be a concern for many.