Biofuel and environmentally friendly cars
Biofuel is a renewable fuel typically made from food crops, wood waste, or, as in New Zealand, from dairy industry by-products. Biofuel can either be petrol blended with a maximum of 10% bioethanol, or diesel blended with a maximum 5% biodiesel.
Biofuel benefits the environment because it burns more cleanly and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas emissions) produced by your car.
How biofuel stacks up
If you use 30 litres of biofuel a week you will save over 250 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Biofuel is better suited to newer vehicles however many older vehicles can use it too. Check our list of biofuel compatible cars (below) or contact your vehicle manufacturer before using biofuel.
Bioethanol has 30% less energy content than mineral fuel, which means you consume about 3% more fuel with a 10% bioethanol blend. However bioethanol does contain more oxygen so your fuel will burn better and performance may be improved.
Power sources
The new generation of environmentally friendly (or "green") cars and vehicles are being designed to run on a number of different power sources; anything from bioethanol to biodiesel and hydrogen. Here's a rundown.
Hydrogen-powered
Plain old water is the only emission from hydrogen-powered cars. However, like other experimental hydrogen-powered vehicles, it's prohibitively expensive and hydrogen production is still CO2 intensive.
Hybrids
Hybrid vehicles use two types of power sources; a petrol engine and an electric motor - which maximises the benefits of both and opens up possibilities for the future. Hybrid vehicles typically use one of two types of hybrid systems; the series hybrid and the parallel hybrid.
Biodiesel
In New Zealand, biodiesel can be sourced from vegetable oils or, more commonly, tallow which is a byproduct of the meat industry. The New Zealand Engine Fuel Specifications permit mineral diesel to be blended with up to 5% biodiesel for retail sale, without the fuel needing to be labelled as biofuel. That means there is no need for you to make any modifications or other changes to your engine, or undergo any changes to your vehicle's maintenance schedules.
Currently biodiesel is retailed in New Zealand by Gull at selected service stations, and will soon be retailed by Z Energy in the upper North Island.
Bioethanol
Bioethanol is a renewable fuel made by fermenting and distilling products containing sugars and starches. In New Zealand bioethanol is currently made from dairy industry byproducts, and is blended to a maximum 10% with petrol. Bioethanol fuel blends have been used in Europe, Australia and North and South America, for many years.
Currently only Gull sells a bioethanol in New Zealand, with 10% bioethanol blended into their 98 octane petrol.
LPG
Any petrol engine can be converted to run on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), but although it may cost you less at the pump, the conversion can be pricey and you may lose precious boot space to the second fuel tank needed.
Biofuel compatible cars
This list has been created from information provided by members of the Motor Industry Association (MIA) and details car models and their manufacturer recommendations relating to the use of E3 or E10 biofuel.
Make | Model | E3 suitable | E10 suitable |
Alfa Romeo | All models post 1998 | ||
Aston Martin | All models post 2004 | ||
Audi | All models except the ones below: | ||
A3 1.8 (engine code APG {92kW}) | |||
A4 & A6 2.0 (engine code ALT {96kW}) | |||
Bentley | All models post 1990 | ||
BMW | All models pre 1996 | ||
All models post 1996 | |||
Chrysler | All models post 1986 | ||
Citroen | All models post 1998 | ||
Daihatsu | All models except the ones below: | ||
Charade post Sept 2005 | |||
Copen post Jan 2006 | |||
Materia post Nov 2006 | |||
Terios post Feb 2006 | |||
Dodge | All models post 1986 | ||
Fiat | All models post 1998 | ||
Ford | All models post 1986 except the ones below: | ||
Capri | |||
Courier 2.0L & 2.6L | |||
Econovan pre 2002 | |||
Escort | |||
F-series models 1986-1992 | |||
Festiva | |||
Focus models 2002-2004 | |||
Ka | |||
Laser 1.3L, 1.5L & 1.6L | |||
Mondeo 2.0L & 2.5L pre 2001 | |||
Sierra | |||
Telstar | |||
Transit models 1996-2004 | |||
Daewoo | All models | ||
Holden | All models post 1986 except the ones below: | ||
Barina models 1985-1994 | |||
Astra SRi 2.2L models post November 2006), 2.2L Twin Top Convertible models post November 2006 | |||
Honda | All fuel injected models post 1996 | ||
Hyundai | All models post October 2003 | ||
Jaguar | All fuel injected models post 1986 - 95 Octane or higher | ||
Jeep | All models post 1986 | ||
Kia | All models post 1995 | ||
Lamborghini | All models | ||
Land Rover | All fuel injected models post 1996 - 95 Octane or higher | ||
Lexus | All models | ||
Maserati | All models | ||
Mazda | All models except the ones below: | ||
MPV post 1999 | |||
Mazda2 post May 2005 | |||
Mazda3 | |||
Mazda6 | |||
RX8 | |||
NC MX-5 | |||
CX-7 | |||
Mercedes Benz | All models post 1986 | ||
MG | All models | ||
Mini (BMW) | All models post 2001 | ||
Mitsubishi | All models except the ones below: | ||
Models with Evo X and GDi engines | |||
Nissan | All models post 1 January 2004 | ||
Peugeot | 205, 404, 405, 504, 505, 605 (post 07/1997 TU engines) | ||
206, 207, 307, 406, 407, 607, 306 (post 07/1997 TU engines) | |||
Porsche | All models pre 2007 | ||
All models post 2007 | |||
Rolls Royce | All models post 1990 | ||
Rover | All models | ||
Renault | All models post 2001 | ||
Saab | All models post 1986 | ||
Skoda | All models post 2006 | ||
Subaru | All models post 1990 except the ones below: | ||
Legacy RS, GT, GTB, RSK, Blitzen-1990 on Impreza STI-1997 on, Forester STI | |||
Suzuki | All models except the ones below (providing RON requirements are met): | ||
Alto models pre 2000 | |||
Baleno | |||
Baleno GTX | |||
Jimny (SOHC) | |||
Super Carry | |||
Swift models pre 1995 | |||
Vitara | |||
Wagon R+ model pre 2001 | |||
Wagon R | |||
X-90 | |||
Toyota | All models post 1991 | ||
Volkswagen | All fuel-injected models post 1997 | ||
All models post 2006 | |||
Volvo | All fuel injected models post 1996 - 95 Octane or higher |
Motorcycles, all terrain and other vehicles
Make | Model | E3 suitable | E10 suitable |
BMW | All models pre 2000 | ||
All models post 2000 | |||
Ducati | All models | ||
Harley-Davidson | All models | ||
Honda | All models post 1989 (refer owner manual for related cautions) | ||
Hyosung | All models | ||
Polaris | All models | ||
Kawasaki | Some Canadian specification models (details in owner handbook) | ||
All other models | |||
Suzuki | Road bikes 50cc to 1800cc | ||
ATV wheel bikes | |||
Road trail bikes and kids bikes | |||
Motorcross 2 stroke and 4 stroke | |||
Yamaha | All motorcycles and all terrain vehicles |
Important things to note
The list only applies to cars sold brand new in New Zealand. It doesn't relate to any vehicles that have been imported as used cars.
For the vast majority of Japanese used imports, vehicle manufacturers state that they can safely use ethanol-blend fuel up to a 3% maximum (E3). Some later models (2006 onwards) may be suitable for ethanol-blend fuel of up to 10%. If your car is fitted with a carburettor then it's highly unlikely to be able to use E3 or E10.
B5 biodiesel is generally acceptable for use in most diesel vehicles. However, no advice is available from Great Wall about whether B5 is permitted in their models, and Ford does not recommend B5 in models build before 2005. For more information on biodiesel compatibility, see www.mia.org.nz.documents. The AA also advises motorists not to use biodiesel in recreational boats due to the associated higher risk of diesel bug.
You may also find further information about your car's compatibility with biofuel in the owner's handbook or on the car manufacturer's website.
Ethanol blended fuel shouldn't be used for marine and aviation purposes, and you should contact manufacturers prior to using ethanol-blended fuel for small machinery such as motor mowers, chainsaws and generators. Please contact your manufacturer if you're uncertain whether to use biofuel.