Green Fuel explains ethanol blend after Nissan fears

The country’s sole ethanol producing company, Green Fuel, has clarified that all vehicle models are compatible with a 10 per cent mix of anhydrous ethanol and unleaded petrol, provided that they have installed a flexi-fuel upgrade kit.

Filling up with fuel made from 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent unleaded petrol. But some car manufacturers are warning high blends could damage components.
Filling up with fuel made from 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent unleaded petrol. But some car manufacturers are warning high blends could damage components.

This comes at a time when Nissan owners are reporting that the mandatory E15 blend could damage their cars.

The car manufacturers and assemblers have allegedly warned that they would not honour warranties for vehicles because they could be affected by the fuel, which they deemed harmful to certain models.

This has deepened controversy surrounding the mandatory blending of fuel. Manufacturers say the percentage of ethanol should not be above 10 per cent.

Nissan Zimbabwe’s after-sales manager, Mehluli Khumalo, said: “Nissan vehicles are designed to take a maximum 10 per cent ethanol blended gasoline only. If this percentage is exceeded, Nissan products will have to have most fuel injection components changed and various rubber components installed into the fuel systems redesigned to cater for a higher ethanol blend.”

However, Green Fuel public relations officer Lilian Muungani said vehicles could either be already flexi fuel from the manufacturer or needed to be fitted with a fuel upgrade kit to enable them to run on the blend.

She added that more than 3,500 vehicles in Harare were currently using 85 per cent anhydrous ethanol (E85) blended with unleaded petrol.

“These vehicles are running without problems. We urge motorists to approach service stations with E85 to get detailed information on flexi-fuel kits,” she said.

E15 has been approved for mandatory blending, and this will be increased to E20 by April.

E85 is available at 13 centres and there are plans to open up new sites throughout the country. E85 is going for between $1.08 and $1.10 a litre compared to unleaded at $1.45.

Post published in: Environment
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