Greens claim biofuel risks 'small'

11:11AM Friday Aug 03, 2007

Helen Clark at the Gull Force 10 launch on Wednesday. Photo / Martin Sykes

WELLINGTON - The Green Party says the risks of using an ethanol blend biofuel are small and the motor industry should stop trying to impede progress on climate change.

Independent fuel retailer Gull on Wednesday launched Gull Force 10, a 98 octane fuel with a 10 per cent ethanol blend made from whey provided by dairy giant Fonterra.

But the Automobile Association warned that many cars are not compatible with the E10 biofuel sold by Gull and using it could result in damage that may invalidate a car's warranty.

"The arrival of Gull Force 10 in the New Zealand market offers motorists the option of choosing a more environmentally friendly fuel for their vehicles," AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon said.

"However, it is important that motorists only use it if it is compatible with their vehicles."

He said using a 10 per cent ethanol fuel on a car which wasn't designed to take it "could lead to a number of problems including fuel leaks and fuel line deterioration, and possibly invalidate your vehicle's mechanical warranty".

"If you don't know whether your vehicle can use Gull Force 10, then the AA recommends contacting the vehicle's manufacturer prior to filling up."

The AA has asked manufacturers for a list of all vehicles that can use the biofuel, and will make it available on its website as soon as possible.

AA technical advice manager Jack Biddle told NZPA the matter was complicated by the fact that the ability for a car to take a biofuel could differ within the same make and model.

"There is no ethanol in Japan so when they build a car for the domestic market that's not a consideration," Mr Biddle said.

"But cars built in Japan for the export market may be going to countries with biofuels so they are compatible.

"It means that, for example, a Toyota Rav4 built for the overseas market may be able to use a biofuel but a Rav4 made for the Japanese domestic market and subsequently imported to New Zealand may not be able to be used."

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said she had been proud to attend the launch of the fuel and see enthusiastic support from Honda, Ford, Volkswagen and Holden.

"It is time for other companies to start putting New Zealand's future first and to stop exaggerating the very small risks which apply to a small proportion of vehicles," she said.

Ms Fitzsimons said the fuel was being sold at three outlets and only replaced 98 octane. The majority of vehicles used lower octane so would not be in the market to buy it. Of those that did use high octane fuel, many would be new vehicles that would not have a problem, she said.

The source of this ethanol was a New Zealand by-product of the dairy industry, whey.

She said the Green Party was opposed to using high quality land to grow food crops for fuel, as the United States was doing with its corn to ethanol programme.

The Government earlier this year set a biofuel sales obligation of 3.4 per cent of total petrol and diesel sales by 2012.

Ms Fitzsimons said demand for transport fuel had been growing at 4 per cent a year, which meant the Government's target of 3.4 per cent did not even cancel out one year's growth.

Gull will first offer the biofuel in three Auckland Gull stations - Albany on the North Shore, Kingsland in Auckland City and Wiri in Manukau City - and hopes to gradually extend it to its other 27 sites in New Zealand.

- NZPA