Along with electric, it is surely one of the big winners from the recent rise in fuel prices. In 2022, the consumption of E85 superethanol jumped 83%, to 854,124 cubic meters, compared to 467,698 in 2021.
6.5% of gasoline sales in 2022
A record level: the consumption of E85, still anecdotal in 2016, has not stopped growing since then, as has its market share in gasoline sales, of which it is still a derivative. In fact, this fuel is made up of between 60 and 85% bioethanol and the rest 95% unleaded.
Although it represented only 1.7% of gasoline sales in 2018, this rate reached 6.5% in 2022 and should be 8% in 2023, the players in the sector stressed during a press conference organized on January 24.
A price difference that is still attractive
The main reason for this success, a very attractive price compared to its main competitor, the 95 E10 unleaded (56% of gasoline sales in 2022), although an overconsumption of 25% must be taken into account.
On January 20, E85 was found on average at 1.11 euros per liter in France, compared to 1.87 euros for 95 E10. However, with the recent rise in the price of superethanol, the gap was reduced to 0.76 cents last December, when in June it had reached 1.23 euros. Beyond the difference in price per liter, the lower volatility of the E85 is also attractive, with a much less bumpy curve than that of the 95 E10 (graph below).
The main competitor at the pump, the E10 also remains a strong ally: models that can run on the original E85 or thanks to the installation of a box also accept “classic” gasoline, enough to reassure potential users about the availability of this fuel. .
However, more and more stations are offering them: 550 more in 2022, that is, 36% of the French network in total, compared to 30% a year earlier. With significant variations depending on the region: from 46% in Occitanie and Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, to 32% in Grand Est.
Therefore, if the availability of E85 is less and less a problem in France, this compatibility with conventional gasoline may still be interesting for refueling abroad. France remains the only European market with Sweden where this E85 fuel is widespread.
More than 300,000 compatible vehicles in France
In this context, the sales of compatible vehicles (Ford and Jaguar Land Rover) have multiplied by six in 2022. Although the volumes remain relatively low with 34,881 sales last year, this engine is becoming the main argument for certain Models. At Ford, 94% of Pumas, 89% of Focus and 77% of Kugas are sold in flex-E85 or flex-E85 hybrid versions. What new customers also come to look for:
“On a model like the Puma, we achieved a 60% conquest, emphasizes Fabrice Devanlay”, spokesman for Ford France.
In terms of device installations, we are close to tripling, from 30,000 in 2021 to 85,000 in 2022. Despite the narrowing price gap, Alexis Landrieu, founder and CEO of Biomotors, remains convinced of the benefits from this solution:
“At current prices, with a full 45-liter tank, the E85 costs 50 euros compared to 85 euros for the 95 E10 without lead.”
Regional and departmental aid also allows the installation bill of the box to be reduced (between 700 and 1600 euros), enough to amortize this investment more quickly.
In total, the fleet of compatible vehicles thus exceeded 300,000 units in 2022, an increase of 67% in one year.
Strong growth is still expected by 2023
In a context in which fuel prices should remain at high levels in the coming months, the sector is committed to further development of E85 sales. Its market share in gasoline deliveries should exceed 8%.
ZFE rollout could also help stimulate sales of compatible models and boxes: Reims and Montpellier offer temporary or permanent exemptions for box-equipped cars: enough to offer a simpler and less expensive solution than swapping cars to the more than 5 million Crit’Air 2 and 3 cars affected in the short term by traffic bans.
Source: BFM TV
