E10 petrol will replace E5 petrol with an octane rating of 95 at filling stations. E5 petrol, which will be replaced by E10 petrol, contains up to 5% biocomponents by volume (bioethanol), while E10 petrol will contain up to 10% biocomponents by volume. This change requires no additional action from most vehicle owners. The vehicle documents or the fuel-filler flap should bear the distinctive E10 marking, confirming that the car is compatible with the new fuel. Owners of older vehicles should check whether their vehicles are adapted for refuelling with the new fuel.
Compatibility of the engine with E10 petrol can be checked in the vehicle manual, on the fuel-filler flap, or with the vehicle seller or manufacturer. According to the Polish Automotive Industry Association, the average age of a passenger car in Poland was 14.3 years in 2020. A significant majority of passenger vehicles with spark-ignition engines manufactured after 1 January 2010 are adapted to use E10 petrol. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association ACEA has prepared a report on the compatibility of cars of various makes and models with E10 petrol. The Ministry of Climate and Environment is preparing a search tool for drivers that will allow them to check the compatibility of cars of a given make and model year.
The search tool is available at e10.klimat.gov.pl
Mandatory markings identifying the type of fuel dispensed will appear on fuel nozzles and dispensers at filling stations. The method of marking, wording and provision of information about the type of fuel used to power a motor vehicle is set out in the Regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment of 31 August 2021 on informing about the type of liquid fuel used to power a motor vehicle and marking places for refuelling a motor vehicle with such fuel. Under the regulations, the fuel dispenser at a filling station must display the following marking in the form of a sticker:
E10 petrol is already widely used around the world, including in Europe, the United States and Australia. Since 2016, it has also been the reference fuel against which new cars are tested for emissions and performance. According to a report by ePure, an organisation concerned with the use of biocomponents, bioethanol has a smaller carbon footprint—an average of approximately 70% lower than fossil fuels such as petrol produced from crude oil.
Poland will be the 19th EU country to introduce E10 fuel. It is already available in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Germany, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Hungary. In addition, E10 is also available in Europe, among other places, in the United Kingdom and Norway.
The use of bioethanol in E10 petrol is not in itself revolutionary—bioethanol is already present in widely available 95- and 98-octane petrol. It is estimated that increasing the bioethanol content in petrol will affect fuel consumption only to a small extent, by around 1–2%, which is difficult to separate from other factors affecting fuel consumption, such as driving style or tyre pressure.
The main aim of the changes is to limit the transport sector’s negative impact on human health and the natural environment, including improving air quality in large cities where road transport is the main emitter of pollutants (smog). In addition, increasing the share of sustainable biofuels in transport fuels will enable Poland to achieve the EU target of a 14% share of fuels derived from renewable raw materials in fuels consumed in transport and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“Premium” 98 petrol will not change—E10 will be introduced only for 95-octane petrol, while “Premium” 98 petrol will continue to be sold in the E5 format. If, according to the manufacturer’s declaration, a vehicle is compatible with E10 petrol, it may be mixed with “Premium” 98 petrol in any proportions. If the vehicle manual contains no information on whether E10 petrol may be used, vehicle compatibility can be checked using the search tool prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment and available at e10.klimat.gov.pl. or by contacting the vehicle seller or manufacturer.