ED 95

With the official authorisation for ED95 published on 4 February 2016, the list of fuels containing bioethanol continues to grow (SP95, SP95-E10, and E85). ED95 is a new fuel with over 95% bioethanol content. It is especially suited to buses and coaches, for increasingly eco-friendly transport.

Public transport has an important part to play in reducing the environmental footprint. In France it is enjoying brisk development further to the Macron Act and the liberalisation of coach transport. The French Ministry of the Environment, Development and Energy and the Sea’s publication of the decree officially authorising ED95 on 4 February 2016 has been heralded as good news.

ED95 is a type of fuel containing 95% bioethanol and 5% non-petroleum additives. Compression-ignition vehicles like buses, coaches and HGVs can run on it, thus harnessing the advantages of bioethanol with a reduction of over 50% of GHG emissions compared to diesel fuel. It also slashes fine-particle emissions by over 70% compared to the ceiling set by the EURO 6 anti-pollution standard.

A green solution immediately available for public transport

A “Bus for the climate”, built by Scania and featuring an engine powered by ED95, made a powerful impression on the world’s leaders at COP21, when it went on display at the “Summit of Locally Elected Officials for the Climate” organised by the Paris City Council last December. Paris set a fine example for all local authorities actively seeking more eco-friendly solutions for their public transport needs.

With this authorisation, France has caught up with Sweden, which switched to ED95 many years ago. Parallel to this, the entire bioethanol industry is opening up new perspectives in French farming. The availability of this renewable fuel sourced from the biomass is an important step towards much-needed energy transition as set forth at COP21.