E10 BY GUM!

Dear Classic American,

I’ve been catching up on some general American automotive reading as I cannot reach my car as it’s in the next town! In a recent Viewpoint/ editorial you pointed out that Esso in some locations does Synergy Supreme which is ethanol-free… for now! I thought that I had read that when standard fuel goes to 10% ethanol then the so-called Super such as Synergy would be expected to then contain 5% ethanol, thus stuffed again! What here is the truth? I had noted the ‘Super’ type fuels now have E5 on the pumps because legally they need to, for the changeover. Still unclear as to what will be in Synergy once Esso ups standard to 10% ethanol!

Chris Drucker

Via email

Well Chris, a very good point you make there, as we’d spotted those ‘E5’ badges, even on Esso’s Synergy Supreme, which is claimed to be ethanol-free. We put your question to Esso and this was their response:

“There is currently no requirement for renewable fuel (such as ethanol) to be present in super unleaded (97 grade petrol). Esso super unleaded petrol (branded ‘Esso Energy Supreme’) is ethanol-free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, the Teesside area and Scotland). Recent legislation requires E5 labels to be placed on pumps supplying unleaded fuel with ‘up to 5% ethanol’.

“Since there is no lower limit, we are obliged to include the stickers on our Supreme Unleaded premium fuel pumps even though the fuel they dispense contains no ethanol.

“It remains possible that legislation could change in future with regards the inclusion of ethanol in super unleaded fuel, in which case we would of course comply with the legislation.”

Richard Scrase, media adviser UK & Ireland public and government Affairs, ExxonMobil