Bio ethanol is made from a mixture of gasoline and plant based oils. The plant based element can vary but, in Ireland, it amounts to 80-85% of the end product.

Bio-ethanol fuelled vehicles are more environmentally friendly and are also cheaper to purchase (due to the lower rate of VRT). Ford was the first to introduced a Flexi Fuel Vehicle that could run on Bio-ethanol or petrol. This is called the Focus FFV.

Maxol have also developed a fuel called E5 which is 95% petrol and 5% ethanol. Not only can this be used in Flexi Fuel Engines but all modern petrol engines can take this fuel also. This makes it a very attractive proposition for those users who wish to continue with their petrol vehicle but still want to make a valid contribution to easing their Carbon footprint.

In light of the current debate on the issue of "growing crops for fuel" debate the following points are worth remembering:
• The Bio-ethanol available from Maxol in Ireland comes from Carbery Milk Products in West Cork.
• Carbery produce the E85 from Whey, a byproduct of their cheese making industry, the raw product of which is Irish milk.
• As the E85 is based on a byproduct of an existing process it is a highly efficient method of production.
• Irish Bio-ethanol supports Irish Dairy Framers and workers in the dairy industry.
• Irish Bio-ethanol replaces imported fossil fuels and therefore causes less damage to the environment.
• Using Irish Bio-ethanol can reduce your motoring carbon footprint by up to 80% .
• EMO's Bio-ethanol is sourced from Brazil and is made from sugar cane.

Emo Oil has extended its E85 availability with the introduction of E85 to 2 more stations at Bandon Motors, Bandon, Co. Cork and Mannion's Service Station on the Milltown Road in Tuam, Co. Galway.

These two new stations are incremental to the existing Emo E85 outlets and the 27 Maxol E85 stations around the country.

A list of Maxol sites is contained here:

LIST OF MAXOL STATIONS SELLING E85