Ford/Maxol Bio-Ethanol Initiative Launched

On Tuesday, September 27th Maxol, Ireland’s leading independent oil company owned by the McMullan family, and Ford Ireland, announced the launch of Ireland’s first bio-ethanol car, the Ford Focus FFV, and the opening by Maxol of the country’s first bio-ethanol fuelling pump at its Beach Road service station in Sandymount, Dublin 4.

This partnership has been in development for a number of months and will be initially undertaken in a controlled pilot programme basis among fleet customers in the Dublin area. Based on the success of this it is planned that the fuel will become more widely available in the coming months.

The Ford Focus is Ireland’s best selling car and the FlexiFuel (FFV) version is capable of running on any mixture of petrol or E85 bio-ethanol, from a single tank, with no reduction in performance. Importantly, this allows the car to run even in areas where bio-ethanol outlets have not been established. As part of this cooperation, the Ford Focus FFV, which will be available in Right Hand Drive this November, will be tested by potential fleet customers with a view to creating a ‘critical mass’ of cars which would in turn justify a national fuel distribution network.

Maxol is conscious of the benefits to the consumer of using environmentally friendly fuel such as bio-ethanol. The fuel provides an overall saving in CO2 emission of up to 70% compared to the petrol equivalent. The bio-ethanol is manufactured from whey, which is milk derivative and sourced locally in Ireland from the Carbery Group.

The benefits of alternative renewable energy are extensive and should be exploited in all aspects of daily life. Maxoll commends the Government for the two year derogation on duty tax on bio-fuel products, and in kick starting the country’s programme in meeting the EU Directives in relation to bio-fuel consumption targets. These targets require biofuels to account for 2% of current fuel consumption by the end of 2005, 5.75% by 2010 and 20% by 2020.