PTT is first to sell E85 fuel

State-owned oil and gas company PTT Public Company Ltd. (PTT) became Thailand’s first retailer to sell E85 fuel at one of its pumps in Bangkok, said Chaivat Churitti, senior executive vice president of the company’s oil business unit. The E85 gasohol would be available at 14 other pumps by the end of this year, Chaivat said adding that even when there are a few cars running on E85 in Thailand, PTT is rolling out E85 to ensure carmakers of the availability of the product in the market. Volvo, Ford and Chevrolet are currently the only three automakers to offer imported cars that can run on E85 to local customers. The government should offer additional tax breaks for E85-compatible vehicles to promote the use of the fuel, Chaivat said. Vehicles that use E85 are currently taxed at 20% of the factory price, similar to E20-compatible cars, which were introduced in Thailand in January this year. (September 2, 2008)