Total steps up deployment of E85 fuel in France

Total has stepped up the deployment of E85 fuel within its service station network in France,  to meet the growing demand. E85 refers to an ethanol fuel blend of 85% ethanol fuel and 15% gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume.

Total said it has already doubled its distribution capacity at the end of 2019, from 270 service stations to more than 500. As of December 31, 2020, there are more than 750 service stations in the Total network offering E85, making it the largest distributor of E85 in France. This development will continue in 2021, the French energy major said, because E85 benefits from having an attractive price and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Total’s E85 Superethanol has many advantages:

• It incorporates 60 to 85% bioethanol, an alcohol made from beet, wheat or corn;
• It is mainly produced in France and its marketing supports French agriculture;
• It has a favorable carbon footprint due to its composition and reduces CO2 emissions by more than 40% over the entire product life cycle;
• It benefits from an attractive price per liter, thanks to favorable taxation, and allows gasoline vehicles to save more than 40% on their fuel budget;
• It is available nationwide in France
• It can be used by specific vehicles known as “Flex-Fuel” or by gasoline cars equipped with an approved conversion device

“Bringing energy that is ever more affordable and more environmentally friendly to our customers is at the heart of our business,” says Guillaume Larroque, president of Total Marketing France. “Total therefore wanted to accelerate the development of E85 and will continue this effort in 2021, in order to provide as many people as possible access to this low-carbon fuel at an attractive price. With our 750 Total stations now offering E85, spread across the whole of France, we are supporting the energy transition of our motorist customers. “