The investment will provide dedicated pumps for bio-ethanol fuel at nine more filling stations being planned by the William Morrison supermarket chain.
Even though it says the government has done little to promote the use of bio-ethanol through tax breaks since its first ‘green’ outlet was opened last year, the supermarket chain remains committed to providing it at strategic forecourts.
Philip Maud, fuel director of Morrison’s, said: “By next year we will have spent a total of £750,000 on increasing the availability of E85 bio-ethanol and it will be on sale at around 25 of our sites. So far, there’s been no movement from the government to encourage drivers to make the switch, but we’re still hopeful of a change in legislation.
“About 500 flexi-fuel cars are in use at the moment, but the fact that a wider range of models will soon be able to run on this fuel is a big step in the right direction.”
Mr Maud’s comments came as Volvo Car international fleet sales director Alan Carpenter predicted that flexifuel motoring would become more popular when Ford’s new 2.0-litre biofuel C-MAX, S-MAX, Galaxy and Mondeo models are launched early next year. Volvo will offer the same engine in the new V70 range later this year.
“Biofuel represents a huge potential for Ford and Volvo in the fleet sector, but E85 needs the support of businesses and corporations as part of programmes for wider fuel sustainability.
“Up to now, Government commitment to biofuel has been lukewarm but it is improving. Now is the time for it to demonstrate leadership in this area,” he said.
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