“Biofuel E10 Now Available in Vietnam’s Three Major Cities”

E10 RON95 is a type of gasoline with a higher ethanol content than E5, making it more environmentally friendly and cheaper than traditional RON95 gasoline.

Ho Chi Minh City has the most sales points with 36 Petrolimex stations located on central routes such as Hai Ba Trung, Vo Thi Sau, Truong Dinh, Ly Thuong Kiet, and Le Van Sy. Hanoi has four PVOil stations participating in the pilot program in districts such as Dong Da, Cau Giay, Ngoc Hoi, and Phu Xuyen. Meanwhile, Hai Phong will sell E10 gasoline at two locations in Hai An and Thuy Nguyen districts.

According to the current retail price list from Petrolimex, E10 gasoline costs VND 19,490/liter in region 1 and VND 19,870/liter in region 2. These prices are lower than RON95-V by VND 540-560/liter and RON95-III by about VND 210-220/liter. However, compared to the widely-used E5 biofuel, E10 is slightly more expensive by about VND 220/liter.

In terms of composition, E10 is a mixture of 90% unleaded gasoline and 10% ethanol, a type of bioethanol produced from renewable sources such as sugarcane, corn, and cassava. On the other hand, E5, which is currently the main biofuel in the market, contains only 5% ethanol blended with 95% of A92 gasoline. Increasing the proportion of ethanol in gasoline improves combustion efficiency, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes the use of renewable energy.

However, due to the hydrophilic nature of ethanol, which easily absorbs moisture from the air, E10 gasoline also presents some special technical requirements during use. For vehicles that are left unused for extended periods (over 3-4 weeks), the ethanol in the gasoline may absorb water and separate, leading to rusting inside the fuel tank or damage to the fuel pump. Therefore, users should empty their fuel tanks or use fuel stabilizers if they do not plan to operate their vehicles regularly.

Additionally, technical experts recommend that users replace their fuel filters more frequently when using E10 biofuel to remove any sediment or impurities that may be generated by the ethanol. For long-term vehicle use, applying an anti-rust coating to the fuel tank is also advised to prevent corrosion.

The introduction of E10 gasoline is expected to provide consumers with an additional environmentally-friendly fuel option while increasing the utilization of bioethanol in the transportation sector, a goal that has been set for many years but has seen limited progress.

In the initial phase, experts suggest that consumers thoroughly research information from vehicle manufacturers and distributors before deciding to use E10 gasoline to ensure compatibility with their engine design and vehicle operating conditions.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)