The first Harvest BioEthanol E85 fuel pumps in the UK opened on a Morrisons supermarket forecourt in March 2006. 12 more swiftly followed, with the latest opening in Cardiff.
There are currently 13 E85 fuel pumps in the UK operated by Morrisons supermarkets. The UK-based chain has also agreed to operate at least one new E85 fuel pump at every new store they open.
Morrisons currently sells Harvest BioEthanol E85 for 2 pence per litre less than unleaded petrol. As more E85 pumps are opened and more fuel is sold the price is likely decrease. Additionally, since the cost of bioethanol will not be directly linked to international oil prices, the price of Harvest BioEthanol E85 fuel should stay relatively stable.
The UK is far behind Sweden and Brazil in terms of government support for the biofuel industry. The UK government currently allows a fuel duty rebate of 20p per litre on bioethanol and a £10 reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for environmentally friendly cars like E85 vehicles. The expansion of the UK biofuel industry could be greatly accelerated if government backing included the necessary tax breaks and legislation to make to it commercially viable. Already government support of the biofuel industry in other countries around the world has shown how successful this alternative fuel can be.
Saab is part of a powerful cross-industry group letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer, along with the National Farmers Union (NFU), Ford Motor Company and Morrisons, urging that financial incentives to be introduced in the 2007 budget to develop the UK biofuel industry.
