Ford bio-enthanol booms

FORD of Europe achieved a 60 per cent increase in sales of its bio-ethanol(E85) “Flexifuel” vehicles – that is, the Focus and C-Max – last year, recording 17,500 sales across the continent (almost half of those in Sweden).

While the figure is less than one per cent of the Blue Oval brand’s total European sales (1.833 million), it illustrates a growing trend that should strengthen with Flexifuel Mondeo and Galaxy models soon to be launched.

According to Ford, Sweden has more than 1000 petrol stations serving E85 fuel, while the remainder of Europe has about 400.

In Japan, meanwhile, Nissan has announced that it will begin bio-ethanol trials to test the feasibility of E10 fuel.

Understood to be the first of its kind in Japan, the Tokachi E10 trials will begin in April using what Nissan claims is the country’s first E10-compatible vehicle – the Murano E-10 – which is fully compliant with national safety, environment and technical guidelines.