Join the alternative fuel revolution

Environmentally Friendly Fuel for Flexible Fuel Vehicles
Maxol is conscious of the benefits to the consumer of using environmentally friendly fuel such as bioethanol. The fuel provides an overall saving in CO2 emissions of up to 70% compared to its petrol equivalent. Among our bioethanol suppliers is the Carbery Group which manufactures bioethanol from whey which is a milk derivative and a bi-product of its cheese manufacturing process.

E85 is currently available at the following Maxol Service Stations:
Maxol's development of its E85 Network has been steadily growing, with E85 now available at 30 service station across the Republic of Ireland. Further locations in additions to those shown below are planned, details of which will be published when the necessary development work has been completed.

• Clarecastle, Ennis, Co. Clare - Tel. 065 6821110
• Carrigaline, Cork - Tel. 021-4371992
• Wilton, Cork - Tel. 021 4342392
• Lower Glanmire Road, Tivoli, Cork, Co. Cork - Tel. 021 4552775
• Mitchelstown, Co. Cork - Tel. 025 84355
• Burt, Co. Donegal - Tel. 071-9156159
• Baldoyle, Co. Dublin - Tel. 01-8324959
• Beach Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4 - Tel. 01 660 7462
• Navan Road, Dublin 7 - Tel. 01- 868 2865 
• Cromwellsfort Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 - Tel. 01 455 7985
• Richmond Road, Dublin 3 - Tel. 01 836 0536
• Sallynoggin, Co. Dublin - Tel. 01 285 8323
• Sandyford Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16 - Tel. 01-295 6292
• Maynooth Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare - Tel. 01-627 0598 
• Maynooth, Co. Kildare - Tel. 628 6576
• Newbridge, Co. Kildare - Tel. 045-430340
• Portarlington, Co. Laois - Tel. 05786 43127
• Garryowen, Dublin Road, Limerick, Co. Limerick - Tel. 01 061 414305
• Avenue Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth - Tel. 042 9339013
• Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth - Tel. 042 9335338
• Ballymakenny Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth - Tel. 041 9831016
• Spencer Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo - Tel. 094-9026308
• Flower Hill, Navan, Co. Meath - Tel. 046 90 21608
• Father Matthew Street, Tipperary Town - Tel. 062-31221
• Kingsmeadow, Cork Road, Waterford - Tel. 051 357100
• Dublin Road, Gorey, Co. Wexford - Tel. 055 21158
• Ardcavan, Castlebridge, Wexford Town - Tel. 053 44322
• Main Street, Blessington, Co. Wicklow - Tel. 045 858088
• Vevay Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow - Tel. 01 2866641  

Update (15/07/2008)

Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford (during 2008)

What Vehicles can use E85?
The Ford Focus FFV, Focus C-Max FFV, Mondeo FFV, S-Max FFV and Ford Galaxy FFV, the Saab 95 BioPower and the C30, S40 and V50 from Volvo are currently the flexible fuel vehicles available on the Irish market. Maxol does not recommend the use of E85 in a vehicle unless it is designated by the manufacturer as a flexible fuel vehicle. With regard to the use of engine conversion kits, Maxol recommends that car owners seek advice from their car manufacturer before proceeding with a kit installation.

What Octane is E85?
Maxol's E85 fuel is 104 Octane.

What is the price of the E85?
The differential between the price of a litre of unleaded and a litre of E85 will fluctuate depending on the production/refinery costs of both ethanol and petrol and also in particular on the extent to which the price of petrol is discounted in a particular area.  It is not surprising that the raw cost of the bio-ethanol is more expensive to produce than the base cost of petrol with significantly lower economies of scale in production and demand. However this, to a large extent, is offset by the Government’s decision to provide duty derogation of 44.27cpl on bioethanol based bio fuels. However, if the base cost of bio-ethanol reduces with increased production and demand, and if unleaded prices rise (as they had steadily been until Autumn 2008) this will result in greater savings to the motorist.

From where does Maxol get Bioethanol?
Among our suppliers of bioethanol for this E85 fuel is Carbery Group, in Ballineen, Co. Cork, and the source product is milk. Milk as a complete food contains all the essential nutrients for consumers to sustain and thrive. It contains protein, fat, lactose (carbohydrate or energy source) as well as minerals and vitamins. During cheese & food ingredient production all the proteins, fat and other components are removed except for the lactose. The lactose is present in a water solution which when fermented with yeast produces a 3.5% alcohol solution. This is then distilled to 96% v/v ethanol. However to use as a fuel we have to increase the strength to 99.9% and this is achieved by passing the ethanol over a molecular bead bed which takes out the residual water and gives the desired ethanol strength. The cows which produce the milk are 90% grass fed with the balance made up of cereals. On this basis the ethanol is derived from renewable source i.e. grass and cereals.

Bio-ethanol can also be made by fermentation from grains rich in sugar or starch, for example cereal crops, sugar beet and sorghum plants. In Sweden, it’s produced locally from biomass, such as from cereals, wine and sugar cane (ethanol imports from Brazil), and wood waste.

How does the use of Bioethanol as a motor fuel help the environment?
The main environmental benefit is its CO2 reduction potential when seen from a well-to-wheel perspective. (CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming). Bioethanol is a renewable fuel from plants (such as cereals, sugar beet etc) or biomass (incl. waste wood). The CO2 emitted by the vehicles was extracted from the atmosphere during plant growth through photosynthesis. By closing the CO2 circle, the use of bioethanol can lead to up to 70% reduction of CO2 emissions (compared to petrol).