ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH? Ethanol synthesized from cassava

Filling stations across Ho Chi Minh City are selling biofuel from week. It will gradually replace 92-octane gasoline (A92) with E5 - five percent of which is ethanol synthesized from cassava.

Several businesses began selling E5 a week earlier and consumers were receptive.

A government plan requires major cities like Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Quang Ngai Provinces to completely switch from A92-RON to E5 by the end of the year.

Quang Ngai, home to the country’s only petroleum refinery and one of its three ethanol production plants, initiated the widespread sale on 2014 September 01.

“New stations will have to commit to selling E5 in order to obtain a license to operate,” she said. This is freedom of choice, VietNam style.

The retail price is around the same of 92-RON gasoline, which is currently VND20,250 a litre, but related agencies said they are working to push that down to encourage consumption.

Chinh said VietNam can meet those demands domestically.

Toan said fuel companies can implement the switch with a few minor adjustments that will cost between VND5-10 million (US$234-468) per pump. They would be better off employing those fraudsters they caught switching petrol pump computer memories a couple of weeks ago, they charged even less!

He said inspectors throughout the city will gather and test samples of the fuel every month.

The company will also inspect filling station equipment every six months to prevent fraud, he said.

He said the stations will also have cameras and display hotlines if customers want to lodge complaints.
Lab experiments conducted by the Hanoi University of Technology found E5 does no harm to vehicle engines and actually is better job for maintaining them.

They found vehicles that use E5 accelerate faster and emit less hydrocarbons than those powered by A92. Sure!