What is E10 gasoline, and which vehicles can use it?
From August 1st, some petroleum businesses in Vietnam will begin piloting the sale of E10 gasoline. However, many car and motorbike users are still unclear about this type of gasoline and wonder whether their vehicles are compatible with E10.
Along with the ongoing trend of switching from gasoline-powered motorcycles to electric motorcycles in many provinces and cities, the transition from using fossil fuels to biofuels is also being gradually implemented to reduce harmful emissions into the environment.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is currently advising the Government on the issuance of a roadmap for the use of E10 gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fulfill the commitment to net-neutral emissions by 2050, expected to be implemented from January 1, 2026. Starting from August 1st, the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) and the Vietnam Oil Corporation (PV Oil) have begun piloting the sale of E10 gasoline in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hai Phong.
Because the pilot program has only just begun, many car and motorbike users are still unclear about this type of gasoline and wondering whether their vehicles can use E10 gasoline.
Mr. Le Ngoc Huy, residing in Cat Lai Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, who currently uses both a car and a motorbike, said: "Recently, I've seen information on the media regarding E10 gasoline. As someone who frequently uses vehicles daily, I really want to contribute to the transition to using biofuel to reduce harmful emissions into the environment. However, I'm somewhat hesitant and unsure whether E10 gasoline is truly suitable and usable for the types of vehicles I currently use."
What kind of gasoline is E10?
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's biofuel handbook, biofuel is a mixture of traditional gasoline and bioethanol used in internal combustion gasoline engines such as cars and motorcycles.
E10 gasoline is a type of biofuel containing 10% ethanol (bioethanol) and 90% regular mineral gasoline. The name E10 means that the letter E stands for Ethanol, and 10 represents the percentage of ethanol blended into the gasoline.
Ethanol in E10 is produced from biofuels such as sugarcane, cassava, and corn, which helps increase octane rating and reduce harmful CO and HC emissions compared to conventional gasoline. Unlike conventional unleaded gasoline, ethanol is considered somewhat carbon-neutral because plants absorb more CO₂ during growth than is released during fuel production and combustion.
In many countries such as the US, Brazil, and Thailand, E10 gasoline has become a popular fuel, and has even been upgraded to E15 or E20 to optimize environmental protection.
Can all vehicles use E10 gasoline?
In fact, E10 gasoline is encouraged for use because it contributes to reducing harmful emissions into the environment thanks to the clean combustion properties of ethanol. In addition, it will reduce dependence on fossil fuels because ethanol can be produced from renewable resources, such as sugarcane, corn, and cassava.
Notably, the price is also lower compared to traditional gasoline. According to the latest retail gasoline price list announced by Petrolimex, effective from 3 PM on July 31st, the price of E5 RON92 gasoline is 19,400 - 19,780 VND/liter; and E10 RON95 gasoline is 19,600 - 19,990 VND/liter.
However, the ethanol in E10 gasoline is hygroscopic and highly corrosive, potentially damaging older materials such as rubber, plastic, or metal in the fuel system. Therefore, not all vehicles are suitable for using E10 gasoline.
For motorcycles using carburetors or technologies that do not support automatic fuel ratio adjustment, the air-fuel ratio may be less stable when using E10 gasoline. Some older motorcycle models manufactured before 2010 are advised against using E10 gasoline. Meanwhile, newer models of geared motorcycles, scooters, and manual transmission motorcycles produced and distributed by Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio, etc., in recent years are all suitable for use.
Some imported motorcycle models, such as the Honda SH 125i/150i imported from Italy, or models like the Honda Dash, Honda Vario 125/160, Yamaha 135LC imported from Malaysia, and some imported Japanese motorcycles like the Honda Super Cub 50 and Super Cub 110, all meet high emission standards (Euro 4, Euro 5, or Euro 5+) and can use E10 gasoline without affecting the components in the fuel system. For example, the Honda SH 125i and 150i, imported from Italy by a store, have instruction manuals and information on the inside of the fuel tank cap indicating that they can use E5 or E10 gasoline.
For cars, most newer models from the last 10 years or so have instructions that they can use E10 gasoline without significantly affecting the quality and performance of the vehicle. However, regulations vary depending on the specific car, so the best way to know if your car can use E10 gasoline is to check the owner's manual.
In cases where the vehicle's manual lacks information about the appropriate type of biofuel to use, the best approach is for the owner to proactively contact the service advisor at the authorized dealership for advice and information regarding warranty and maintenance commitments when using biofuel.
