FAQ

What is Gasohol?

• Fuel oil achieved through the mixture of ethanol, mixed with unleaded gasoline at the rate of 9:1 for gasoline and ethanol respectively.
• In the gasohol, the ethyl alcohol serves as an additive to enhance oxygenates value and octane number of gasoline which normally rendered by Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether (MTBE).
• Ethanol is produced from crops like sugarcane, rice, corn and tapioca.

How does gasohol differ from conventional gasoline oil?

• Gasohol has the same attributes as octane 95 unleaded gasoline. Therefore, motorists can use it in their vehicles and motorcycles in accordance with the recommendation of the carmakers without having to worry about quality difference. The difference occurs when additives are used to raise the level of octane 95 unleaded gasoline. MTBE (methyl tertiary butyle ether) is generally used as additive following the guideline specified for octane 95 unleaded gasoline oil. For gasohol, 10% of 99.5% substitute ethyl-alcohol is used as additive that still helps retain the performance quality for the engines as is the case with octane 95 gasoline oil.

Why should we use gasohol?

• More cost-effective compared to the use of octane 95 gasoline.
• Lower the level of pollution.
• Enable more complete combustion of the engine.
• Need no engine adjustment, thus cost-saving for vehicles wanting to shift to gasohol.

How can we be confident that gasohol has no adverse effects on the engine?

• The product has been in widespread use abroad, in the United States of America, Europe, and especially Brazil, for more than 25 years, with no problems. In Thailand, a personal project of His Majesty the King at Chitralada Gardens, and a project of the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, have experimented with its use for more than 10 years and not found any problems.

Can we alternate its use with general gasoline of 95% octane?

• Yes, you can use alternately fill up with this and 95% octane gasoline, even when the tank is not empty.

Will we really be able to contribute to the nation from using gasohol?

• Provides replacement power, produced from vegetables in our country, to replace additional octane imported from abroad.
• Saves over 30 billion baht in foreign currency per year.
• Saves limited gasoline supplies by using ethanol mixed with gasoline to help reduce gas usage of the nation by a potential 10%, or 25 million litres per month.
• Provides income to Thai farmers and a better quality of life, by producing ethanol from vegetation.
• Reduces air pollution; 20-25% reduction in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions; reduce carbon dioxide emission, which is the main factor causing the greenhouse effect; also reduces black smoke, aromatic hydrocarbon, and benzene emission.
• Helps to spread investment, providing jobs in rural areas.

What is the difference between E10 and E20?

E10

• is the mix of unleaded gasoline at the rate of 90:10 for gasoline and ethanol respectively.

E20

• is the mix of unleaded gasoline at the rate of 80:20 for gasoline and ethanol respectively.

In the Future, how many people will use gasohol?

• By the end of this year, fuel should be available at over 4,000 stations. Ultimately gasohol would replace Benzene 95 petrol within 3 years.