E85 makes its debut

 On the launch date, E85 is priced Bt20.19 per litre, 46-48 per cent lower than octane-95 gasoline prices which range from Bt37.69-Bt38.89. E85 is 30 per cent cheaper than octane-95 gasohol E10 which is Bt28.79. Bangchak Petroleum Plc has planned to offer the product in October.

 Poonpirom said that the government holds it as the policy to promote alternative energy, be they gasohol E10, E20, biodiesel B2 -B5, natural gas and gasohol E85.  The highe mixture of ethanol in gasoline would reduce the country's reliance on crude oil imports and reduce the cost of living. It would also strengthen the country's long-term energy security.

           "If all are shifting to gasohol products, in the next five years, Thailand's crude oil imports could drop by over 1,000 million litres per annum, equivalent to about Bt42 billion," she said.

 PTT President and CEO Prasert Bunsumpun assured that the product is developed and tested by PTT Research and Technology Institute, dubbed as Southeast Asia's most advanced research institute. He said before the launch, E85 was tested in the areas of emission, fuel comsumption rate, auto capacity and combustion.