Overview
- By late September 2026 garages report a sharp rise in requests and installations for E85 conversion kits, with some saying demand is four times higher year-on-year and about 400,000 drivers already using the fuel.
- E85 sells at roughly €0.89 per litre versus about €2.17 for common petrol because bioethanol pays much lower fuel tax, a difference that makes conversions financially attractive for many motorists.
- Legal conversion requires an approved installer, a change to the vehicle registration and an outlay typically between several hundred and around €1,200, with eligibility limited to petrol engines and certain vehicle ages.
- Environmental gains are mixed: E85 can cut some tailpipe CO2 and particulate emissions in tests but raises fuel use by about 20% and relies heavily on imported crops, which reduces lifecycle climate benefits.
- Policy moves are shaping uptake as the Région Sud offers up to €250 for low-income households and the national government pledged on Sept. 22 to neutralize excess VAT receipts from high fuel prices in the 2027 budget.