As such a vital part of their livelihood, taxi drivers can obviously be pretty protective when it comes to their beloved vehicles. From regular dusting and polishing to keeping on top of vehicle maintenance, taxi drivers spend many hours making sure their cars are ready to earn money. Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere you’ll no doubt have heard about the new E10 fuel that’s recently hit petrol stations. But what’s it all about and could it damage your precious motor? Read our Taxi Insurer guide to E10 fuel and check whether your taxi is compatible.
There are many ways for taxis to get damaged, that’s why the team at Taxi Insurer specialises in arranging tailored taxi insurance cover to protect your business vehicle. Give us a call today and check you’re fully covered in case of any mishaps along the way.
What is E10 fuel?
Since September 2021, E10 has become the standard grade of petrol available on the UK’s garage forecourts. It’s called E10 because it’s made by blending 90% regular unleaded petrol with 10% ethanol. In comparison, the previous E5 standard petrol contained up to 5% ethanol, with the other 95% being regular unleaded petrol. Meaning the new motor fuel now contains less carbon and more ethanol than fuel previously on sale. The increased proportion of ethanol now brings UK fuel more in line with our European neighbours France, Germany and Belgium.
If you don’t already know, ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel manufactured from the fermentation of a range of plants, including sugar beet, corn, and wheat. In countries such as Brazil and the US, fuels with an even higher ethanol content (up to 100%) are available.
Unlike regular unleaded petrol, so-called biofuels are believed to be carbon neutral. The plants used in its manufacture apparently absorb more carbon dioxide than they release during production and combustion. However, there is some debate over these claims.
What’s the point of it?
By reducing the overall quantity of fossil fuels, the introduction of E10 is an important part of the UK government’s plans to reach net zero on carbon emissions by 2050. Alongside measures such as the planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. Indeed, government scientists have forecast that E10 fuel could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 750,000 tonnes per year. The equivalent of taking around 350,000 cars off the road!
If you’re thinking of getting ahead of the competition and investing in a new electric car for your next taxi , then take a look at our recent Taxi Insurer guide. In it we review the reasons you might make the switch, what to look for when buying an electric car, and some of the best new electric cars on the market.
Can E10 be used in your taxi?
While we can all agree that more eco-friendly fuels are a step in the right direction when it comes to the environment, what about the impact on your valuable motor? First off, if you’re driving a diesel- or electric-powered vehicle then you’ll see no change, this change just affects petrol-powered cars.
Next, don’t panic about the change. Almost all petrol-powered cars on the UK roads are compatible with the new fuel. The Department for Transport (DfT) boffins estimate that up to 700,000 petrol-powered cars on the UK’s roads aren't compatible with E10 fuel, but that’s a mere 3% of the total number of cars. This potential incompatibility is due to E10’s higher ethanol content potentially damaging rubber, alloy and plastic parts.
But if your vehicle was built after 2011 then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. The vast majority of incompatible cars will be vintage classics or those built in the early 2000s or before. However, as these vehicles reach the end of their useful lives and are scrapped the proportion of incompatible cars will come down even further. Unless you’re running a niche (but unlikely) taxi service using vintage VW Golfs or Mazda MX-5s you should be fine!
How can I check whether my taxi is compatible?
Whenever your taxi was manufactured it’s probably still worth double checking on compatibility. Especially as it’s so easy to do. The government has set up an easy-to-use online checker to tell drivers whether their car, van or motorcycle can use E10 fuel.
To use the online service, you’ll need to know the vehicle manufacturer, vehicle model, engine size, and year of manufacture. If you don’t know this information, then check the log book (V5C) for the car. If you don’t have the log book (unlikely) you can also get vehicle information online from the DVLA. You’ll just need the car’s registration number.
Rather unhelpfully, the government adds a warning that it can’t guarantee the checker’s accuracy. Particularly if your car has been fitted with replacement parts. The DfT warns drivers that it won’t be liable for any damages to your taxi if you use the checker and it turns out to be wrong.
The website has a handy drop-down menu which lists all manufacturers who sell cars in the UK. Once you’ve chosen the right make it gives you the details of all the models not approved to take the new fuel. If you’re still not sure the site advises drivers to either check the user manual, look inside the fuel filler cap or ask the manufacturer directly.
Will E10 fuel cost more?
An important consideration for any taxi driver is how much the change will affect their bottom line. According to motoring magazine AutoExpress, E10 petrol won’t be any more expensive than the E5 unleaded fuel it's replacing. However, it will increase the cost of filling up for owners of incompatible cars because they’ll have to use the more expensive super unleaded fuel which will remain E5.
The DfT admits that using E10 petrol can ‘slightly reduce’ fuel economy, but only by around 1%. Hopefully not too much of a drain on your business finances, but still something to be taken into account when filling up.
What can you use instead of E10 fuel?
If your car is incompatible with E10, E5 will continue to be sold in the form of higher-priced Premium or Super unleaded.
What happens if you accidentally use E10 fuel?
If your car is incompatible with E10 and you accidentally fill it up, then there’s no reason to panic. It should still run but depending on the vehicle, how regularly you drive it, and how much you put in, it could cause problems with seals, plastics and metals over time.
Unless you’re driving a vintage classic, you probably won’t even notice. In fact, the motoring association the AA recommends that rather than trying to drain the E10 fuel, just top up with super unleaded next time.
How to reduce fuel costs and improve fuel efficiency
Any ideas on how to reduce fuel costs and improve fuel efficiency are always gratefully received by taxi drivers who want to get the most out of their business. Next time you hit the road, try some of these tips to ensure your trip is as fuel-efficient as possible.
And while we’re on the subject of cost savings, it might also be wise to give Taxi Insurer a call to check you’ve got the most appropriate taxi insurance for your business.
- Avoid stop-go — A key part of being a smart taxi driver is the ability to look ahead and anticipate potential hazards. If you don’t, you’ll soon find yourself braking sharply and accelerating frequently. All that stopping and starting inevitably leads to higher fuel consumption.
- Keep up the momentum – Allowing your car to gradually roll along using its own momentum can add up to some hefty fuel savings. For example, by slowing early for traffic lights or when approaching queuing cars you might even be able to avoid stopping completely.
- Watch your speed — At higher speeds a lot of fuel is used to overcome the effects of air resistance (also known as drag) on your car. This is why fast acceleration and high cruising speeds lead to more air resistance and greater fuel consumption. Indeed, according to the AA a car travelling at 70mph will use up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph. And up to 15% more than at 50mph. While hitting speeds of 80mph or more can use up to 25% more fuel than at 70mph. So, breaking the speed limit is not only bad for road safety but also bad for your budget.
- Cut down on drag – With that in mind, anything that reduces your car’s aerodynamics will affect fuel consumption. As a taxi driver, you probably won’t need a roof rack so don’t bother carrying one around. You could even fit wind deflectors to your taxi to reduce drag.
- Check your tyres — Keeping an eye on your tyres is not only good from a safety point of view but also financially, too. Under-inflated tyres create more resistance with the road surface, make your engine work harder, and burn more fuel. Boost fuel efficiency by ensuring all tyres are correctly maintained and inflated. This is easy to do using a pressure gauge during your daily vehicle check. It can also have a significant effect on your car’s steering, handling, and braking. Most taxis have a helpful sticker to tell you the correct tyre pressure for the vehicle, load and road conditions. If you’re unsure then refer to your car’s manual.
- Use air conditioning wisely — Keeping your taxi cool with air conditioning is a nice touch for customers during warmer weather, but it will increase fuel consumption. With this in mind, it’s probably better to use vehicle air conditioning systems sparingly rather than all the time. Instead, try opening the windows when driving at lower speeds and save the air con for higher speeds. That said, it’s a good idea to run it at least once a week to keep the system in tip-top condition.
- Cut down on electrics – Turn off your rear window heater, radio, demister and headlights when you don't need them will ever so slightly increase fuel efficiency.
- To idle or not to idle — Some driving experts believe that taxi drivers can up their fuel efficiency by turning their engines off when stuck in traffic rather than letting the engine idle. It really seems to depend on how long you think you might be stuck. It could be worth it if you’re going to be stationary for a while, if you’re stuck at a level crossing for example. However, it’s vital taxi drivers make sure it’s both safe and practical to turn their engines off when stopped in traffic. Never put your safety at risk for the sake of fuel efficiency.
- Get a fuel card – When it comes to filling up with fuel, fuel cards are an increasingly popular way of keeping costs under control. You can use them like a credit or debit card to pay for fuel, often at a discounted price. Not only can this help reduce fuel costs but it’ll reduce the paperwork pain of making fuel expense claims.
Taxi insurance from the specialists
From finding the right fuel to the right insurance, Taxi Insurer is here to help. We work with a carefully selected panel of underwriters to find the best insurance for your needs and budget.
Our team of specialists can arrange cover for a range of taxis and vehicles including black cabs, saloons and MPVs, for both private and public hire. From single vehicles to entire fleets, you can be assured we always do our best to get you a fair deal.
Alongside taxi insurance we offer interest free payment plans to make your premiums more manageable and a 24-hour claims management service. With a protected no claims bonus also available, why not see if we can save you money today?
To arrange a no-obligation insurance quote, call our UK-based call centre now. Or complete the online form and we'll call you back.