E85-compatible cars to be available by year-end

The Thai government has decided to bring in E85-compatible cars by the end of the year, The Nation reports. Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti said Thailand would start the importation of flexible-fuel vehicles to test demand in the domestic market this year. Such vehicles are designed to run on pure gasoline or a gasoline blend of up to 85% ethanol. E20 with an ethanol content of 20% is now available at fewer than 50 service stations of PTT and Bangchak Petroleum. The consumption level remains tiny compared to E10 or gasohol. An auto industry source said another important step the government needs to make is to ensure that regular fuel is still available in the market so that older cars that cannot run on ethanol can still be used. (May 6, 2008)