Now, in several of the project cities and countries, bioethanol fuelling infrastructure is growing quickly and several vehicles have been introduced to the local markets.
We see a quick development, especially where different incentives have been introduced. Free parking, reduced taxation of fuels, support to fuelling facilities are some tested incentives.
The increasing sale of bioethanol vehicles also shows that more and more customers see the positive virtues of these vehicles. Our surveys show that both buyers and users of the vehicles are positive.
The flexifuel cars have also proved to be a good deal with the increased fluctuation in oil prices. Since the vehicles can run on both ethanol and gasoline, the users can choose the fuel that gives the best economy.
The introduction of E95 diesel buses has helped to reduce climate gas emissions even more, adding to the positive effect of collective travelling on the environment.
The BEST project has also received assurances that most vehicle manufactuers will guarantee their petrol models for E10, thus preparing for the new Fuel Quality Directive that makes this fuel legal.
Some of these results you can share in this issue, and more will be presented in coming BEST News. There will also be much more details presented in the numerous reports from the project during the autumn.
The most important results, in my view, are not so much the reports, but the actual and impressive effects. During the duration of the project almost 70,000 E85 vehicles and almost 150 E95 busses have been introduced, making this the largest demonstration project on renewable fuels in Europe.
The experiences learned by vehicle manufactures, fuel station owners, governments, both local and national, regarding taxation, safety and standardisation issues cannot be overestimated.
Gustaf Landahl, Coordinator of the BEST project