Meanwhile, as fossil fuel prices rise sharply at French gas stations, super-E85 ethanol, mainly made from vegetable-based raw materials, has been displaying a more stable price than fossil fuels for several years. Biofuels appear to be one of the key drivers in combating the oil crisis.
A fuel less exposed to oil price fluctuations
Bioethanol is blended into gasoline in France, either pure or in a blend, up to 7.5% (with a maximum of 5% pure ethanol) in SP95 and SP98, and up to 10% in SP95-E10.
Super-E85 ethanol contains between 60% and 85% of bioethanol, which is produced from vegetable-based raw materials (sugar beets, cereals), with the remainder being unleaded gasoline. This composition, with a minority share of gasoline, partly explains why its price is less affected by the sudden fluctuations in the global oil market during the oil crisis.
European Energy Commissioner Jorgensen emphasized in a letter addressed on March 31 to the Energy Ministers of EU Member States that, among other provisions aimed at combating the oil crisis, “increasing the use of biofuels could help replace fossil oil products and alleviate market pressure” (Commission calls on EU countries to coordinate measures to ensure oil security of supply amid Middle East energy disruption – European Commission).
Significant daily savings
The average weighted price of E85 published weekly by the Directorate-General for Energy and Climate (DGEC) was 0.75 euros per litre on Friday, February 27, 2026, and 0.78 euros per litre on Friday, March 27, 2026.
In 2025, with an average pump price of 0.73 euros per litre, almost 1 euro less than SP95-E10 (1.69 euros per litre), motorists using bioethanol saved 705 euros per year for 13,000 km traveled compared to SP95-E10, and 1,085 euros for 20,000 km, taking into account the high assumption of a 25% overconsumption (with a consumption of 7 litres of SP95-E10 per 100 km).
Just a reminder, to use Super-E85 ethanol, available at over 40% of gas stations in France, you need to have a flex-E85 vehicle new or used (such as Ford Kuga FHEV flex-E85), or have an E85 conversion kit installed (approved by the government) in your gasoline car (the vast majority of gasoline models put on the market since 2001 are compatible).
