Availability of E0/E5 in France?

[donkmeister]

Has anyone got recent experience of the availability of E0 or E5 in France? I'm planning to take a car that cannot use E10 and it dawned on me that they might have phased out lower ethanol already.

Less critical but useful for future trips; same question but for Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Italy!

[TCEvo]

donkmeister said:

Has anyone got recent experience of the availability of E0 or E5 in France? I'm planning to take a car that cannot use E10 and it dawned on me that they might have phased out lower ethanol already.

Less critical but useful for future trips; same question but for Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Italy!

E5 was readily available at (northern) French motorway services & at all town/autobahn PFS' I stopped at in (south/western) Germany within the last couple of weeks.

Can't comment on E0.

Edited to add: price I paid in France (motorway) was €1.99 PL.

Edited by TCEvo on Tuesday 20th August 14:52

[supacool1]

On the payages there will usually be four fuel types to choose from. They will have the Ethanol content written on the pumps. E5 is Super unleaded and E10 is regular. In the more rural towns there might not be any super unleaded But most bigger petrol stations will have an E5 pump or equivalent.

What car are you taking?

Edited by supacool1 on Wednesday 21st August 08:28

[Rumdoodle]

I was in northern France for a week earlier this summer and also did a couple of weeks driving around the country last year. The availability of E5 was same as in the UK. Probably a bit more expensive on average than the UK, but never had a problem finding it.

[Rushjob]

Go on to THIS SITE and enter the departement you are visiting and search E98 which in France is up to 5% ethanol. Very easy to obtain IMHO, I always used it for my bike when I was living there ( up to early 2024 )

[donkmeister]

Thanks all, sounds like the same situation as over here.

It's a Lexus LS460 - one of the few modern cars that cannot use E10 and above!

[catatemyhomework]

E5 (usually also 98 RON, but occasionally available as E5 95 RON) is available at nearly every fuel station in France.

E0 - Not so sure, never seen it - but never looked.

[Doofus]

E5 is everywhere - I filled up today at Intermarché.

I've never seen E0.

Pumps tend to be E10, E5, E85 (ethanol blend) and Gazole (diesel).

[rdjohn]

https://carbu.com/france/

Shows best prices where you are when you need to fill up. Some departments are big.

[donkmeister]

Just in case anyone is interested... Not only can you get E5, but...



Yup, even 95-RON is available in both E5 and E10 flavours on the same pump.

Saw 98-RON at E5 also.

ETA the E5 was actually cheaper than the E10 by a few cents/litre.

Edited by donkmeister on Saturday 21st September 22:38

[Matt..]

It’s worth noting that for much of Europe you can get the prices and fuel types available at fuel stations via Google Maps.

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed. E5 95 seems to be a thing in France, perhaps because they have more older vehicles still in daily use.

Although a cynical Englishman might suspect they might be stereotypically laissez-faire and just haven't updated the pump handles.

[Metric Max]

Matt.. said:

It’s worth noting that for much of Europe you can get the prices and fuel types available at fuel stations via Google Maps.

Just had a look at google maps for Calais, cannot see how you do that?

[johnpsanderson]

Sharing in case it’s any use: https://plein-moins-cher.fr/index.html

[Rushjob]

johnpsanderson said:

Sharing in case it’s any use: https://plein-moins-cher.fr/index.html

Keep up at the back.......

[Matt..]

Metric Max said:

Just had a look at google maps for Calais, cannot see how you do that?

Click on the “petrol” button and the fuel stations with prices that show on the map will have the breakdown for fuel types. It’s not available everywhere but in much of Europe it works well.

[donkmeister]

Truckosaurus said:

Indeed. E5 95 seems to be a thing in France, perhaps because they have more older vehicles still in daily use.

Although a cynical Englishman might suspect they might be stereotypically laissez-faire and just haven't updated the pump handles.

Oh god I hope not!

Prices were a few cents different (E5 cheaper) and it was a national supermarket chain so hopefully I'm ok.

Could be right on the older fleet, quite refreshing to see plenty of 90s metal being used.