A superethanol pump for pleasure boats inaugurated in Palavas-les-Flots

Biomotors, the French leader in bioethanol conversion boxes, inaugurated Saturday a superethanol-E85 pump in the port of Palavas-les-Flots (Hérault), hoping to replicate in the boating sector the success of this cheaper fuel with motorists. Bioethanol, Superethanol E85, an increasingly popular fuel is a fuel where alcohol, ethanol, largely replaces gasoline contained in traditional fuels. It is produced from cereals or beets.

Under the effect of inflation, its consumption soared by 83% last year in France, its price, although rising, remains lower than that of other fuels. To use it, however, motorists must either buy a vehicle already equipped or convert their vehicle by installing an approved box. It is more complicated so far for the hundreds of thousands of owners of pleasure boats and other jet-skis, who have to transport to the port jerry cans filled in a pump of the road network.

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A "world first"

Biomotors, which has recently developed waterproof conversion boxes for boats, available from 1000 euros, took advantage of the renovation of the harbour master's office in Palavas-les-Flots to install its "first E-85 superethanol pump in a port service station", claiming that this is a "world first". "Our objective, in the medium term, is to set up a network of E85 pumps in many marinas," Biomotors CEO Alexis Landrieu said in a statement.

This should "naturally encourage many professionals (coastguard, rental companies, nautical centers ...) and boaters to convert their very greedy engines, "added the boss of the company founded in 2011 at the gates of Montpellier. If it costs less, emits less CO2 per litre and pollutes the marine environment less, bioethanol has the disadvantages of being needed in greater quantities (15% to 25% more consumption compared to gasoline engines) and, by its mode of production, of reinforcing the harmful effects of industrial agriculture on the soil, water and air.