Report: biofuels could cut CO2 cheaper than electric cars

Blending higher levels of biofuels into road transport fuels could be a more cost-effective way of cutting the UK sector's emissions than a large-scale rollout of electric cars.

That is the conclusion of a new report by consultancy Element Energy and commissioned by oil giant BP, which part-owns the Vivergo ethanol plant in Hull.

Spending £336m to almost quadruple the level of biofuel blended into road transport fuel from around five % today to 19 % could cut the UK's annual car emissions by up to 27 % by 2030 and see average annual fuel spend at the pump increase by just £13. Achieving the same level of emissions cuts through electric vehicles would cost £1.2bn in customer incentives, the report says.

The report states that biofuels that can operate with internal combustion engines will be crucial in realising emissions reductions, adding they can also provide a low carbon fuel for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, reducing the risk of technology lock-in.

Read the whole article at businessgreen.com.