Conclusive trials

EssEnce5

Alcosuisse conducted several series of tests with vehicles running on essEnce5. Initially, in 2002, they used vehicles from the private fleets of Alcosuisse, Swisscom, and the town councils of Delemont and Vevey as guinea pigs. The tests went without a hitch, and the exercise was extended to ordinary service stations. Several petroleum companies and independent distributors agreed to take part by distributing essEnce5 (2005). Preparation, handling and storage procedures were established.

Product quality was monitored throughout the distribution chain. EssEnce5 is now being distributed in over 100 service stations in Switzerland.

These tests were conducted as part of pilot projects, and the idea was obviously to test blending, storage and distribution procedures, as well as to reassure market players, distributors and consumers that ethanol fuel was safe to use in production cars.

E85

Alcosuisse launched E85 on the Swiss market in summer 2006, as part of a partnership with Agrola and Saab. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) are now being sold by Saab, Volvo and Ford, and Renault will be coming out with its own model soon. Although Agrola was the pioneer, some fifty service stations from various companies will be distributing E85 by the end of 2007.