Launch of biofuel vehicles in Thailand

The launch of new biofuel vehicles in Thailand by general motors corp. this year, offers incentives to cut reliance on gasoline. The Thai government also offered incentives, including lower excise taxes for biofuel vehicles. Earlier Volvo Thailand was launched in December, the first flexible fuel vehicle that can run on a range of alternative fuels including E85, providing an option for those who want to go green and cut their fuel costs.

David J. Tulauskas, director of public policy for GM Asia Pacific, said that these biofuel vehicles will be able to run on E85 fuel, a blend of 85 percent ethanol with gasoline, or E20 fuel which contains 20 percent ethanol. This E20 fuel is 20 percent cheaper than regular gasoline, while E85 is 40 percent lower. He said that good response is expected, when the vehicles are launched in Thailand, and he declined to give further details.

The Thai government is promoting its ethanol industry, which can be made from crops such as sugar cane and corn. Compared to gasoline, the E85 fuel emits up to 70 percent less greenhouse gas that is blamed for global warming and can reduce oil demand by as much as 30 percent, officials said. Ethanol has the biggest potential to displace petroleum in the next decade” as it is widely available and can be made cheaply.