Mark Winterbottom drives new biofuels campaign

28 September 2016

We use ethanol blended fuel in our Supercars and i use E10 in my road car.

V8 Supercar champion and Bathurst winner Mark Winterbottom is the face of a new advertising campaign encouraging motorists to increase their use of biofuels in Queensland under the Palaszczuk Government’s new mandate.

Minister for Energy and Biofuels Mark Bailey joined Mark Winterbottom to launch the Palaszczuk Government’s new biofuels education campaign – E10 OK - at the RNA showgrounds today.

Mr Bailey said the E10 OK campaign would highlight the benefits of using ethanol-blended petrol and biodiesel and provided an easy way to assist motorists to understand their vehicle’s compatibility with E10 without leaving their lounge chair via their smart phone.

“The campaign’s interactive E10 OK website has a vehicle E10 compatibility checker, which allows motorists to search by their vehicle’s registration or make and model to check if it’s E10 compatible,” Mr Bailey said.

“The biofuels campaign will focus on the benefits of the transition to this cleaner-burning fuel.

“It encourages motorists to take a fresh look at E10’s high quality, more modern car technology and highlights that E10 use helps to advance Queensland’s economy.

“By supporting the use of biofuels we have an opportunity to drive jobs growth in regional Queensland and add value to the State’s abundant agricultural resources.

“From January 2017, liable fuel sellers from across the State will be required to sell a minimum amount of ethanol-blended petrol and bio-based diesel, which will give motorists more access to cleaner sources of fuel, while maintaining choice at the bowser.”

Mr Winterbottom said ethanol blends are the fuel of choice for the motor racing industry.

“E10 is a fuel source which incorporates locally-produced ethanol into petrol, bringing to the bowser a cleaner-burning fuel, and bringing with it a new fuel production industry,” Mr Winterbottom said.

“Ethanol blended fuels have become standard in the motor racing industry and should become standard for every day motorists too.

“Many of today’s cars are not just compatible with an E10 blended fuel but are built to run on it.

“I encourage Queensland motorists to follow the motor racing industry’s lead and become E10 OK, by making E10 your preferred vehicle fuel.”

V8 Supercars are fuelled with E85 and is popular with drivers and pit crew due to the reduction in fumes in pit lane and on the race track.

Mr Bailey said the biofuels mandate is another way the Palaszczuk Government is transitioning Queensland to a clean energy economy, by attracting investment to the State’s biofuels and bio-manufacturing industry and creating jobs.

“Already Queensland has two operating ethanol plants – the Dalby Bio-Ethanol refinery and the Sarina Distillery, with a combined annual production capacity of approximately 140 megalitres of ethanol,” Mr Bailey said.

“Queensland also has a biodiesel refinery at Narangba that produces up to 30 megalitres per year.

“Queensland’s biofuels-industry is high tech and will encourage innovation, diversify our economy, protect agriculture and support knowledge-based jobs for the future - all in a sustainable way.”

The E10 OK campaign will involve television, radio, press, digital, outdoor and cinema advertising over the next twelve months.  

To check your vehicle’s E10 compatibility or for more information visit www.qld.gov.au/e10ok

 

Media contact:

Minister Bailey: Zoe Russell – 0428 079 640