Switching to E10 or charging your EV...

With the UK playing host to COP26 in 2 months' time when leaders from around the world will gather in Glasgow to discuss tackling climate change, it is only right to proceed with initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions such as switching to E10 fuel. So even if awareness of the technology is very low amongst Britons the government strategy seems to cater for the diffusion of innovation to accomplish the net-zero goal. Decision-makers at the extremes i.e. the laggards and late majority with E10; and the early adopters and early majority who already drive electric vehicles or are wait-listed according to EV manufacturing schedules. Besides, electric vehicles are still rolling off the production line and entering global markets.

The move to E10 is clearly timed for COP26 and forms part of the government's long-term goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. Estimates drawn up by govuk suggest that it could cut CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road. An impact assessment published in January 2020 estimated that around 700,000 cars - such as classic cars or those built in the early 2000s - would not be compatible with the new fuel. So even if “it has appeared on some forecourts already as its introduction is compulsory in England, Wales and Scotland from today and will be introduced in Northern Ireland early next year." Research from the RAC showed 24% of motorists are unaware of E10, while some 27% do not know if their car is compatible.

The president of the AA says “If E10 is put in a non-compliant vehicle, drivers should not panic and can simply put super unleaded in their tank at the next opportunity.”

However, prolonged use will cause damage.

Petrol stations will be expected to continue selling E5 for older cars, although it will become the more expensive "super-grade" at the pump, costing up to 12p per litre more than conventional petrol.

Turning our attention to the Electric Vehicles Charging mechanism itself we have to be mindful of the drawbacks to our health - something that was not a critical issue previously with petrol and diesel powered vehicles. "When transferring power from a source to a battery or other load, strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs) will be generated. The vehicle power inverter charger output will have a wide range of harmonics. Designers are tasked with reducing the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) in wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. What follows are some methods that will help designers create a robust and safe WPT design while minimizing EMI." But as the the article points out even with multiple scenarios discussing some various uses of WPT, "there is also a drawback in using WPT due to the generation of EMI. And to suggest that EMI can be minimised in various ways after the fact, shows an oversight or understatement of people's health in the original design. Many studies have shown that cumulative exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF the same as EMI) often is irreversable and would be irresponsible to leave the solution open to chance of finding novel and emergent ways in future. Contrary to the article, 'the good does not yet outweigh the bad here', just because we can minimize EMI in various ways after the fact. Unfortunately, this might come at a cost to people who can ill afford it or who suffer from electro-hypersensitivity (EHS).

However, EMF Strategy cannot agree more with the writers comment that EMI is dangerous for people with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) who are outside of an electric vehicle (EV) while it’s charging. "This is caused by coil currents of WPT systems that can generate large, time-varying magnetic fields in the surrounding environment. It’s been shown that the most severe fields will not be inside the vehicle cabin, but rather in the side areas close to the ground outside the EV. Vehicle power-supply devices must be compliant with EMF safety standards for human exposure as well as be electromagnetically compatible with ICDs and pacemakers." The same holds for other groups at risk like pregnant mothers and small children who have thin skulls and not yet fully developed to withstand the same level of EMF exposure as adults.

Besides, in many countries with rapid transport sytems, owning any vehicle can be a right nuisance or an unnecessary expense. Clearly, there are many factors to consider beyond switching to E10 and before moving to buy your first or second electric vehicle. How you go about doing this is to first enquire about EMFs before you buy and then to test and measure as opposed to opt-in to unknown suffering. The key is to ensure that whatever you choose the human body has a reasonable chance to regenerate and to recharge. Bear in mind these terms are being used interchangeably, designed to confuse understanding.

The last thing people should feel during a Covid19 pandemic is pressure of ‘green petrol fears’ from government right now. Remember that health is the new wealth… for people, our planet and products… and that to do nothing, is also an option!