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New sustainable fuel push for motorcycles
‘Second generation’ biofuels derived from agricultural waste product pitched as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels but are they viable?
Words by: Phil West
Published on 23 September 2024 | 0 min read
Eco aware motorcyclists are the latest target audience for products from biofuels specialist Sustain Fuels, this following on from the recent Goodwood Revival where all bikes and cars raced on such fuel and Suzuki’s entry of a sustainably powered works GSX-R1000 in the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours.
Sustain Fuels is a brand of sustainable petrol produced at the Coryton Refinery in Essex, which now specialises in ‘advanced fuel solutions’ as part of the Swedish Aspen Group. Sustain specialises in ‘second generation’ biofuels which, it claims, minimises carbon production through manufacturing based on straw, crop waste or other agricultural by-products as opposed to ‘first generation’ biofuels like ethanol refined from specially grown wheat, corn or sugar. The company has been working on the process for around 10 years, launched Sustain Fuels two years ago and currently offers 10 products, ranging from the 98 RON Super 33 (which is 33 per cent sustainable, hence the name) to its 100 per cent sustainably produced Racing Diesel 100. Different blends have different densities and different proportions of ethanol and oxygen, with, for example, its motorcycle-targeted Racing Moto 40 having less than 0.1 per cent ethanol. It also says that reduced ethanol content is far healthier for engines. However, by their very nature, limited production and fact eco fuels are still subject to the same duty as conventional petrol Sustain’s products are also relatively expensive. For example, its 102 RON fuel currently costs around £5.50 a litre, or around £3 more than conventional pump fuel. For this reason, Sustain says until now it has been targeting ‘enthusiast’ motoring sectors like classics or motorsport whose participants may be more likely to pay the premium. And at an event hosted at Northants-based classic car centre and Sustain retailer The Splined Hub it has expressed its desire to appeal to motorcyclists as well. “This is a solution that exists now,” says Splined Hub MD Olly Winbolt. “We just need to make more people aware of it.” “We need to be talking about it in a way that breeds confidence,” adds Sustain Brand Manager Suresh Nahar. “We’re not anti-electric or anti-hydrogen, and there are issues about availability and affordability. But the number one job we have is to make people aware of it and to get people talking about it, and by moving into bikes that can only increase.” Currently there are only three retailers for Sustain products in the UK but there are plans to double that by the end of the year. Nahar joined Sustain in May, with one of his key tasks being to increase its distribution network. “As Sustain was the first publicly available sustainable fuel, I’m very much looking forward to growing the distribution network for the brand, enabling more people to access it, and raising awareness of what Sustain is and the benefits it brings,” he says. “We’ve got a busy year of events and partnership activity coming up, so it’s an exciting time.”
Sustain Fuels is a brand of sustainable petrol produced at the Coryton Refinery in Essex, which now specialises in ‘advanced fuel solutions’ as part of the Swedish Aspen Group. Sustain specialises in ‘second generation’ biofuels which, it claims, minimises carbon production through manufacturing based on straw, crop waste or other agricultural by-products as opposed to ‘first generation’ biofuels like ethanol refined from specially grown wheat, corn or sugar. The company has been working on the process for around 10 years, launched Sustain Fuels two years ago and currently offers 10 products, ranging from the 98 RON Super 33 (which is 33 per cent sustainable, hence the name) to its 100 per cent sustainably produced Racing Diesel 100. Different blends have different densities and different proportions of ethanol and oxygen, with, for example, its motorcycle-targeted Racing Moto 40 having less than 0.1 per cent ethanol. It also says that reduced ethanol content is far healthier for engines. However, by their very nature, limited production and fact eco fuels are still subject to the same duty as conventional petrol Sustain’s products are also relatively expensive. For example, its 102 RON fuel currently costs around £5.50 a litre, or around £3 more than conventional pump fuel. For this reason, Sustain says until now it has been targeting ‘enthusiast’ motoring sectors like classics or motorsport whose participants may be more likely to pay the premium. And at an event hosted at Northants-based classic car centre and Sustain retailer The Splined Hub it has expressed its desire to appeal to motorcyclists as well. “This is a solution that exists now,” says Splined Hub MD Olly Winbolt. “We just need to make more people aware of it.” “We need to be talking about it in a way that breeds confidence,” adds Sustain Brand Manager Suresh Nahar. “We’re not anti-electric or anti-hydrogen, and there are issues about availability and affordability. But the number one job we have is to make people aware of it and to get people talking about it, and by moving into bikes that can only increase.” Currently there are only three retailers for Sustain products in the UK but there are plans to double that by the end of the year. Nahar joined Sustain in May, with one of his key tasks being to increase its distribution network. “As Sustain was the first publicly available sustainable fuel, I’m very much looking forward to growing the distribution network for the brand, enabling more people to access it, and raising awareness of what Sustain is and the benefits it brings,” he says. “We’ve got a busy year of events and partnership activity coming up, so it’s an exciting time.”