Bentley will sell 1 in every 2 cars able to run on eco E85 bioethanol by the end of the year.
Engineering boss Dr Ulrich Eichhorn told Car Dealer Magazine the green fuel changes made to the Supersport W12 engine will, over the next few months, extend to the rest of the Continental range.
‘Independent evidence suggests the average ‘well-to-wheel’ reduction in CO2 output drops by an average of 70 percent when using E85 bioethanol,’ he told us.
It is part of Bentley’s intention to have ALL its car range boast E85 compliance by 2012. This will see a range-wide CO2 reduction of 40 percent, said Eichhorn.
Longer-term, future generations of fuels will bolster bioethanol’s green credentials and make Bentley’s move even more far-sighted. ‘Fuels are on the horizon that recycle waste to produce bioethanol, rather than using food crops,’ he explained.
‘Mind you, current E85 mainly uses bioethanol from Brazil, which is made from sugar cane. This is often planted on former cow fields – and the reduction in methane pollution produced by the cows is considerable!’
Going green, he said, is a complicated process that involves many different parameters. Longer-term, Bentley has sustainability plans that include electrification and other solutions.
‘But we are also taking steps to improve our environmental criteria right now – and the results will be in Bentley car dealer showrooms within the next few months.’
Copyright 2010 - Cardealer-Online
