Vietnamese consumers urged to use E10 biofuel as experts highlight safety, benefits

The roundtable, titled ‘Should We Be Concerned About Using E10 Gasoline?,’ was organized by the Vietnam Government Portal as Vietnam officially began nationwide distribution of E10 gasoline on the same day.

E10 is a gasoline blend containing 10 percent ethanol mixed with mineral gasoline, used as an alternative to conventional mineral fuels.

Speaking at the event, Bui Ngoc Bao, president of the Vietnam Petroleum Association, noted that although the roll-out marked the country's first shift to biofuel gasoline, Vietnam has already undergone four major fuel transitions since the 1980s.

Every fuel transition has been accompanied by concerns from consumers, regulators, and businesses, Bao said.

However, this time the process has been proactive and based on thorough assessments of available resources.

Public caution toward any new product is understandable.

However, technical experts stressed that extensive research and testing indicate E10 fuel is compatible with the vast majority of vehicles currently in use.

Lo Hai Nam, head of the technical division of the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), cited a joint study conducted by VAMM and Hanoi University of Science and Technology as saying E10 gasoline significantly reduces concentrations of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions, helping to limit harmful pollutants released into the environment.

“Most motorcycles currently manufactured and traded by VAMM can use E10 gasoline,” Nam said.

Pham Huu Tuyen, associate professor and director of the Center for Research on Power Sources and Autonomous Vehicles at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, also sought to ease concerns about fuel compatibility and engine durability.

Testing has shown that even older vehicles manufactured before 2000 generally perform similarly when using E10 compared with conventional gasoline.

In some much older models, differences in performance and impact were found to be minimal.

The discussion also spotlighted the widespread adoption of biofuel worldwide.

Do Van Tuan, chairman of the Vietnam Biofuels Association, said that some 65 countries and territories, representing 97 percent of the global population, have already implemented biofuel programs.

In the United States, E10 accounts for around 98 percent of gasoline consumption, with conventional gasoline available only at a limited number of fueling stations.

E10 is also widely used across Europe, while Asian countries including China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia have adopted the biofuel.

Japan is expected to begin rolling out E10 in 2027.

As a result, E10 has effectively become the standard gasoline blend across most major regions of the world.

Tuan pointed to India as a notable example of biofuel use.

The country launched its biofuel program in the early 2000s and gradually increased ethanol blending requirements from E10 to E20.

In early 2023, the Indian government moved further by introducing E30 gasoline.

India does not possess abundant fossil energy resources, so expanding biofuels is an important strategy for strengthening energy independence, he said.

Dao Duy Anh, deputy head of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, compared fuel products to the lifeblood of the economy and urged consumers not to worry about the transition.

Addressing concerns over fuel quality, Anh emphasized that gasoline products are subject to strict controls under Vietnam’s National Technical Regulation QCVN 01:2026.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and local authorities all maintain dedicated inspection forces to monitor fuel quality and ensure compliance with national standards, he said.

As such, people can rest assured when using E10 biofuel, he stressed.