Fuel duels - Bioethanol

As used in: Some Ford and Saab models.

What is it? Biofuels are much like petrols or diesels, but the fuel is derived from organic sources, such as waste vegetable oil (green diesel) or sugar cane (bioethanol).

Where can I buy it? Currently it is hard to find in the UK, except in industrial quantities. Morrisons became the first supermarket chain to sell bioethanol at 10 of its stores but others have yet to follow.

Pros: Biofuels have much lower emissions and no net carbon dioxide emissions. They are not dependent on fossil fuel resources and some will run in unmodified engines.

Cons: The fuel is almost impossible to obtain in the UK. The land needed to produce the plants to make the fuel in suitable quantities may be prohibitive.

Expert view: Biofuels will conserve fossil fuel stocks, but viability will depend on availability and cost.

Outlook: Biofuels certainly have a future, but it is unlikely we can ever be totally reliant on them.