As a rule, older cars guzzle more fuel and emit most tailpipe nasties than their modern equivalents, and I’m sorry, Greenpeace, but I’m pretty sure most people driving the oldies sleep happily at night, all the same. But drivers of classic cars in the UK with an interest in sustainability (or just a guilty conscience) can now fuel their rides with plant-based petrol – for a price.
The Sustain Classic range from Coryton is a second-generation biofuel manufactured from agricultural waste, such as straw, or waste from crops which wouldn’t be used for consumption. Because the plants the fuel is derived from consume carbon as they grow, Coryton calculates that a car running on Sustain Classic emits up to 65 percent fewer greenhouse gas particles than one filled with regular fossil fuel.
Though the fuel is being marketed at older vehicles, it’s also perfectly suited to new cars too, and in both cases one of the handy things about it is that it requires no engine modifications whatsoever. That’ll make it particularly interesting to classic drivers who have had to deal with the increased ethanol content in current pump fuel, something that their cars’ older fuel systems aren’t designed to cope with.
Three grades of fuel are available, each with a different octane rating, level of renewable content and price, though all feature additives to reduce engine deposits with regular use. The entry-level Super 33 grade contains 33 percent sustainable content, cuts emissions by 25 percent and has a 98 RON octane rating (equivalent to 93 in the U.S).
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Next up is Super 80, which, as its name suggests, is 80 percent made up of sustainable content, also has a 98RON rating and delivers a 65 percent reduction in emissions. And finally, for really highly tuned race-spec engines there’s Racing 50 with its 50 percent renewable content, 50 percent emissions saving and tasty 102 octane rating (equivalent to 98 in the U.S.). Coryton, by the way, supplies sustainable fuel for the Prodrive Hunter used in the Dakar Rally, so it’s got real performance credibility.
How Much Does It Cost?
Sound great, so far, right? There are two big issues, the first of which is there is currently only one stockist for the entire UK, though a second stockist, and presumably more, are coming soon. The other big snag is the price. A liter of normal fuel with a high 98RON kick costs around £1.60 in the UK (versus £1.43 for 95RON). But the three grades of Sustain cost £3.80, £4.65 and £5.24, meaning even the least expensive (and least renewable) option is more than twice as expensive as fossil-derived gas.
To save those of you in North America from whipping your calculator apps out, that equates to $18 per U.S. gallon for the basic Super 33, and $22 per gallon for the Super 80. And surely if you wanted to fuel your car with eco gas, you’d have to go for that 80 percent option. So it’s definitely not aimed at someone running a 1980s Toyota Celica and is more for wealthy British chaps who own an old Aston Martin, like the one in the handout image (sidenote: Jeez it’s hard to make fuel look sexy or interesting, even with the help of an Aston Martin).
Would you consider switching to a plant-based fuel if it was available and how much of a premium (if any) would you be willing to pay? Leave a comment and let us know.
