Its defenders present it as the “fuel of purchasing power”. And it’s an argument that appeals in the midst of soaring prices at the pump. Motorists seem to be flocking to boxes that allow them to convert a gasoline vehicle to superethanol-E85, an agrofuel that mixes unleaded gasoline and bioethanol (an alcohol made from sugar beets and cereals). One of the main suppliers of these boxes in France, FlexFuel Energy Development (FFED), saw its sales increase tenfold this fall: with 830 boxes sold in September 2026 compared to 87 a year earlier. The company immediately announced that it would strengthen its network of installers.
“In a geopolitical context maintaining the prices of conventional fuels at historically high peaks, the price of superethanol-E85 remains stable,” highlights the company. With an average price of 0.8852 euros per liter noted at the beginning of October, compared to 21,399 euros per liter for SP95-E10, E85 saves 1.2547 euros per liter. According to FFED, a motorist can thus expect a saving of 940 euros if he travels 13,000 kilometers per year (taking into account a high consumption of 7 liters per 100). For a heavier driver, who travels 20,000 kilometers per year, the gain would rise to 1,446 euros. This allows the box to pay for itself in less than a year, knowing that the purchase and installation of an approved box ranges from 599 to 999 euros, according to FFED figures.
A large proportion of service stations are adopting superethanol
In France, 4,135 service stations distribute superethanol-E85, which covers 40% of the French road network. “When we started our activity, there were only 300. There is no longer a problem of proximity. It is difficult to travel on the motorway without finding a pump,” assures Jérôme Loubert, general director of FFED, to Le Figaro. Nine out of 10 petrol vehicles are compatible with these boxes. “The fleet of compatible vehicles is increasing thanks to the great success of hybrid engines. Micro-hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles can be compatible with our boxes,” explains Jérôme Loubert. Some vehicles can receive E85 without a conversion box but the models are not common: there is only the Ford Kuga hybrid on the new side and on the used vehicle side there are around twenty so-called “original flexfuel” models.
In France, four suppliers share the market for approved boxes. FFED claims to have the largest network of installers. The company manager seeks to reassure users who are worried about the impact of the boxes on the mechanics: “Superethanol is a more efficient fuel than gasoline in terms of cooling. It does not require specific lubrication. If the vehicle is well maintained, there is no reliability problem.” Another positive point: the carbon impact of fuel which, according to the lobby of this sector, makes it possible to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by almost 79% compared to gasoline when produced in Europe. It remains to convince the European Union, which wants to give pride of place to electric cars from 2035.
