New Motor Fuel Labels Coming this Autumn

In October, Spain is set to join in the new European Fuel Labelling Standard, which means that motor fuel pumps and new vehicles will have different labels attached, labels aimed at making it easier for consumers to choose the correct type of fuel for their vehicle.

As now, the labels will be grouped into three principal categories, what we would know now as petrol, diesel, and others, such as gas.

European Standard EN 16942 aims to provide information to consumers on the compatibility between their vehicles and the fuels available at the pump.

The standard ensures that a fuel identification label be placed close to the nozzle as well as on the nozzle itself, and these labels will be standardised across the continent.

The three categories will each have a unique shape of label, which is then broken down into the different compatibility types.

The labels are:

Petrol: Petrol-type fuels have the letter E as a symbol and a number corresponding to the percentage of the maximum ethanol content. The symbol is a circle, displaying E5, E10 and E85.

Diesel: Diesel type fuels have the letter B as symbol and a number corresponding to the maximum Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), or biodiesel content. The symbol is square, displaying B7, B10 and XTL.

Gas: A diamond symbol displaying H2 (hydrogen), CNG (compressed natural gas), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas).

The last category of “alternative” fuels means fuels or power sources which serve, at least partly, as a substitute for fossil oil sources in the fuel supply to transport and which have the potential to contribute to its decarbonisation and enhance the environmental performance of the transport sector.

However, for most drivers at the moment, the former two are the most important, and although the pumps for petrol and diesel will still be clearly defined, you will now be more aware of exactly what sort of tiger you´re putting into your tank (many other fuel supply companies are available).