First sustainable fuel for classic vehicles fuel launches for public purchase in the UK

The UK’s first publicly available sustainable petrol will go on sale today (13th June), designed specifically for classic vehicles. 

The SUSTAIN Classic range will allow motorists to fuel their vintage vehicles with plant-based petrol, without any modifications to their engines, with three types of fuel initially available. Developed by fuel specialist Coryton, the fuel with the highest sustainable content promises a reduction of at least 65% in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuels.

The pioneering products use advanced second-generation biofuel manufactured from agricultural waste, such as straw, by-products or waste from crops which wouldn’t be used for consumption. By doing so, the fuel utilises the carbon that already exists in our atmosphere, which the plants absorb as they grow, recycling it, rather than releasing additional CO₂ that is currently locked underground in fossil fuel.

With an octane number >98 and bio-ethanol content of <1%, SUSTAIN Classic has been technically tailored for classic vehicles, although it can be used on any vehicle which runs on standard forecourt petrol. It’s also formulated with a premium additive package included, which stabilises and extends the life of the fuel and helps clean and protect the engines.

Priced from £3.80 per litre, Sustain Classic will be available from distributor Motor Spirit at Bicester Heritage from 13^th June, with more stockists launching across the UK in the coming months. There are currently three variants of the drop-in replacement fuel available. All are suitable for all year-round use.

SUPER 80

• Created with 80% renewable content.
• Delivers a GHG saving of more than 65%, compared to fossil fuels.
• 98RON (Super Unleaded) EN228 Compliant.
• Multifunctional deposit control additive package reduces existing deposits and maintains engine cleanliness and performance with regular use.
• Priced from £4.65 per litre.

SUPER 33

• Created with 33% sustainable content.
• Delivers a GHG saving of more than 25%, compared to fossil fuels.
• 98RON (Super Unleaded) EN228 Compliant.
• Multifunctional deposit control additive package reduces existing deposits and maintains engine cleanliness and performance with regular use.
• Priced from £3.80 per litre.

RACING 50

• High performance sustainable petrol ideal for performance and racing use in vehicles that require a higher-octane fuel.
• Created with 50% renewable content.
• Delivers a GHG saving of more than 35%, compared to fossil fuels.
• 102RON, for high octane applications, EN228 Compliant.
• Premium deposit control additives reduce existing deposits and maintain engine cleanliness and performance with regular use.
• Priced from £5.24 per litre.

The fuels range from 33% sustainable content to 80%. David Richardson, Business Development Director at Coryton explains why:

“Every kilogram of CO₂ we avoid adding to our atmosphere, by replacing fossil fuel with sustainable fuel, is a win. We don’t instantly have to go for the full switch to start making a genuine impact. As more feedstocks become available, these fuels will start to contain even higher levels of traceable sustainable elements. However, we want to keep things affordable for consumers and be open about what’s actually achievable at the moment. 

The availability of true fossil free fuel components is limited. So, we’re setting truthful and realistic goals, producing fuels that have a meaningful impact whilst meeting the demands of the user. While we could use ‘mass balancing’ techniques to certify this fuel as 100%, we believe that it is important to be open about technology readiness and traceability. The industry will get there with the right support – which is why we think it’s important to start getting these products into the hands of consumers so they can see how easy and effective the switch could be.”

Certified by Coryton’s fully accredited laboratory, and under ISCC sustainable protocols, SUSTAIN Classic has delivered an excellent performance both in testing centres and on the track.

At the recent Rally for The Ages event held at Bicester Heritage, over 70 cars used the Super 80 fuel to complete the course. It will also be available to those participating in the upcoming Flywheel 2023 event.

Guy Lachlan heads up Motor Spirit at Bicester Heritage, which will be one of the distributors of SUSTAIN Classic. He said:

“We believe that SUSTAIN Classic is the world’s first ever sustainable fuel catering for classic vehicles, providing a credible and convenient way to run vintage vehicles without the need for fossil fuels. It’s fully certified, tested, and developed right here in the UK at our world-class blending facility.

It’s estimated that there are almost half a million classic cars in the UK, each one with its own unique purpose, build and history. By creating a collection of second-generation biofuels that are compatible with their needs, as well as those of other vintage vehicles, we hope to provide these much-loved motors with a more sustainable future and preserve them for years to come.”

SUSTAIN Classic is the second specialist fuel from Coryton’s SUSTAIN range. In 2022 SUSTAIN Racing was launched, taking the motorsport sector by storm and claiming titles in events such as the Dakar Rally.

Stockist information can be found on the Sustain Classic website https://sustainclassic.com/stockist/, where distributors can also register their interest.