Customers Warm Up to E10 Gas

The Rise of E10 Gasoline: A Greener Future for Vietnam’s Transportation

After more than two weeks of piloting the sale of E10 biofuel in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hai Phong, observations from many stores show that the consumption of this biofuel is gradually increasing, especially among ride-hailing service drivers.

Gradual Increase in Consumption

On August 15, at the Petrolimex Gas Station No. 2 in An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Huy Hau, the station manager, shared that in the initial days of the pilot, the daily sales volume was only about 3 cubic meters. Now, it has increased to 5 cubic meters per day, and during weekends, it can even reach 6 cubic meters. “We have received positive feedback from customers, who have noticed an improvement in their vehicles’ performance due to the use of E10, which is blended with RON 95 gasoline. In contrast, the previous E5 blend used RON 92, which may not have fully utilized the engine’s efficiency,” said Mr. Hau.

At Gas Station No. 3 in Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, the station manager, reported that the sales volume of E10 since the pilot began has reached approximately 15 cubic meters, equivalent to the sales when E5 gasoline was still available. The public has become accustomed to using E5, so the transition to E10 has not encountered significant obstacles. However, the consumption has not yet created a breakthrough, according to Mr. Tuan, who believes that there is a need for media support to help people understand the environmental benefits and performance capabilities of this type of gasoline. “The world has already adopted E20 gasoline, so there’s no reason why E10 shouldn’t be popular in Vietnam. However, currently, E10 gasoline is only a few hundred VND cheaper per liter than regular gasoline, which is not attractive enough for consumers. We need better pricing policies to encourage its use,” Mr. Tuan suggested.

According to Petrolimex Saigon, the sales volume of E10 RON95-III gasoline at its 36 gas stations in Ho Chi Minh City averages 40 cubic meters per day, equivalent to more than 1,100 liters per station. The supply from the Nha Be Depot is guaranteed. In the north, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVOIL) reported that from August 1 to 13, its four directly managed stations in Hanoi sold 112,867 liters of E10 gasoline, accounting for 16% of the total gasoline sales. On August 13 alone, 10,194 liters were sold. In Hai Phong, the two pilot stations sold 32,657 liters of E10 gasoline, also accounting for 16% of the total consumption. PVOIL representatives stated that the demand for E10 gasoline is on an upward trend, and they plan to expand the pilot to Da Nang in the near future.

From the perspective of consumers, Mr. Duc Huy, a resident of Co Nhue Street in Hanoi, shared that he started using E10 gasoline on August 1. “Initially, I was concerned about its impact on engine speed and performance, but after a few refills, I noticed that my vehicle was functioning normally,” he said. However, some users still express concerns about the quality and compatibility of E10 gasoline with their vehicles and have not made the switch. Mr. Le Nam, a resident of Dai Mo Ward in Hanoi, stated that he owns a large-displacement motorcycle and has not yet used this biofuel.

Familiarizing the Public with E10

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is currently studying a roadmap for applying E10 nationwide from January 1, 2026, considering the pilot period as a time for the public to become acquainted with the new fuel. Economic expert Dr. Giang Chan Tay, Director of Boi Ngoc One-Member Limited Company, expressed the view that encouraging retail businesses to consume E10 gasoline while still allowing the circulation of other types of gasoline, such as RON 95 (E0), is unreasonable. When given the choice, consumers will opt for the type they are familiar with, regardless of environmental factors.

To facilitate the transition to E10, Dr. Tay proposed that only one type of gasoline, E10 (92-E10 or 95-E10), should be circulated. All supply sources, whether produced domestically or imported, must be converted to E10 blends. “This approach will help businesses avoid additional infrastructure investments, while consumers will not feel forced to switch. If this is not implemented comprehensively, the risk of failure, similar to the previous experience with E5 gasoline, is significant,” said Dr. Tay.

Dr. Tay also suggested changing the commercial name of E10 to EC gasoline (with E representing ethanol and C representing carbon) to avoid the previous negative perceptions associated with E5. Additionally, the government could consider supporting retail businesses by adding a fixed surcharge of VND 200-300 per liter to compensate for the more significant evaporation characteristics of ethanol compared to mineral gasoline.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Xuan Co, Head of the Science Department of the Vietnam Environmental Economics Association, shared that, in principle, the transition to E10 gasoline will have a positive impact on the environment compared to RON 95 mineral gasoline. However, to build trust among users, relevant authorities need to conduct practical research and transparently communicate the findings to help people understand the quality and environmental protection parameters of E10 gasoline.

He also emphasized the importance of transparency in the production cost of this fuel, from the ethanol raw material to the blending process with mineral gasoline. This transparency will enable further discussions on pricing policies, the use of tax and fee tools, and the creation of preferential prices for biofuels.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Trung Hung, Deputy General Director of PVOIL, stated that the company has reported to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Government to develop a pricing scheme for E10 gasoline that optimizes the balance of interests between the state, businesses, and consumers.