A cleaner form of petrol is being introduced at filling stations across Wales from today.

E10 petrol, which is made with up to 10% bioethanol – a type of renewable fuel – will be the standard offering at forecourts as part of Government plans to cut carbon emissions.

It is replacing E5 petrol, blended with up to 5% bioethanol.

The Department for Transport said more than 95% of petrol cars licensed for use on Britain’s roads are compatible with E10, which is not expected to cost more than E5.

An impact assessment published in January 2020 estimated that around 600,000 cars – such as classic cars or those built in the early 2000s – would be incompatible with the new fuel this year.

Owners of those vehicles can continue to access E5 by purchasing super unleaded which costs an average of 8.7p a litre more than standard petrol, according to AA figures.

Motorists can use the Government’s online E10 checker at www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol to find out if their vehicle can be filled with E10.

The DfT admitted that E10 can “marginally” reduce fuel economy but it insisted the impact is “almost unnoticeable to most drivers when making every day journeys”.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Every journey matters as we drive forward the green industrial revolution, which is why the rollout of E10 is so important.

“It’ll help us cut road greenhouse gas emissions and meet our ambitious net zero targets.

“Although more and more drivers are switching to electric, there are steps we can take today to reduce emissions from the millions of vehicles already on our roads.

“The small switch to E10 petrol will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as we accelerate towards a greener transport future.”

AA president Edmund King said: “This is a positive and simple step to help reduce the carbon impact from road transport.

“While the vast majority of vehicles will be unaffected by the change, it is important for owners of older cars to use the Government’s vehicle checker to see if they can use E10.

“Even if E10 is put in a non-compliant vehicle, drivers should not panic and can simply put super unleaded in their tank at the next available opportunity.”

An RAC survey of 1,450 UK drivers suggested that 27% of motorists are yet to check whether their car is compatible with the new fuel.

The firm’s head of policy Nicholas Lyes said: “E10 petrol has already started appearing on forecourts to replace the old E5 blend, and that process will continue at pace in the coming weeks.

“But while the vast majority of drivers of petrol cars aren’t affected, a sizeable minority will be and the only way to be sure is to use the official online checker.”