FUEL: NEW NAMES AND NEW SYMBOLS

The names of fuels were changed on 12 October 2018 in the 28 EU Member States and seven neighbouring countries (Iceland, FYR Macedonia, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Liechtenstein).
Fuel names have been harmonised in Europe to make it easier for motorists to use fuel pumps in foreign countries and prevent them from choosing the wrong type of fuel.
The new fuel names are accompanied by new symbols on pumps at service stations.
The new labels and names are described below.

NEW LABELS 3 SHAPES, 3 COLOURS

Fuel types are further distinguished by new symbols with a specific colour.
• Petrol fuels are symbolised by circles, surrounding the name of each fuel
• Diesel fuels are symbolised by squares
• Gaseous fuels are symbolised by diamond shapes.
Petrol is denoted by cool colours (turquoise or green), diesel by warm colours (yellow or orange) and gaseous fuel by blue.

NEW FUEL NAMES

The new names make it easier for motorists to identify the right type of fuel for their car.

PETROL

The names of petrol fuels start with the letter E, followed by a number corresponding to the maximum authorised amount of ethanol biofuel.
Unleaded 95 or 98 is now called E5, because it contains up to 5% bioethanol, while Unleaded 95 E10 is now simply called E10 and super ethanol is now called E85.

DIESEL

The names of diesel fuels start with the letter B, followed by a number indicating the maximum authorised amount of biofuel produced from vegetable or animal oil.
Standard diesel is now called B7 and the new diesel fuel authorised to contain up to 10% of biofuel is called B10. Synthetic diesel now goes under the name XLT.

GASEOUS FUELS

The names of gaseous fuels have been changed entirely. Hydrogen is now called H2, while the others are now referred to by their English acronym: LPG for liquefied petroleum gas, CNG for compressed natural gas and LNG for liquefied natural gas.

CITROËN AND THE NEW FUEL NAMES

The new labels can now be seen at service stations. They are also going to be marked in the handbook and on the fuel flaps of all the new vehicles sold in Europe.