Classic car drivers offered first commercially available sustainable fuel

Elbow patches at the ready: a fuel specialist called Coryton has launched a sustainable petrol specifically aimed at classic car drivers.

The plant-based petrol, called Sustain Classic, enables owners of older cars to pootle about without any modifications. According to Coryton, they can also feel smug that they’re reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65 per cent when compared with fossil-based fuel. Well, kinda.

The fuel uses advanced biofuel manufactured from agricultural waste, including straw, unused crops and by-products. Just like synthetic fuels - having already absorbed the carbon needed to grow - the carbon released by burning doesn’t technically add anything to the atmosphere. It doesn’t exactly take anything away, either, though.

Synthetic and biofuels are of course slowly creeping onto the market to provide an alternative to getting a retrofit electrification package.

David Richardson, business development director at Coryton, argues: “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 as affordable as possible 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 per cent, 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.”

Though detractors might argue this is a cynic's view of 'carbon neutrality', Richardson makes a fair point. Sustain isn’t especially cheap, though. If you thought petrol prices had been a bit on the high side recently, look away now.

Coryton offers three types - Super 80, Super 33 and Racing 50 - starting at an eye-twitching £3.80 per litre. The number refers to the percentage of renewable fuel in the mix. And yes, you’ve guessed it – the higher the percentage, the bigger the hole in your wallet.

That said, Coryton tells us they all meet European compliance standard EN228, they all have a minimum 98 octane number and they are also formulated with premium additives to clean and protect your classic car engine – whether you’re Sunday driving, or racing around a track.

On sale from Motor Spirit in Bicester, Sustain Classic should be with more stockists over the summer.