KEY POINTS:
High-level biofuel blends are being touted as an affordable way of cutting carbon emissions before more complex oil-substitution technologies are widely available.
"It is very important to focus on what's available today and not sit and wait for something better to come along," Jan Brentebraten of European Ford told an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority conference in Auckland.
Mr Brentebraten heads the "flexible" fuel strategy, which includes supplying thousands of cars able to use 85 per cent bioethanol to Sweden and other countries.
Although that requires special equipment not used in standard vehicles, for which carmakers will not endorse blends of more than 10 per cent, he said the technology was relatively cheap and also allowed up to 100 per cent petrol to be used.
"If consumers can afford a towbar, in most markets they can afford E85 for about US$500 to US$1000 [$630-$1260]."
That made E85 about a third cheaper than petrol-electric hybrids. Acknowledging debate over the displacement of food crops and rainforest by biofuels, he said agreements on sustainability standards were "absolutely critical. It is in nobody's interest to replace one bad option with another."
