Gull biofuel savings claims debunked by New Zealand’s Auto Association

In New Zealand, the Automobile Association (AA) has cast doubt on claims by independent fuel retailer Gull that it offers the lowest price. AA published details of a test comparing Gull’s ethanol-blended fuel with mineral-only fuel. It claims the test shows that, because biofuel is less efficient, it would have to be NZD$0.15 a liter cheaper than mineral-only petrol before motorists saved any money.

Gull is the main distributor in New Zealand’s retail biofuel, and markets itself as cheaper than its rivals. Its biofuel product, which is sold at 17 of the 50 petrol stations that it supplies, is generally its cheapest fuel, about 5 cents a liter cheaper than its rivals. Based on an average motorist driving 14,000 km a year, the AA said using the biofuel would cost an extra NZD$110 a year.