The only time you should mix alcohol with driving

Everyone knows that alcohol and driving don’t mix.

Of course, this golden rule will always ring true for anyone behind the wheel, but nobody ever said anything about pouring booze into your fuel tank. DB Breweries, the producer behind some of New Zealand’s most loved beverages (including DB Export, Monteith’s Crushed Cider, Barrel 51 and many more) has created a biofuel that has less environmental impact than traditional petrol. Starting from June 6, 2015, it can be purchased at more than 60 Gull petrol stations around the North Island with a simple swipe of your business fuel card.

Brewtroleum is a 98-octane petrol that contains 10 per cent ethanol.

A world first

From the women’s vote to conquering Mount Everest, New Zealand is no stranger to setting world firsts – a reputation that is now being upheld in the fuel industry. DB Brewery is the first company in the world to make beer-based biofuel commercially available. ‘Brewtroleum’, as it has been appropriately named, is a 98-octane petrol that contains 10 per cent ethanol. It is derived from leftover yeast slurry that might otherwise have gone to waste.

The brewery produced an initial 300,000 litres of Brewtroleum, which is expected to last about six weeks. However, Head of Domestic Beer Marketing Sean O’Donnell hopes that it will become a permanent offering.

“It’s a case of testing consumer demand and assessing the feasibility of ongoing production and logistics,” said Mr O.Donnell, speaking to NZ Herald.

Biofuel is significantly better for the environment as it is made from renewable resources. It also be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn can help us minimise our environmental impact.

How will Brewtroleum affect fleet managers?

While it still remains to be seen exactly how effective this new ‘Brewtroleum’ will be, it’s exciting news nonetheless for fleet managers across the country. It serves as something of a reminder that local companies across a variety of industries are aware of the need for alternative fuel sources.

In contrast to New Zealand’s eco-friendly culture, we’ve traditionally been fairly slow on the uptake when it comes to green cars. Despite the growing availability and affordability of hybrid and electric cars, these models only made up around one per cent of all new light vehicle registrations in recent months, according to figures collated by the Ministry of Transport.

Given New Zealand’s undisputable love for beer, is it possible that Brewtroleum could play a role in transforming our perceptions of sustainable fuel?