Without needing sophisticated technology, just a sufficiently long roadmap, a sufficiently low price, and the advantage of readily available agricultural products, Thailand has pulled far ahead of many countries on the biofuel map.

The car has been ready since 2008.

Unlike many countries that are still struggling with the initial steps, Thailand started the ethanol "game" very early.

E10 bioethanol was introduced to the Thai market in the early 2000s and was widely commercialized from 2004-2007. In 2007-2008, the Thai government implemented tax incentives and price reductions to encourage its use.

But the real turning point came in 2007, when E20 was officially introduced. At the time, many people thought that mixing up to 20% ethanol into gasoline was too ambitious.

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At gas stations in Thailand, E20 is listed as about 3-4 baht/liter cheaper than E10, a difference that makes it easy for consumers to choose this fuel without much hesitation. Photo: Thailand Nation

However, the Thai government had a different plan: instead of forcing it, they created a roadmap for the market to adapt on its own.

The smartest aspect of Bangkok's strategy is preparing the vehicle infrastructure before selling the fuel. Since 2008, the majority of passenger cars manufactured and assembled in Thailand have been designed to be fully compatible with E20.

This means that when the government decides to make the E20 the standard, people don't have to worry about replacing their cars or whether it will affect the engine, because the vehicle infrastructure has essentially been prepared in advance.

This is a long-term vision; instead of chasing after technology, Thailand has taken a step ahead.

Price boost: E20 is significantly cheaper than E10.