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As fuel prices continue to climb in France, a growing number of motorists are turning to an unconventional alternative: rapeseed oil, according to a report by French television channel BFMTV.
A liter of rapeseed oil currently retails for around 1.53 euros in France, nearly one euro cheaper than diesel fuel. The widening price gap has prompted a wave of motorists to experiment with vegetable oil as a substitute, with a viral social media video showing young people filling their cars with the product attracting more than one million views.
The trend, however, has not gone mainstream. Many French drivers remain reluctant to make the switch, citing concerns that the engine and fuel supply system of their vehicles could suffer damage. The French government has also moved to discourage the practice, with fines of up to 200 euros imposed on motorists found using non-compliant fuel.
The shift comes against a backdrop of record-high fuel costs. On September 20, the price of diesel in France reached an all-time high of 2.41 euros per liter. Maud Bregeon, the official spokesperson for the French government and Minister Delegate for Energy, told LCI television that the government was working on an additional financial assistance program targeting drivers who rely on their vehicles for work.
Source: BFMTV / NEWS.am