On Wednesday, the central government made it clear that while E20 petrol might slightly lower fuel efficiency in some older cars that were meant for E10, there is no proof that the use of petrol mixed with ethanol has caused extensive engine damage or car failures.
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that the reduction in mileage for certain older vehicles is typically limited to approximately 3-5%. He stressed that there are other variables besides gasoline’s ethanol concentration that affect fuel economy.
The minister claims that factors such as air conditioning use, wheel alignment, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and tyre pressure significantly impact fuel economy. “Fuel economy losses in some older E10-designed cars are typically small, only about 3-5%,” he said.
E20 petrol has a higher octane rating, better anti-knock performance, better combustion characteristics, and smoother acceleration than regular petrol, among other advantages, which the government has emphasised. These benefits can help engines run better, especially in cars made or tuned to use E20 fuel.
This explanation is provided in light of the continuing debates around India’s ethanol blending program, which seeks to lessen the country’s reliance on foreign crude oil, decrease carbon emissions, and encourage the usage of biofuels made in India.
At the Viksit Bharat Conclave in New Delhi earlier this month, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, gave a resounding defence of the E20 program. He dismissed worries about performance and challenged his detractors to find an example of a car that had been damaged by using petrol that was 20% ethanol.
So far, E20 petrol has not been associated with any problems in any vehicles. Has the usage of E20 petrol caused any problems for any vehicles in the nation? “Just name one,” stated Gadkari. False information about increased ethanol blending was he said was spreading through “paid campaigns.”
While using E20 petrol may reduce gas economy slightly for some older vehicles, the government has reiterated in its most recent explanation that there is no proof of extensive engine damage. The government of India argues that the advantages of E20, which include increased ethanol blending, exceed the negative effects on fuel economy because they boost energy security, decrease emissions, and encourage local biofuel development.
Image: Chennai Patrika
