E20 fuel underwent rigorous testing before pan-India rollout, no gaps in scientific standards: Former EIL CMD
New Delhi, July 4
Ethanol-blended E20 petrol was introduced across India only after undergoing rigorous testing on two-wheelers and four-wheelers, and there are no gaps in the scientific standards used for its rollout, former Chairman and Managing Director of Engineers India Limited Vartika Shukla said on Saturday.
Speaking to ANI, Shukla said the E20 fuel rollout was backed by extensive testing before being made available nationwide.
"Regarding the E20 fuel launched on December 25, part of the 'One Nation, One Fuel' initiative, it was initially introduced in select regions before reaching every retail outlet... E20 was launched pan-India following rigorous testing on various 4-wheeler and 2-wheeler engines ahead of the 2030 mandate," she said.
Calling the programme an important step in India's clean energy transition, she added, "It is a significant step towards decarbonization."
Addressing concerns around vehicle performance, Shukla acknowledged that ethanol-blended fuel may have a limited impact on mileage but said several factors influence overall performance.
"As for engine performance, there is a marginal drop, but this depends on various factors such as driving habits, etc," she said.
Shukla also underlined that the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders and in line with established technical standards.
"The EBP (Ethanol Blended Petrol) program began in 2018 with significant stakeholder engagement... Oil marketing companies complied with standards... There is absolutely no gap in the scientific methodology used to determine these standards," she said.
Her remarks come at a time when ethanol-blended fuel has been under public scrutiny following claims on social media that E20 fuel had caused issues in some vehicles.
Automakers and government-backed testing agencies have maintained that E20-compatible vehicles are designed and certified to safely use the fuel, while attributing isolated cases to issues such as fuel contamination rather than the ethanol blend itself.
The Centre has been promoting higher ethanol blending as part of its strategy to reduce crude oil imports, cut carbon emissions and support domestic sugarcane and grain-based ethanol production.
— ANI
Reader Comments
"Marginal drop in mileage" - for daily commuters like me, even 5% less mileage means more trips to pump. But if it reduces our oil import bill by even 1%, I'll adjust. China and Brazil are doing this, why not India? The stakeholder engagement part is reassuring. Just hope companies don't sell E20 without proper labeling!
I understand the environmental angle but why rush? My cousin in Pune had engine issues after using E20. Testing on controlled conditions is different from real-world Indian roads, traffic jams, and varying fuel quality. The "One Nation One Fuel" is catchy but implementation needs more ground-level validation. Give it time.
Finally some clarity! Vartika Shukla has credibility - she ran one of India's top engineering firms. But I wonder: if ethanol reduces emissions, why do I smell more fumes at petrol pumps now? Also, how will this impact food prices if we use grains for fuel? Need more transparency on food vs fuel debate. 🌾
As a farmer from UP, this is double-edged sword. Good for sugar mills and ethanol producers, but will it push up sugarcane prices? The scientific standards part is fine, but ground reality is different. My tractor runs on diesel - any plans for ethanol in diesel? Or are we only focusing on petrol because two-wheelers dominate Indian roads? 🤔
I work in auto sector - this is well-planned. E20 is not new; Brazil has used it for decades. Our engines are designed for it now. The social media panic is
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