Only some vehicles produced before 2016 may require minor tweaks for E20 fuel: Gadkari
New Delhi, July 29
Some Bharat Stage-III vehicles, which were introduced from April 1, 2005, and manufactured before 2016, may require certain rubber parts and gaskets to be replaced before being run on E20 petrol, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a question in the Upper House, Gadkari said that extensive studies conducted by Indian Oil Corporation, the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) found no need to modify engines of either cars or two-wheelers for the use of E20 fuel.
The studies showed that even older vehicles did not experience any significant changes in performance or abnormal wear and tear after operating on petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, the minister said.
"No issues were reported in parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility, and plastic compatibility," Gadkari said.
"Only in case of testing done on BS-III vehicles introduced from 1st April, 2005, and manufactured prior to 2016, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement, which can be easily managed during the routine servicing regime of the vehicle," he observed.
Addressing concerns over fuel efficiency, Gadkari said automobile manufacturers and vehicle-testing agencies had clarified that mileage depends on multiple factors and cannot be attributed solely to the use of E20 fuel.
The minister further stated that an Inter-Ministerial Committee, constituted by NITI Aayog on December 26, 2020, had comprehensively examined vehicle compatibility as well as mileage and efficiency aspects of ethanol blending with petrol. The committee's assessment was supported by studies carried out by Indian Oil, ARAI and SIAM.
The committee's report titled Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25 was released in June 2021 before the E20 fuel was introduced. It examined material compatibility, engine calibration, fuel systems, drivability, durability, emissions and fuel efficiency after consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and agricultural experts.
Gadkari said the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has been implemented through a "phased, calibrated, scientifically validated and consultative approach."
He also highlighted that ethanol-blended fuel has been used globally for over a century, with countries such as Brazil operating on even higher ethanol blends for decades.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to hear that studies by IIP Dehradun and ARAI back this up. But I'm still sceptical about fuel efficiency claims - Gadkari ji says mileage depends on many factors, but my friend in Brazil says ethanol gives lower mileage there. Hope the government is transparent about real-world performance before mandating this fully.
As a farmer's son from Maharashtra, I'm happy about the push for ethanol from sugarcane. But let's not forget - we need to ensure enough water for food crops too. Blending is good for reducing import bills and pollution, but the execution needs to balance farmer interests with environmental goals. Baby steps 👍
Interesting perspective from India. In the US we've been using E10 for years and E15 is common now. The rubber parts issue for older vehicles is well known - same thing happened here. India learning from Brazil's experience makes sense. But I'd be curious about cold start issues in northern India during winter. That was a problem early on for ethanol blends.
One concern: what about the lakhs of autorickshaws and old two-wheelers on our roads? Many of them are pre-2016 BS-III vehicles. Will the replacement parts be affordable and available? The government should subsidize the gasket changes for smaller vehicle owners, not just focus on car owners. Otherwise it's another burden on the common man. 🤔
Glad to see India is following scientific studies before implementing. The NITI Aayog committee's roadmap from 2021 shows this was well planned.
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