E20 fuel cuts mileage, may damage older vehicles: Gadkari
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New Delhi: The Central government has finally acknowledged that E20 fuel, a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol, can reduce vehicle mileage. After Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also admitted the impact.
The ministry said fuel efficiency could decline by 3 to 5 per cent in some vehicles. However, it maintained that the reduction in mileage is marginal when weighed against the overall benefits of E20 fuel.
In an interview with The Indian Express earlier this week, Gadkari said ethanol has a lower calorific value than petrol, which is expected to affect a vehicle's average mileage. At the same time, he argued that fuel efficiency also depends on driving conditions.
Responding to social media claims that E20 fuel is causing engine failures in many vehicles, Gadkari questioned the allegations. However, he admitted that blending ethanol with petrol could damage certain components in older vehicles.
As a remedy, he said the government has directed automobile manufacturers to replace metal washers with rubber washers free of cost in affected older vehicles.
The Petroleum Ministry said the advantages of E20 fuel—including faster combustion, smoother acceleration and lower carbon emissions—outweigh the reduction in mileage.
The ministry also rejected demands to make multiple fuel grades, including conventional petrol, E10 and E20, available at fuel stations, saying such a move would increase costs.
It further indicated that E20 may not necessarily be cheaper than conventional petrol. Since ethanol procurement prices are fixed to ensure fair remuneration for farmers, ethanol could become more expensive than petrol when international crude oil prices remain low.
The ministry clarified that the primary objective of the E20 programme is not to reduce fuel prices, but to lower India's dependence on imported crude oil, improve price stability and strengthen the country's energy security.