Government dismisses concerns over E20 petrol cutting down mileage
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas statement has stated that the damage to vehicle parts and mileage remains minimal, with modern vehicles even displaying improved ride and engine performance.
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New Delhi: The central government has reacted to widespread social media rumours about E20 petrol, blended with 20 per cent ethanol. The theory put on social media is that it causes a huge drop in mileage, especially in cars and even causes both the fuel tank and the engine to sustain damage.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has now come forward with a statement that refuted such claims that are not backed by science, and the impact on fuel efficiency, if any, is only marginal. In the post, the ministry said that the mileage might drop by 1-2 per cent in vehicles that were originally formulated for E10 and adjusted for E20. In other vehicles, the drop could be between 3-6 per cent.
A better engine tuning and use of E20-compatible parts can minimise this drop, the statement said. According to a report by ANI, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has said E20-compliant vehicles with component upgrades have been available since April 2023.
The Ministry also said that the theories that E20 petrol causes corrosion of the fuel tank and related parts, the ministry said small replacements like rubber parts or gaskets are usually done during regular servicing and are inexpensive and in some older vehicles, maybe needed after 20,000 to 30,000 kms. In modern vehicles, though, the benefits of ethanol include the improvement in modern cars for both engine performance and ride quality.
Benefits of ethanol blending in petrol
Researchers have found that ethanol, which is a renewable fuel made from sugarcane and maize, emits 65 per cent and 50 per cent less greenhouse gases, respectively, compared to petrol, as noted by the ministry. Which means a ratio of 80:20 mix of petrol and ethanol can reduce CO2 emissions.
The government also stated that ethanol blending in petrol also raises India’s energy security with a reduction in reliance on crude oil imports. India produces ethanol from damaged foodgrains, surplus rice and even through agricultural waste. Due to ethanol substitution, the country has managed to save more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore since 2014-15. The ministry said that it has also led to payments of Rs 1.2 lakh crore to farmers.