E20 petrol and vehicle mileage: What Nitin Gadkari said amid growing concerns
The Indian government has stated that E20 petrol, a blend of 20% ethanol, does not cause significant performance or durability issues in vehicles. Minister Nitin Gadkari clarified that while older vehicles may require minor maintenance for rubber parts, engine modifications are generally unnecessary.
Why it matters
This addresses consumer concerns regarding fuel efficiency and maintenance costs as India pushes for greener fuel alternatives to reduce oil imports.
NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said extensive studies have found no significant performance or durability issues in vehicles running on E20 petrol, asserting that even older vehicles generally do not require engine modifications to use the fuel.In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said tests found no issues in parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility and plastic compatibility.Responding to concerns over fuel efficiency, Gadkari said automobile manufacturers and vehicle-testing agencies have clarified that mileage depends on several factors and cannot be attributed solely to the type of fuel used.He said a joint study by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) evaluated the impact of E20 fuel on two-wheelers and four-wheelers."The studies confirmed that even legacy vehicles did not exhibit any significant variations…
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