Maruti Suzuki, Toyota India executives defend E20 petrol: ‘No problem in terms of wear, corrosion’ | Today’s news
Auto industry experts sought to reassure consumers on Saturday (July 4) about using 20 percent ethanol– Blended petrol (E20), stating that the fuel has been thoroughly tested, is safe for both older and newer vehicles and will play a vital role in reducing India’s dependence on imported oil.
At a press conference, Maruti Suzuki India’s senior director of corporate affairs, Rahul Bharti, said, “We have tested E10 cars that were prevalent before 2023 on E20 fuel for all parameters and found nothing to worry about.
Maruti Suzuki India’s Bharti also said, “In the past few days, we have heard that there are some doubts about the use of ethanol in cars. India has mandated E20 from 2023 due to material compliance and before that it was E10. After 2023, both cars and fuel are mandatory for E20. The reason for concern is what happened if E20 fuel was produced earlier, if E20 fuel was used. which were primarily designed for E10?… We have sufficient safety factors to ensure that there will be no issues in terms of wear, corrosion or damage to the life of the car or parts that come into contact with E20 fuel if E20 is used on cars that are manufactured and sold in India before 2023.”
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
E20 gasoline is a fuel mixture consisting of 20% ethanol and 80% regular gasoline. It differs from E10, which contains 10% ethanol, allowing for a higher ethanol content to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
E20 petrol was introduced to reduce India’s dependence on imported oil, provide economic benefits to farmers and support the country’s transition to cleaner transport fuels.
Although there may be a marginal impact on engine performance when E20 is used in older vehicles, extensive testing has shown that it does not cause significant damage or wear as both older and newer vehicles have been successfully tested.
No, experts at Maruti Suzuki and Toyota confirm that E20 petrol is safe for both older and newer vehicles, with sufficient safeguards in place to prevent wear, tear or corrosion.
E20 fuel is seen as a cleaner burning alternative that helps reduce carbon emissions, contributing to decarbonisation and climate goals while improving India’s energy security.
E20 gasoline is a fuel mixture containing 20% ethanol and 80% regular gasoline. Ethanol, a renewable biofuel typically obtained from crops such as sugar cane, corn or grain, is blended with gasoline to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce harmful vehicle emissions. Because ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, the blend is generally considered a step toward a more sustainable transportation fuel, although it requires higher ethanol-compatible vehicles to operate efficiently.
Former Chairman and CEO of Engineers India Ltd Vartika Shukla said in the same press conference held at the government’s National Media Center that E20 petrol was phased in ahead of its nationwide rollout after comprehensive scientific testing on both two-wheelers and four-wheelers ahead of the 2030 implementation plan.
Read also | Kejriwal attacks Center over E20 petrol, claims reduction in mileage, engine damage
“It’s a significant step towards decarbonisation,” she said.
While there may have been a marginal impact on engine performance, it depended on factors such as driving habits, she added.
Shukla said Ethanol Launched in 2018, the Blended Petrol Program (EBP) was formulated after extensive consultation with stakeholders across the fuel and automotive sectors, adding that petroleum companies adhere to all prescribed quality and safety standards.
“There is absolutely no loophole in the scientific methodology used to determine these standards,” she said.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Country Head and Executive Vice President (Corporate Affairs and Governance) Vikram Gulati described ethanol as a cleaner-burning, high-performance fuel that can significantly improve India’s energy security by reducing dependence on imported oil.
“What happened two to three months ago was a wake-up call and an extremely strong reminder of the vulnerability we face due to energy imports,” Gulati said, referring to recent disruptions in global energy supplies.
He noted that ethanol is produced from plant-based raw materials, making it a “zero-carbon fuel,” adding that it has been used successfully for years in high-performance applications, including motorsports.
According to Gulati, increasing ethanol consumption will not only help boost India’s energy independence, but also provide economic benefits to farmers by creating additional demand for agricultural raw materials used in ethanol production, boosting both rural incomes and the country’s transition to cleaner fuels for transportation.
According to FLIGHT, R Ramachandran, former Director (Refinery) of BPCL, and Raj Kumar Dubey, former Chairman of IGL and Director of BPCL, systematically dispelled the pervasive myths surrounding the fuel by comparing empirical laboratory data with subjective on-road experiences.
Read also | Driving an older petrol car? E20 fuel can reduce mileage, research warns
Addressing widespread driver complaints of a 10% drop in fuel economy, Ramachandran said extensive institutional testing shows only a marginal impact on mileage.
“These are unique cases that may require a different type of repair,” he explained, noting that older vehicles, general wear and tear or aggressive city driving distort real-world perception.
Dubey further added that motorists have been buying blended fuel like E20 for over a year without realizing it.
“All of a sudden, you know, when you ask that question, ‘No, the mileage is going down dramatically’ – these things, you know, don’t make sense,” Dubey said, urging consumers to trust testing agencies over individual opinions.
