‘If you drive in…’: Nitin Gadkari admits E20 fuel affects car mileage, dismisses engine damage concerns | Today’s news
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari admitted in an interview that E20 fuel has some effect on the mileage of cars.
Gadkari told The Indian Express that the difference in mileage is due to the lower calorific value of ethanol compared to petrol, which may cause the average mileage to decrease as the ethanol content of the fuel increases.
“Look, there are a few things: the first is the difference in calorific value between ethanol and petrol – which is a fact. But mileage also depends on driving conditions, especially in cities like Delhi or Mumbai, where vehicles stay in lower gears due to driving conditions… According to the ARAI report, there is no flex-fuel efficiency problem for vehicles specifically built with flex-fuel engines.” IE quoted the union minister’s statement.
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“In stop-and-go traffic from Delhi to Gurgaon, you’re constantly braking. Your speed barely crosses 40-50 (kilometers per hour) before you hit a red light. But if you’re driving at a smooth speed of 100 km (per hour), you might notice some difference in value,” he added.
However, Gadkari claimed that the claims of damage to vehicle parts due to the use of E20 mixture are “exaggerated” and part of attempts to create a “false narrative”. He said the E20 was introduced only after several tests conducted by ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) and also vehicle manufacturers.
He also said that if some older cars have minor impacts on certain parts, the government has asked manufacturers to replace those parts during servicing.
Gadkari said, “Show me a single car that was damaged due to E20 fuel. What is doing the rounds on social media is part of a concerted false narrative.”
Gadkari on a mixture of methanol and diesel
Gadkari said in an interview that the crisis in West Asia, which poses a serious problem for fuel supplies worldwide, has also opened the door to other possible alternatives to fossil fuels that will reduce dependence on imports.
He then spoke about the 15% methanol-diesel mixture currently being used to run some buses in Karnataka.
“In Karnataka, Ashok Leyland worked with Karnataka State Corporation to run 25 buses using a 15% mixture of methanol and diesel. They ran them for three months and confirmed that there were no problems, after which Ashok Leyland developed a special methanol engine so that trucks and buses can run on methanol. Currently, Assam Petro-Chemicals produces 7,000 methanol per day ₹20-22 per litre, compared to diesel which is around ₹110; this leads to significant cost savings,” Gadkari said in an interview with IE.
Read also | Line E20: Controversy explained as Gadkari, Puri claims no adverse effect on cars
Kejriwal demands reduction in fuel prices
Amid the blended fuel row, AAP adviser and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday demanded that petrol and diesel prices be reduced. He argued that “clean gasoline” should be available at ₹82 per liter and E20 fuel at ₹70 per liter.
Arguing that diesel prices could also be reduced similarly, he said lower fuel prices will provide much-needed relief to the people.
He said, “We can calculate diesel prices in the same way; diesel prices could also come down. If petrol and diesel prices come down, I believe it would deal a significant blow to inflation and give much-needed relief to people,” an ANI report said.
