Kejriwal claims nine car companies have privately flagged E20’s risks to older vehicles; asserts the pressure of the center | Today’s news
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he had spoken to officials from nine car companies who told him it was not safe for E20 to be used in petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023.
At a press conference, Kejriwal said that he had written to 29 car manufacturers to explain whether E20 fuel can be safely used in vehicles manufactured before 2023 and whether they would bear the cost of repairs or compensate their customers if customers experienced a drop in mileage due to E20.
However, Kejriwal said that none of the companies responded to him in writing.
He said, “The Modi government has resorted to strong-arm tactics to introduce E20 petrol. A few days ago, I wrote to 29 companies that manufacture motorcycles, scooters, petrol two-wheelers, petrol four-wheelers, cars and SUVs in India. In my letter, I asked them to make it clear whether vehicles manufactured before 2020 can be safely compatible with E203 petrol. The vehicles, they would compensate consumers if their vehicles were damaged due to E20 fuel AND if the use of E20 resulted in reduced mileage, would they compensate all 29 companies for that loss as well none of them responded?
Kejriwal said he had spoken to officials of nine of these companies, which he claimed were being “threatened” by the central government.
“I have had detailed phone conversations with officials of nine of these companies. According to them, the Modi government is openly threatening manufacturers,” the former Delhi chief claimed, according to a video of the journalist shared by PTI on X.
He claimed those officials told him that using E20 fuel in vehicles built before 2023 could cause damage to both the engine and the fuel rail system and could also reduce fuel efficiency.
“They told me that from a technical and engineering point of view, using E20 fuel in vehicles manufactured before 2023 could damage the vehicle, including the engine and fuel system, and could also reduce fuel consumption,” Kejriwal said.
“30 lakh vehicles could be affected”: Kejriwal
“They further claimed that the government had warned them that they would face consequences if they made these facts public…,” the AAP chief added, according to PTI.
He also questioned the Centre’s promotion of E20 fuel, saying it could affect around 30 million vehicles manufactured before 2023, which includes 22 million two-wheelers as well as eight million four-wheelers.
He also argued that ethanol is more expensive than gasoline, offers lower mileage due to its low calorific value, and does not benefit farmers.
