There were many social media discussions and theories regarding the E20 petrol blended with 20 percent ethanol causes a drastic drop in mileage, especially in cars, and causes damage to the fuel tank and engine recently.
Central Breaks Its Silence On Impacts On Fuel Efficiency
Finally, the central government has reacted to these rumors and the Ministry of petroleum and natural gas issued a statement that such allegations are not backed by science, and the impact on fuel efficiency, if any, is only marginal.
Moving ahead, the ministry announced that the mileage may drop by 1-2 per cent in vehicles that are originally designed for E10 petrol but later calibrated for E20; in other vehicles, the drop could be around 3-6 per cent, in a social media post.
They further noted that the better engine tuning and use of E20-compatible parts can cut this drop.
When it comes to the E20-compliant vehicles, with upgraded components have been available since April 2023, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
On the question of E20 petrol causes corrosion of the fuel tank and related parts, the ministry clarified that the minor replacements such as rubber parts or gaskets may be needed after 20,000 to 30,000 kms in some older vehicles, “but these are inexpensive and usually done during regular servicing”.
Further adding that the benefits of ethanol include improvement in the engine performance and ride quality in modern vehicles.
What Is The Benifit Of Using E20 Petrol?
Ethanol, a renewable fuel made from sugarcane and maize, emits 65 percent and 50 percent less greenhouse gases, respectively, compared to petrol as per the latest study said the ministry.
With the 80:20 mix of petrol and ethanol, it reduces CO2 emissions.
In addition to this ethanol blending in petrol also boosts India’s energy security by reducing the reliance on crude oil imports, government noted.
Coming to ethanol, India produces it from the surplus rice, damaged foodgrains, and agricultural waste too.
This move holdsa great significance as the country has saved over ₹1.4 lakh crore since 2014-15 in foreign exchange due to ethanol substitution.
This has also led to payments of over Rs. 1.2 lakh crore to farmers, according to the ministry.
