Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said that the fuel of the future will be 100 per cent bio-ethanol at NDTV's summit on green and renewable energy. The statement from the union minister comes amid growing public discontent over the government's plant to sell E20 petrol (petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol) in the country 2025/26.
"Pollution has reduced post ethanol use... the aim is to curb the carbon footprint (of vehicular traffic in the country) and reduce our use of fossil fuel," Mr Gadkari said at the NDTV summit.
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Nitin Gadkari highlighted that India is one of the largest and most significant economies in the world, which also means it has a high number of vehicles per capita. Only China and the United States have a greater number of motor vehicles per capita than India.
The E20 initiative is part of the government's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program, which aims to decrease the nation's dependence on fossil fuels and promote cleaner emissions from vehicles. Ethanol blending reached an average of 12.06 percent in 2022/23 and increased to 14.6 percent the following year. By February of this year, it had climbed to 19.6 percent. The 20 percent threshold was surpassed shortly thereafter.
Vehicle owners throughout the country have voiced concerns regarding the impact of blended fuel on their vehicles, particularly older models that may not be suitable for the fuel. The ministry responded by acknowledging that ethanol has a lower energy density, which might result in a slight decrease in fuel economy. However, they stated that this decrease is minor and remains within acceptable limits.
Estimates suggest that the reduction in fuel efficiency is between one and two percent for vehicles designed for 10 percent ethanol blends, or E10, and calibrated for E20. This reduction could rise to three to six percent for other types of vehicles.
Regarding worries about possible engine corrosion, especially in older cars and two-wheelers, the ministry indicated that safety standards are already established. Ethanol-compatible materials and corrosion inhibitors are required through specifications set by the standards agencies.