The Government of India has recently rolled out E20 petrol nationwide. This new fuel contains 80% petrol and 20% ethanol. At first glance, this move seems beneficial for the environment and economy, but the question for vehicle owners is whether E20 petrol is suitable for their vehicles or will cause trouble. Let us explain in detail in this article what E20 petrol is.
What is E20 Petrol Reality and the Indian Government
Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is made from crops like sugar, sugarcane, maize, and rice. In everyday language, this is the same substance that is also found in alcohol. When mixed with petrol, it behaves like a biofuel.
Some of the benefits of ethanol are:
- It burns cleanly compared to petrol.
- Less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are produced.
- It can be produced from domestic crops, reducing dependence on foreign crude oil.
Why is the Government Bringing E20?
India imports large quantities of crude oil for petrol and diesel every year. It costs lakhs of crores of rupees. If ethanol is mixed with petrol, the import burden will be reduced, and farmers will also earn additional income from their crops. E20 Petrol Reality and the India Government.
According to the government, E20 will have these three significant benefits:
- Pollution will be reduced by 30-65% due to lower emissions from petrol.
- Crude oil costs will be reduced, and ethanol will be produced domestically.
- Farmers’ income will increase – they will earn additional profit from selling sugarcane and maize.
The Benefits of E20 Are Good on Paper, But What is the Reality?
On paper, E20 is said to be beneficial, but vehicle owners are facing many problems.
1. Decrease in Mileage
The biggest complaint is that vehicle mileage has suddenly decreased.
- Vehicles that earlier had a mileage of 15 km/liter have now come down to 10–11 km/liter.
- The reason is that ethanol provides about 30% less energy than petrol.
2. Effect on vehicle parts
Most vehicles in India are still compliant only up to E10. That means they can withstand up to 10% ethanol.
- Putting E20 on the old fuel system can quickly damage rubber pipes, fuel filters, nd injectors.
- If the vehicle is parked for a long time, ethanol absorbs water, which can cause rust in the tank.
3. Increase in maintenance cost
Companies say that by changing some parts, the vehicle can be prepared for E20. But the cost of these parts can range from thousands to 30 to 40 thousand rupees. This expense is unaffordable for most commoners.
4. Insurance and warranty confusion
Many companies’ manuals clearly state that the vehicle cannot handle fuel containing more than E10 ethanol. If any damage occurs, the warranty may be void. Insurance companies are also not giving a clear position on this.
International Experience in Brazil
The government often cites Brazil, where fuel up to E27 is used. But the story there is different.
- Brazil gradually started ethanol blending in 1970.
- The vehicles there have been designed to be ethanol-compliant for years.
- People were given the choice of taking either normal petrol or ethanol-blended petrol.
In India, moving directly from E10 to E20 within just 3 years is creating problems for vehicle owners.
What Benefit is The Public Getting?
This is the biggest question here.
- If the government is saving on crude oil, why weren’t petrol prices reduced?
- When Niti Aayog suggested that ethanol-blended petrol be sold at a lower price, why was it not implemented?
- If people are suffering a 20-30% loss in mileage and petrol prices remain the same, then, in reality, the public’s expenses are increasing.
If the government had made changes gradually, the problems would not have increased so much.
- People should have been given time. The target was set for 2030; if it had been set, the companies would also have prepared the vehicles.
- Prices should have been reduced: If ethanol-blended petrol had been cheap, people would have chosen it themselves.
- Choice should have been given, like in Brazil, where people can choose which petrol to buy.
Another controversy behind E20 is that the family companies of many prominent leaders in the country are in the ethanol business. Big producers of ethanol made from sugarcane are directly benefiting from this. In such a situation, the general public feels that the leaders’ business is benefiting at their expense.
- If your vehicle is manufactured after 2023, it may be E20-compliant. Still, check the manual.
- If the vehicle is old, try to ensure that the tank does not remain empty or full for a long time.
- Pay a little more attention to maintenance and keep getting things like the fuel filter checked from time to time.
- If there is a difference in mileage, then calculate how much the expenses are increasing.
The idea of E20 petrol is not bad for the environment or the economy. It can benefit the country in the long run. But the reality is that the speed at which it has been implemented has worsened the problems faced by vehicle owners.
