Nitin Gadkari : Big revelation on E20 petrol; Nitin Gadkari’s clear answer on engine, mileage discussions

• Big reveal about E20 petrol
• Does E20 petrol cause engine damage, low mileage?
• What did Nitin Gadkari say about engine and mileage?

Nitin Gadkari On E20 Petrol : The rise in ethanol (E20 blend) in petrol across the country has sparked a new debate on vehicle efficiency. Many claim that E20 gasoline is damaging vehicle engines and reducing fuel economy. Meanwhile Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has now clarified these concerns. Gadkari explained that while E20 petrol may slightly affect the vehicle’s fuel economy, it will not cause any damage to the engine.

What is E20 petrol and why will it reduce fuel economy?

In an interview with The Indian Express, Nitin Gadkari explained that ethanol has a lower calorific value, or energy capacity, than petrol. Therefore, increasing the ethanol content of gasoline may slightly decrease the average fuel economy. In most cases this effect is negligible.

“The difference in calorific value of ethanol and petrol is a fact. But mileage also depends on your driving conditions,” Gadkari said. Citing the example of cities like Delhi or Mumbai, he said that due to dense traffic, vehicles have to drive in low gear and brake frequently. The speed barely reaches 40-50 km/h. However, if you drive at a constant speed of 100 km/h, you may notice a slight difference in mileage.

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It is claimed that ‘false news’ is being spread on social media

Gadkari took to social media to completely dismiss claims of engine failure. He said that such cases are being exaggerated and are part of a deliberate spread of ‘fake news’. “Show me a single car that has been damaged by E20 fuel,” he challenged.

Gadkari explained that the E20 blend (20% ethanol and 80% petrol) was introduced across the country last year after passing several tests conducted by Pune-based testing laboratory ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) and vehicle manufacturers. When the companies investigated the engine failure incidents, they found that the cause was adulterated fuel, not E20 gasoline.

Companies will exchange parts of old cars for free

Gadkari made an important point about the marginal impact on parts of old cars. He said many lessons have been learned about flex engines and material compliance has improved. Washers used in older cars used to be made of metal, but are now made of rubber. The minister explained that the vehicle manufacturers have been instructed that when old cars come in for servicing, these washers should be replaced (free of cost) without charging any extra charges to the consumers.

Ethanol and Flex-Fuel: Cheaper and better alternatives

Gadkari said ethanol has proven to be superior to petrol in terms of efficiency. It has excellent anti-knocking properties and high octane number. They have been supporting ethanol since 2004.

New cars are coming, Brazilian model is in the works

Nearly a dozen companies are now introducing flex-fuel models, including Tata Motors, Mahindra, Hyundai, Toyota Kirloskar and Maruti Suzuki. The government aims to provide the public with different fuel blends at different prices, similar to the 27% blend used in Brazil since the 1970s.

Gadkari explained that ethanol costs around Rs 75 per litre, which is very economical. Furthermore, the electric component in hybrid Flex vehicles conserves energy in the battery, providing further benefits.

A domestic alternative to diesel

Referring to the crisis in West Asia, Gadkari said that we need to explore all options for importing fossil fuels. India currently imports fossil fuels worth Rs 2 lakh crore, which causes massive pollution. These options have come up.

Methanol: Ashok Leyland in Karnataka successfully tested a 15% methanol-diesel blend in 25 buses for three months. After this, they also developed a special methanol engine for trucks and buses. Assam Petro-Chemicals is producing 700 tonnes of methanol per day, which costs only Rs 20-22 per litre, while diesel costs around Rs 110 per litre. This will lead to huge cost savings and increase its use in North East India.

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Iso-butanol: Ha to diesel A great alternative, as ethanol cannot be directly mixed with diesel engines. Kirloskar has recently developed two generator sets, which are successfully running on 100% iso-butanol and ethanol. If tractors, farm equipment and construction vehicles use iso-butanol or indigenous fuels (CNG, ethanol, methanol), India’s diesel imports can be eliminated completely.