The Government of India has mandated 20% Ethanol blending in Petrol.
The use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane as well as broken rice and other agricultural products, is mainly to reduce the Oil Bill.
India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer. The country imports 85% of its oil needs.
Petrol blended with 20% Ethanol leads to an estimated reduction of carbon monoxide emissions by about 50 per cent in two-wheelers and about 30 per cent in four-wheelers compared to E0 (neat petrol).
But then, an uproar has started on social media about this move by the Government.
People have observed a drastic decrease in the mileage of their vehicles, and they blame E20 Petrol for it.
No car (Except Honda) manufactured before 2023 is compliant with 20% ethanol-blended petrol in India, and at any given time, the majority of cars on the roads are the older vehicles.
The E20 Petrol does not suit the older vehicles and reportedly damages the engines in the long run.
So, the outrage is high on social media.
India is a Mileage-conscious country, and a decision like this will be dangerous if Public awareness increases.
At this stage, the Government is not relenting.
The Modi Government targets 37% Ethanol blending in Petrol by 2030. So a car made complaint for E20 Petrol today will go unsuitable in just five years.
It has already saved ₹26,000 Cr in forex.
But then, the backlash is not just about the Mileage.
When Petrol is blended with 20% Ethanol, the legitimate question is why the prices are not coming down to that extent.
That means the Vehicle Owners are paying higher prices for fuel and, at the same time, are destroying their vehicles.
Also, ethanol is largely produced from Sugar Cane in India. Sugar Cane is a water-intensive crop and will deplete the groundwater levels very quickly.
Several other countries also use E20 Petrol, but countries like the US and Brazil also make E0 and E10 fuels available, providing choice for the vehicle owners, but India does not do that.
So, the outrage is legit.
