Auto cos, oil industry dub public concerns around E20 fuel as ‘hearsay and misinformation’

NEW DELHI: With just two days to go before the Supreme Court hears a PIL regarding the usage of E20 fuel and its negative impact on fuel efficiency and engine health of older vehicles, the auto industry, fuel companies and testing agency ARAI came out in full strength to defend the measure – surprisingly over the weekend -- dismissing public concerns around blending fuel with 20% ethanol as “hearsay, misinformation, and misunderstanding”.The industry bodies claimed that “not one case has come up of a vehicle breakdown” due to the usage of E20 fuel, and insisted that drop in fuel efficiency was “marginal”. They further added that the decline in efficiency could be a result of poor maintenance of vehicles, bad driving habits, or older age of the model.The meeting had representatives from top companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, TVS, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), oil marketing companies, and Automotive Research Association of India.The companies, however, assured that they will work out a mechanism to ensure that dealers and workshops honour the warranty given to vehicles in case a damage happens to older engines due to 20% ethanol blended fuel.The E20 blending of fuel has led to a furore across social media platforms as people complain about a drop in mileage of vehicles, adverse impact on engines and their performance, and reduction in torque.

This had led to filing of a PIL in the top court which will be heard on Monday by a bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai. However, most of the queries raised by the media remained unanswered, including details about how many vehicles which are currently plying on the road (two-wheelers and four-wheelers etc.) are non-compliant with E20 fuels because of being from the previous generation.The industry officials, which included ARAI Director Reji Mathai, Toyota VP Vikram Gulati, Maruti Executive Committee Member CV Raman, and FIPI Director PS Ravi, defended the higher blending with ethanol. They argued that while resulting in a “marginal” decline in mileage, E20 helps in lowering vehicular emissions, reducing the level of oil imports and resultant foreign currency outgo, and increasing the income of farmers.The industry also defended the decision to not share reports and studies of ARAI over the impact of E20 fuel on a vehicle’s performance or mileage, saying it may reveal certain internal data of companies.