New Delhi: On 27 August, Renault India clarified that its vehicles certified for E10 fuel are also safe to run on E20 fuel without facing any major problems. They further said it had received several questions from customers regarding the use of E20 in cars designed for E10. To clear doubts, a detailed durability study was carried out by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The tests included running E10-certified vehicles on E20 fuel as well as other fuel blends.
As per the draft report of the study, there is no negative or harmful impact from using E20 in E10-compliant vehicles. Renault added that the report further confirms current on-road cars are compatible with the higher ethanol blend, assuring customers about its safe usage. Even though a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court earlier some days by Advocate named Akshay Malhotra against the plea arguing that millions of vehicle owners are being forced to use a fuel that their vehicles are not designed for.
What’s the problem with E20 fuel
The E20 is already causing multiple problems for motorists, including engine damage, rusting of parts, reduced mileage and higher repair bills. The plea also alleged that insurance companies are refusing to cover damages linked to ethanol-based fuel. In addition, the PIL has demanded that fuel pumps clearly mark the level of ethanol in petrol and that vehicle owners should be informed about their vehicle’s compatibility before fuelling.
At present, only ethanol-mixed petrol is available in India, but consumers are neither given a choice of pure petrol nor proper information at fuel stations. The matter has once again turned the spotlight on the government’s ethanol-blending policy, which aims to lower crude oil imports and reduce carbon emissions, but continues to face criticism over safety and vehicle compatibility issues.
Inputs from Ahsan Khan