These days, many people are complaining that the mileage of their vehicles is reduced due to the use of E20 petrol (which contains 20% ethanol). Now, the central government has clarified its stand on this issue. The government has said that E20 petrol alone cannot be blamed for the reduction in vehicle mileage. Fuel is not the only reason for the reduction in mileage.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has posted on social media platform ‘X’ that real-life vehicle mileage depends on many factors. Such as driving style, road traffic, tyre pressure, vehicle maintenance and AC use. However, the government has admitted that E20 petrol can reduce fuel mileage by 3 to 5 percent in some vehicles. But fuel alone cannot be responsible for the reduction in mileage. The ministry said that extensive trials were conducted before E20 petrol was introduced in the market. Mileage also depends on the age of the vehicle, its condition and driving habits.
Why is ethanol being blended in petrol?
India buys most of its crude oil requirements from abroad. To reduce this dependence on imported oil and increase the use of domestically produced ethanol, the government has accelerated the process of blending ethanol in petrol.
Claims of water in petrol being a lie
Apart from the mileage problem, questions have been raised about the low quality and blending of E20 petrol. State-owned oil companies – Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum – have called these claims completely false. They said that tests conducted across the country did not show any excessive chloride or moisture (water) content in petrol. More than 100 petrol samples collected from refineries showed chloride levels of 1 ppm or less. Similarly, more than 80 E20 samples collected from 80 distilleries and depots also showed chloride levels below the permissible limit (3 ppm).
90,000 petrol pumps checked
Oil companies have reported that they have checked the underground tanks of about 90,000 petrol pumps across the country. No evidence of water ingress was found in any of the tanks. This makes it clear that the claim that water in petrol is causing problems for vehicles is not true. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also said that oil companies have conducted extensive tests at petrol pumps and there are no cases of adulteration.
