There has been a lot of discussion across the country about the blending of ethanol in petrol. Many vehicle owners have reported that their vehicle mileage has decreased after the increase in the amount of ethanol. Especially, riders of older two-wheelers have complained of reduced mileage and some engine-related issues. However, automobile companies and the government have consistently maintained that ethanol is safe for vehicles as per the established standards.
Now, Hero MotoCorp, one of the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers, has expressed its views on ethanol and bike mileage. The company says that alternative fuels like ethanol are unlikely to have a significant impact on the mileage of two-wheelers in the future. The main reason for this is that auto companies are constantly working to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.
Hero supports ethanol blending:
Hero MotoCorp’s Chief Business Officer, Ashutosh Varma, has supported the government’s ethanol blending programme. He called it a positive step towards increasing the country’s self-reliance in energy needs. According to Burma, the calorific value, or energy-yielding capacity, of ethanol is lower than that of petrol. Therefore, increasing the amount of ethanol is likely to lead to some reduction in mileage. However, auto companies are trying to bridge this gap by improving the technology and efficiency of their vehicles.
Companies changing technology:
According to Ashutosh Burma, today, several technologies are being used in two-wheelers that help reduce fuel consumption. These include technologies like the Idle Stop-Start System. When a bike or scooter is stopped in traffic, the engine can automatically stop and restart when the vehicle moves forward. This reduces unnecessary fuel consumption. Apart from this, companies are also using low-rolling resistance tyres. These tyres create less resistance on the road, requiring less energy to propel the vehicle and improving fuel efficiency.
Demand poses a significant challenge for two-wheeler companies:
Hero MotoCorp has addressed not only ethanol but also other challenges faced by the two-wheeler market. According to the company, customer demand has changed significantly in the last few years. Post the Covid-19 pandemic, the market conditions have become quite challenging, making it difficult for companies to predict future sales. The company believes that the market environment for the two-wheeler industry will remain favorable in 2026. However, the biggest challenge for companies is understanding how customer demand will change in the future. Based on this, companies will have to make decisions regarding production, investments and new technologies.
