GUWAHATI: The Union government has said that E20 petrol is safe for use under prescribed standards, with extensive laboratory studies and field trials finding no significant adverse impact on vehicle performance, durability or component life.
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The information was provided by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, July 30.
According to the government, the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was implemented through a phased and scientifically validated process involving NITI Aayog, automobile manufacturers, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) and other technical institutions.
The rollout of higher ethanol blends followed consultations with automobile manufacturers, component manufacturers, testing agencies, SIAM, ARAI and OMCs.
The government said extensive laboratory studies and field trials conducted by ARAI, SIAM, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), IIP and automobile manufacturers assessed engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions and fuel efficiency.
These studies, it said, confirmed that E20 is safe under prescribed standards and found no significant variation in performance or abnormal wear and tear in legacy vehicles attributable to E20 fuel.
According to the government, E15+ petrol has been in widespread use for more than three-and-a-half years in India, while E19-E20 blends have been in use for over two-and-a-half years. More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars have operated on these blends without verified evidence of widespread engine failures or vehicle breakdowns attributable to ethanol blending.
Manufacturer service data, the government said, have also not indicated abnormal corrosion, wear or reduced vehicle life due to E20 fuel. Manufacturers continue to honour warranty obligations for vehicles using E20 fuel.
The government said automobile manufacturers, component suppliers, SIAM, ARAI, testing agencies and OMCs were involved at every stage of the scientific evaluation and phased rollout of E20.
According to SIAM and ARAI, E20 can improve acceleration and ride quality while reducing carbon emissions. The higher octane number of ethanol supports modern high-compression engines, while its higher heat of vaporisation can improve combustion efficiency.
The government maintained that E20 was introduced only after validation of fuel systems, engine durability, drivability, material compatibility and emissions performance, and that the studies did not establish any significant adverse impact on legacy vehicles under prescribed operating conditions.