Gadkari dismisses E20 damage claims, cites testing

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has forcefully dismissed widespread complaints that E20 fuel damages vehicles, challenging critics to produce evidence of a single car harmed by the higher ethanol blend. In recent statements, including an interview published on Thursday, July 9, Gadkari characterized the online discourse as a "concerted false narrative" and "paid campaigns" aimed at undermining the government's biofuel policy.

The minister acknowledged that vehicles may experience a marginal reduction in mileage with E20, which contains 20% ethanol, due to ethanol's lower calorific value compared to pure petrol. He emphasized, however, that driving conditions in congested urban areas are a significant factor in fuel efficiency. Gadkari cited a report from the government-run Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) which found no mileage efficiency issues for vehicles specifically built with flex-fuel engines. On claims of engine damage, he stated that investigations into reported instances had identified adulterated fuel, not ethanol, as the actual cause.

The defense comes amid growing public frustration and protests by motorists in cities like...