Latest news with #AmitKhare
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Scroll.in
Drivers fear engine damage, mileage drop as India increases ethanol in petrol to 20%
As India puts more of the emissions-cutting biofuel ethanol in its petrol, consumers complain it damages their engines. The government's fast-expanding ethanol programme aims to cut costly oil imports by blending petrol with ethanol, a biofuel derived from agricultural produce or organic waste that burns more cleanly than traditional gasoline. India last month hit its target of reaching a 20% ethanol mix in petrol, known as E20 petrol, five years ahead of schedule. But car reviewer Amit Khare, who reaches 15 million people every month across social media platforms, including YouTube, Meta and Instagram, criticised the fuel. 'Ethanol is a dry and corrosive fuel,' Khare told Context. 'It can damage several parts involved in supplying fuel to the engines,' he said. 'Neither the government nor the petrol pumps in the country are informing users about all these issues ... Consumers are being kept in dark.' Thousands of worried drivers shared their fears in comments on a video he posted on the issue late last month. Consumers are demanding the right to choose what they put in their cars, filling social media with complaints of lower fuel efficiency, damage to older engines and the ensuing costly repairs. Punjab-based car critic Sunderdeep Singh said the government should make it mandatory for petrol stations to sell different blends and clearly colour-code them. 'Most consumers do not know how much ethanol is mixed in the petrol they are buying,' he told Context. Mileage dip The government said on Monday concerns over E20 fuel were unfounded. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the criticism lacked 'technical foundation' and said its own reports found no major engine damage or performance loss. The government admitted mileage might dip slightly, by between 1% and 2% in newer cars and by up to 6% in older ones, but said this could be managed with routine servicing. Vehicle owners responded swiftly, sharing mileage numbers online and accusing the government of hiding the truth. Khare said he tested an E20-compliant car for two months and saw a mileage drop of between 5% and 6%. There is no publicly available data on how many of the millions of cars and motorbikes sold before 2023 are compliant with E20 fuel, but Khare estimates most of them are not. India's biofuel drive Biofuels are a key part of the Indian government's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of importing oil. The policy saved India about 1.06 trillion rupees ($12.09 billion) in crude oil import costs between 2014 and 2024, according to government data, and helped to avoid 54.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the same decade. This is roughly the equivalent of the emissions from 12 million gasoline-powered cars a year, according to a calculator from the US Environmental Protection Agency.: But the gains come with trade-offs. India has ramped up ethanol production by diverting crops like sugarcane, maize and rice to make fuel, reducing the availability of grains for people and cattle, and shifting land away from food production. Engine warnings Two of India's largest motorcycle and scooter makers Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor, have also issued advisories about ethanol and said their vehicles made before 2023 require modifications to the fuel system to run efficiently on E20. Shell India warned customers that they bear the risk of engine damage or warranty loss from E20 fuel. 'It is unfair of the government to push us to use higher ethanol blends when our cars are not ready,' said Bengaluru-based car-owner Antony Mathew. 'The least the government can do, while charging over 30% tax on a new petrol car, is to ensure compatible fuel is available in the market.'
Mint
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
‘Gross negligence': ACKO Insurance says wrong fuel use can void claims; social media reignites E20 petrol safety debate
A comment from ACKO Support on X has reignited debate over the potential risks of India's 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, known as E20. Responding to a query online, the insurer said that engine failure caused by incorrect fuel usage would not be covered, terming it 'gross negligence' under policy terms. The post quickly gained traction, with social media users warning that owners of vehicles purchased before 2023 could face expensive repairs if their engines are damaged by E20 fuel. India achieved its E20 target last month, five years ahead of schedule, as part of a programme to cut crude oil imports and reduce emissions. Ethanol, derived from crops and organic waste, burns cleaner than conventional petrol. But motorists, mechanics and reviewers have voiced concerns that the higher blend could harm engines, particularly in older vehicles. Automotive reviewer Amit Khare, who has a following of over 15 million across social media platforms, called ethanol 'dry and corrosive' and said it can damage components in the fuel supply system. He accused both the government and fuel retailers of failing to inform consumers about possible drawbacks. Drivers have flooded comment sections with complaints ranging from lower mileage to costly repairs, and have urged the government to allow the sale of different petrol blends, clearly labelled at pumps. Punjab-based car critic Sunderdeep Singh suggested colour-coding fuels to prevent confusion. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has rejected most of the criticism, calling it 'without technical foundation'. While acknowledging a slight drop in fuel efficiency, up to two per cent in newer cars and as much as six per cent in older ones, the ministry said this could be mitigated through routine maintenance. Citing international research, it said long-term testing had shown no significant difference in performance or engine wear. However, Khare claims his own two-month trial of an E20-compliant car saw mileage fall by five to six per cent. He believes the majority of vehicles sold before 2023 are not designed for the blend, though there is no official data on compatibility. Major two-wheeler manufacturers Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor have issued advisories stating that models built before 2023 need fuel system modifications to handle E20 efficiently. Shell India has also warned customers that using the fuel could risk engine damage or void warranties. While the government credits its biofuel policy with saving over ₹ 1 trillion in oil imports and cutting 54 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the past decade, critics say the transition has trade-offs. Diverting crops like sugarcane, maize and rice to ethanol production may affect food availability for people and livestock, and shift farmland away from food cultivation. 'It's unfair to push higher ethanol blends when our cars are not ready,' said Bangalore-based car owner Antony Mathew, echoing the frustration of many motorists caught between environmental goals and the reality of their vehicle's limitations. (With inputs from Reuters)
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
India's E20 petrol rollout sparks driver revolt
As India puts more of the emissions-cutting biofuel ethanol in its petrol, consumers complain it damages their engines. The government's fast-expanding ethanol programme aims to cut costly oil imports by blending petrol with ethanol, a biofuel derived from agricultural produce or organic waste that burns more cleanly than traditional gasoline. India last month hit its target of reaching a 20% ethanol mix in petrol, known as E20 petrol, five years ahead of schedule. But car reviewer Amit Khare, who reaches 15 million people every month across social media platforms, including YouTube, Meta and Instagram, criticised the fuel. "Ethanol is a dry and corrosive fuel," Khare told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "It can damage several parts involved in supplying fuel to the engines," he said. "Neither the government nor the petrol pumps in the country are informing users about all these issues ... Consumers are being kept in dark." Thousands of worried drivers shared their fears in comments on a video he posted on the issue late last month. Consumers are demanding the right to choose what they put in their cars, filling social media with complaints of lower fuel efficiency, damage to older engines and the ensuing costly repairs. Punjab-based car critic Sunderdeep Singh said the government should make it mandatory for petrol stations to sell different blends and clearly colour-code them. "Most consumers do not know how much ethanol is mixed in the petrol they are buying," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The government said on Monday concerns over E20 fuel were unfounded. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the criticism lacked "technical foundation" and said its own reports found no major engine damage or performance loss. The government admitted mileage might dip slightly, by between 1% and 2% in newer cars and by up to 6% in older ones, but said this could be managed with routine servicing. Vehicle owners responded swiftly, sharing mileage numbers online and accusing the government of hiding the truth. Khare said he tested an E20-compliant car for two months and saw a mileage drop of between 5% and 6%. There is no publicly available data on how many of the millions of cars and motorbikes sold before 2023 are compliant with E20 fuel, but Khare estimates most of them are not. Biofuels are a key part of the Indian government's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of importing oil. The policy saved India about 1.06 trillion rupees ($12.09 billion) in crude oil import costs between 2014 and 2024, according to government data, and helped to avoid 54.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the same decade. This is roughly the equivalent of the emissions from 12 million gasoline-powered cars a year, according to a calculator from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But the gains come with trade-offs. India has ramped up ethanol production by diverting crops like sugarcane, maize and rice to make fuel, reducing the availability of grains for people and cattle, and shifting land away from food production. Two of India's largest motorcycle and scooter makers Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor, have also issued advisories about ethanol and said their vehicles made before 2023 require modifications to the fuel system to run efficiently on E20. Shell India warned customers that they bear the risk of engine damage or warranty loss from E20 fuel. "It is unfair of the government to push us to use higher ethanol blends when our cars are not ready," said Bangalore-based car-owner Antony Mathew. "The least the government can do, while charging over 30% tax on a new petrol car, is to ensure compatible fuel is available in the market."
