MPs questioned why the government did not warn owners of non-E20 vehicles about possible mileage loss.
NEW DELHI: Members of the parliamentary committee on transport Thursday asked top government officials on why no effort was made to inform owners of non-E20 compliant vehicles about potential mileage loss due to use of 20% ethanol blended petrol in these vehicles.TOI has learnt that some members also asked officials whether any economic analysis has been carried out to assess whether E20 fuel has had any gain to individual vehicle owners even as they agreed that the increased ethanol blending in petrol has helped the country to reduce dependence on imported crude.The panel headed by JDU’s Sanjay Jha had called officials from road transport and petroleum ministries, representatives from vehicle testing agencies and oil marketing companies, amid the ongoing controversy over impact of E20 on mileage and engines of old vehicles.Some members asked why there is so much sudden opposition and criticism when govt claims that over 19% ethanol blended fuel has been sold for more than two years.“Some members pointed out that since the controversy has peaked, all departments, vehicle manufacturers, oil companies and test agencies have aligned. They also sought exact mileage loss due to E20 fuel. Road transport ministry officials said mileage loss is between 2 and 6% as opposed to some hearsay claiming to be 25%,” said a person privy to the discussion.One of the participants said that officials pointed out two issues that may have triggered the fresh row were — the BIS notification for higher blended ethanol E22, E25 and E30, and sale of adulterated fuels.
