Arvind Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wrote to 29 automobile manufacturers, seeking a written clarification on the impact of E20 ethanol-blended fuel on vehicle mileage and engine safety. He asked the companies to respond within seven days.Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said separate letters had been sent to Maruti Suzuki India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Hero MotoCorp, while the remaining 26 automobile manufacturers received a different letter seeking their position on the use of E20 fuel and concerns raised by consumers. “There are 29 automobile manufacturers. The letters have already been prepared and are being dispatched while this press conference is underway,” Kejriwal said.Kejriwal said the three companies had stated during the Centre’s July 4 press conference that E20 fuel could be safely used in older vehicles, with only a marginal reduction in mileage.”During the government’s press conference on July 4, their representatives stated that it is safe to use E20 fuel in older vehicles. They said fuel efficiency may decline slightly by around 3–5% but that it does not damage the vehicle,” he said. However, he alleged that this contradicted the companies’ own owner’s manuals.”However, their owners’ manuals state that under no circumstances should vehicles manufactured before 2023 use petrol blended with more than 10% ethanol. These are two contradictory positions,” Kejriwal said. He added that the owner’s manual forms part of the agreement between the company and the consumer.”Your published owner’s manual, which forms part of the agreement between the consumer and the company, says one thing, while your representatives say something entirely different at a government press conference. This is not a minor mistake or discrepancy. Therefore, I have asked them to publicly clarify their actual position in writing,” he said.In his letters to Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar and Hero MotoCorp, Kejriwal sought a written assurance that consumers would be compensated if E20 fuel reduced mileage or caused any damage to their vehicles.The remaining 26 automobile manufacturers have been asked to clarify their position on the use of E20 fuel, its impact on vehicle performance and mileage, and respond to concerns being raised by consumers.Earlier on Tuesday, the party chief said he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, urging the government to make E20 fuel optional.”Prime Minister, why should the public suffer for your misadventure? Tell us who will pay the penalty if our mileage drops or our vehicles are damaged — your government or the company?” Kejriwal said. He also urged the Centre to allow consumers to choose between different grades of petrol.”With folded hands, I request Modi ji to agree to the demand of the public to give them an option – where all variants of fuel, be it E20, E10 or E0 – all are made available at petrol pumps at separate pricing,” he added.
