Govt Says Some BS III Vehicles May Need Rubber Component Replacement with E20

Some Bharat Stage III vehicles manufactured before 2016 may require replacement of certain rubber parts and gaskets while using E20 petrol, although the changes can be carried out during routine servicing, the government said. The government also reiterated that studies found no significant impact of the fuel on vehicle performance or engine durability.

This was said in a written reply by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in the Rajya Sabha while answering questions on the impact of 20% ethanol-blended petrol on vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, engine durability and maintenance costs.

The government said a joint study by Indian Oil Corp, the Indian Institute of Petroleum, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Automotive Research Association of India found that E20 fuel did not require modifications to car and two-wheeler engines.

"The studies have not shown any need to modify the car and two-wheeler engines. These studies confirmed that even legacy vehicles did not exhibit any significant variations in performance, nor do they show abnormal wear-and-tear when operated with E20 fuel," the government said. “No issues were reported in parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility, and plastic compatibility."

However, it said that "only in case of testing done on BS-III vehicles introduced from 1st April, 2005 and manufactured prior to 2016, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement, which can be easily managed during routine servicing regime of the vehicle."

Addressing concerns over fuel economy, the government said vehicle mileage depends on several factors beyond fuel type, including driving habits, vehicle maintenance, tyre pressure, wheel alignment and air-conditioning load.

The government said an Inter-Ministerial Committee set up under NITI Aayog in December 2020 had examined vehicle compatibility and mileage aspects of ethanol blending, supported by research from IOCL, ARAI and SIAM. It added that the committee's roadmap for ethanol blending was prepared after consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil companies and agricultural experts before E20 fuel was introduced.

The government said the Ethanol Blended Petrol programme had been implemented through a "phased, calibrated, scientifically validated and consultative approach". It also said SIAM had not reported any widespread cases of engine failure or vehicle breakdown linked to ethanol blending, with concerns largely arising through public commentary and social media discussions. ENDS