Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, has claimed the criticism of E20 fuel on social media is a paid campaign orchestrated by the petrol lobby. According to Gadkari, the criticism is not based on any technical issues, but is instead driven by the vested interests of the powerful petrol industry. Gadkari specifically stated that a paid campaign is running against the initiative.
E20 fuel is a mixture of petrol and ethanol, with 20% ethanol. The government views this as a crucial step towards a green energy transition. However, some users have raised concerns on social media that E20 may lower fuel efficiency and damage engines.
Speaking at the Auto Retail Conclave organized by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), Gadkari stated that lobbying is present everywhere. He blamed the petrol lobby for spreading misinformation about E20 fuel. Gadkari said that this technology will advance India’s energy independence and reduce pollution.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that concerns about E20’s impact on mileage are exaggerated. The ministry has stated that returning to E-0 would reverse the progress made by India in terms of pollution reduction and energy transition.
Gadkari also highlighted India’s focus on alternative fuels and technologies. He noted that Indian startups are researching new battery technologies, including sodium ion, lithium ion, zinc ion, and aluminum ion batteries. He also mentioned that rare earth and other metals can be extracted from scrapped vehicles.
He brought up the previous reliance on China for semiconductor chips, which caused significant problems for the automotive industry. With chip manufacturing starting in India, Gadkari anticipates similar self-reliance in the fuel and battery sectors.
Gadkari also mentioned that the demand for petrol and diesel vehicles will continue. With a 15-20 percent annual increase in automobile production and a significant international market, petrol and diesel cars will remain relevant. But alternative fuels and technologies will steadily gain ground.
Gadkari recalled that when he took over the ministry, the Indian automobile industry was valued at ₹14 lakh crore, which has grown to ₹22 lakh crore. The United States and China lead the world with ₹78 lakh crore and ₹47 lakh crore respectively, with India in third place.