E20 fuel row: Kejriwal accuses Centre of pressuring auto makers to stay silent

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the Central government of pressuring automobile manufacturers to remain silent about the potential impact of E20 petrol — a blend of 20% ethanol with petrol — on vehicles manufactured before 2023.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal claimed that officials from nine automobile companies had, during private discussions with him, admitted that E20 could damage nearly 30 crore older vehicles and reduce fuel efficiency. He said he had written to 29 manufacturers of petrol-powered two- and four-wheelers seeking their technical position on the matter, but none responded in writing.

“The Modi government has resorted to outright gundagardi (hooliganism) to force E20 petrol on the public,” Kejriwal said. He added that his requests for written clarification were met with silence, but informal phone conversations with officials from nine firms confirmed the technical concerns.

“The technical and engineering reality is that if E20 is used in vehicles manufactured before 2023, it will damage the vehicle, its engine and the fuel train system, and fuel efficiency will also decline,” the AAP chief stated.

The AAP has organised a national town hall on the issue on August 1, inviting public participation and expert views on the compatibility of E20 fuel with existing vehicles.

The E20 blend is part of the central government’s ethanol blending programme, aimed at reducing oil imports and promoting cleaner fuel. The government has set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26. However, concerns have been raised by various stakeholders over the readiness of older vehicles to run on higher ethanol blends, which can be corrosive to rubber and plastic components in fuel systems.

While automakers have generally stated that vehicles manufactured after 2023 are designed to be E20-compatible, the impact on pre-2023 models remains a subject of debate. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has previously indicated that the industry is working towards compliance, but has not issued a public statement on Kejriwal’s allegations.

The Central government has not yet responded to Kejriwal’s accusations. Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas were not available for comment.

Kejriwal’s remarks come amid an ongoing political tussle between the AAP-led Delhi government and the Centre over various policy matters. The opposition leader has repeatedly questioned the implementation of central policies in the national capital.

It is important to note that the technical claims made by Kejriwal are yet to be independently verified. The automobile companies involved have not publicly confirmed the discussions he cited.