According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, India will meet its 20% ethanol blending goal within the next two months. “Within the next two months, we will reach our 20% ethanol blending goal.” At an event, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways stated that using E20 (petrol with 20% ethanol) will aid in lowering pollution.
Ethanol and gasoline mixing started as a test project in 2001. He added that automobiles powered entirely by bioethanol are now being produced by Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai Motors, according to PTI.
Given that 42 Indian towns rank among the top 50 most polluted in the globe, Gadkari remarked that pollution is a major issue in the nation.
“We import fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore, which is also causing pollution,” he stated. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced gasoline with a higher 20% ethanol content.
Fifteen cities were covered in the first phase. India, the third-largest oil consumer in the world, would be able to reduce its need on imports by using ethanol, which is derived from sugarcane, broken grains, and other agricultural products. According to PTI, 85% of India’s oil demands are met by imports.
When compared to E0 (neat fuel), the use of E20 is predicted to reduce carbon monoxide emissions by roughly 50% in two-wheelers and about 30% in four-wheelers.
The average 10% blending goal was accomplished in June 2022, far in advance of the November 2022 target date. According to PTI, automobile engines may run on E20 with only minor engine changes for corrosion, etc.