E20 petrol row: Gadkari says only dealers, not consumers, can check mileage
Gadkari says vehicle mileage should only be measured using authorised dealer equipment as the Centre acknowledges E20 petrol may reduce fuel economy by 3–5 per cent
Amid the ongoing row over alleged mileage drop due to the usage of E20 petrol particularly in older vehicles, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has argued that common vehicle owners cannot correctly measure the vehicle’s mileage and should depend on tests conducted by authorised dealers with special equipment.
The Union Minister made the remarks during an interview with ABP News while responding to a journalist when she said that the mileage of her car, bought in 2023, and supposedly E20 compatible has dropped from 11 km/litre to 7 km/litre recently after using E20 as mandated by the Centre.
Gadkari defends E20
Gadkari then asked her how she calculated the figure, to which the journalist replied, saying "I checked it in my car, just as everyone does," referring to the mileage display on the dashboard.
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To this, the Union Minister, who has strongly defended the fuel blend said that mileage can only be correctly calculated with testing equipment authorised by vehicle manufacturers.
"You and I can’t check the mileage. A car's mileage can only be checked using a company-authorised dealer's machine,” said the Minister during the interview.
Mileage claim questioned
The Minister's remarks come just days after the Centre admitted that the use of E20 petrol could lead to a 3-5% drop in fuel economy in certain vehicles, even as it continued to defend the nationwide rollout of the blended fuel.
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The acknowledgement was made last week in a question-and-answer document issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to respond to concerns surrounding the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme.
While the ministry accepted that some vehicles may witness a decline in mileage after switching to E20 petrol, it maintained that fuel efficiency should not be viewed as the sole measure of the policy's impact.
Centre cites broader benefits
"It is true that in some vehicles there may be a 3-5% reduction in fuel economy. But mileage is only one parameter," the ministry said.
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The Centre introduced the mandatory sale of E20 petrol across the country from April 1 as part of its strategy to increase ethanol blending in transport fuel, lower reliance on imported crude oil and reduce vehicle emissions.
Motorists raise concerns
The move has, however, drawn criticism from a section of motorists and prompted concerns within parts of the automobile industry.
Many vehicle owners have claimed that their cars are returning lower mileage after the transition to E20 fuel, while some manufacturers have questioned how the higher ethanol blend could affect the performance of older vehicles.