Now Reading: Ethanol-blended diesel fails flash-point test; E20 debated
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Ethanol-blended diesel fails flash-point test; E20 debated
The government has ruled out ethanol-blended diesel for broad use after tests found the addition of ethanol sharply lowered the fuel's flash point, violating safety norms. Minister Suresh Gopi told Parliament that…
The Story in Brief
The government has ruled out ethanol-blended diesel for broad use after tests found the addition of ethanol sharply lowered the fuel's flash point, violating safety norms. Minister Suresh Gopi told Parliament that public-sector oil companies conducted scientific evaluations with laboratories and automakers.
Separately, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari defended E20 petrol, stating it offers higher octane and cleaner combustion. He acknowledged that fuel efficiency can drop 2-6% in older vehicles, but said no verified evidence of engine failure exists among the over 20 crore two-wheelers and 3 crore cars using ethanol blends. The government has no plans to raise blending beyond 20%.
The Indian Opinion
Proponents of ethanol blending tout its environmental benefits and deny engine damage, but the government's own admission of 2-6% fuel efficiency loss undermines the rosy picture. Critics, meanwhile, ignore that over 20 crore vehicles have used E15 and E19-20 without widespread failures. The diesel blend failure shows the limits of one-size-fits-all blending. The question remains: will consumers bear higher fuel costs for marginal emissions gains, and will the government fund retrofitting for older vehicles?
Sources (2): timesnownews.com, thehansindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
