

India explores higher petrol blends than E20 as ethanol overcapacity mounts
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : The Centre has opened discussions on whether India should move to higher ethanol blends in petrol from the current E20 (20% ethanol, 80% petrol), two people aware of the matter said, amid continuing consumer unease over the current E20 blend.
According to the first person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the government is of the view that higher blends—such as E23 and E27—as well as flex-fuel vehicles should be explored, and discussions have begun towards testing feasibility. Notably, flex-fuel vehicles can operate on any proportion of blended fuel, including 100% ethanol.
“There are discussions ongoing among relevant ministries along with industry to see how more ethanol blending can be achieved," the second person said. The talks—still at an early stage—follow calls from sugar industry leaders for a clear roadmap on ethanol use, given its overcapacity in production.
Only 10.5 billion litres of the industry’s 19 billion litres capacity is being utilised by oil marketing companies for blending in petrol, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said at an industry event on 4 December. On the other hand, auto executives say there is consensus among industry stakeholders that the country should stabilise the use of E20 for some time and then leapfrog into flex-fuel vehicles.
“It is very difficult to go beyond E20 because the impact on legacy vehicles will have to be seen," Vikram Gulati, Toyota’s country head and executive vice president for corporate affairs and governance, said at a media briefing on 4 December, adding that one can’t keep redesigning and retesting vehicles for incremental increases beyond E20, nor ignore the existing legacy fleet. “Therefore, globally
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