E20 Fuel Boosts Vehicle Mileage and Helps Farmers, Says Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transportation and Highways Nitin Gadkari said in Bhopal that E20 ethanol-blended petrol has increased vehicle mileage without causing any harm to engines. Speaking at the launch of a new bus service in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Gadkari stated that the blended fuel has been used in India since 2022. It is currently used in four crore four-wheelers and 20 million two-wheelers nationwide, based on his remarks.

Future Plans and Farming

Mr. Gadkari noted that the transport department contributes roughly 40% to national air pollution, and he expressed a desire to clear up that pollution using electric vehicles and flex-fuel engines. Automobile companies will soon build vehicles with flex-fuel engines that can run entirely on 100% ethanol. This shift could stop the country from importing petrol and diesel worth ₹22 lakh crore. He also mentioned that the Centre plans to run hydrogen-powered trucks and buses on 10 routes across the country.

Context

Ethanol blending is part of a wider national push to reduce crude oil imports and cut carbon emissions by using plant-derived fuels. Maize and other crops are used to produce ethanol, which links the transport energy sector directly to the rural farm economy.