The government is planning to increase the blend of ethanol in petrol, from the current 20% to 27%, and call the new fuel as E27. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been tasked to come up with the new norms for the fuel on a priority basis, and the first consultation is to be held next week, as per a TOI report.
E27 petrol and IBA diesel
India’s vehicle testing and certification agency, ARAI, has been asked by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to carry out research regarding modifying engines to accommodate the new E27 petrol.
These come as significant developments considering that a group of officials will soon submit a report. These developments come at a time when India is pushing towards cleaner mobility options and reducing the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
Sources also said that the government is coming up with standards for a 10% mix of isobutanol (IBA) in diesel. However, this will require changes and modifications to diesel engines.
As per an official, “The focus is on alternative fuels. The norms for both E27 and 10% blend in IBA with diesel will be notified after detailed deliberations with all stakeholders. But these are on our priority list.”
Ethanol trouble
On the broader side, people have raised concerns about ethanol mixed petrol owing to lower mileage, while some have raised concerns regarding the corrosion ethanol-mixed fuel causes when left in the tank because of its ability to absorb water.
Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water, and the more ethanol in petrol, the more chances of water being in the system, which can corrode the fuel tank and the fuel-supply system as a whole. And these corroded particles can even enter the fuel injection system and cause damage, leading to expensive repairs.
One way to avoid corrosion is not to let fuel sit in the tank for too long, and filling it about three-fourths full, to avoid the problem. That said, the mission towards cleaner fuel has it gives and takes, and sacrificing mileage is one of the ways.
