[CEF_Beasts]

Petroleum Traders Welfare & Legal Services Society recently shared this.

[volkman10]

Ethanol pumps to be set up in 6 months: Transport Minister.

appeal to vehicle manufacturers to discourage the production and sale of diesel engine vehicles. Diesel-based pollution is extremely hazardous to the environment and human health

Within six months, we will establish a network of ethanol pumps in the country. I assure that the availability of ethanol is our responsibility, and we will see to it that ethanol is available

Availability of ethanol will be crucial for bringing in flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on 100 percent ethanol as well as pure petrol.

E100 to be available at upcoming ethanol fuel stations
E10 petrol to be available throughout India from 2022

Minister has discouraged diesel engine sales

Petroleum Ministry has ordered “the public sector petroleum companies to start ethanol pumps, in the districts where ethanol is available, for flex-fuel engines.”

Roadmap to Petrol:

As far as the future of petrol is concerned, it will be ethanol-blended petrol going up to 20 percent. Once we reach E20, then with flex-fuel vehicles, we can have E20 as well as E100. Motor vehicle owners can then decide what percentage they want. So that's the roadmap as far as petrol is concerned.

Challenging times for Auto makers:

Though the government may be all geared up for a future with alternative fuels, automakers could have a hard time keeping up. The industry is already working on a strict timeline for emission control, which will see the introduction of CAFE 2 norms next year and RDE in 2023. A simultaneous switch to E20 the same year, followed by an imminent requirement for flex-fuel engines, could complicate matters further. The auto sector, as such, has been demanding a long-term emissions roadmap from the government in order to be better prepared for upcoming regulations.

Link

[Gansan]

What is the current percentage of ethanol in petrol, in metro cities? I was regularly using Shell V Power earlier, for the past one year using Speed 93 for both car and bike. Car is 12 years old (2009) and bike 21 years old (2000). I don't notice any problems with either of them till date, they are smooth as ever. Probably premium fuels are not blended with ethanol so far?

[octane_100]

How difficult is it for the ministry to announce a roadmap for 5 years and then give time to Automakers? Why are they throwing the entire automotive industry under the bus by bringing in fast and sweeping changes?

[IamNikhil]

Originally Posted by octane_100

How difficult is it for the ministry to announce a roadmap for 5 years and then give time to Automakers? Why are they throwing the entire automotive industry under the bus by bringing in fast and sweeping changes?

Auto industry only responds to shock treatment. However, in all probability, ministry representatives have already had multiple rounds of discussions with the auto guys before announcing these measures. Also, expect the deadlines to be gradually eased, as is normal practice.

[volkman10]

Govt to make it mandatory for vehicle manufacturers to make flex-fuel engines: Minister

government will make it mandatory for all vehicle manufacturers to make flex-fuel engines, after it gets permission from the Supreme Court.

suggested that the military should ban the use of diesel engine vehicles and use trucks which run on LNG, CNG and ethanol.

Link

[Nithesh_M]

Right. So how many manufacturers will follow Ford on their way out? I'm guessing Honda will be first followed by the VW family.

I don't think manufacturers will need the additional headache with warranty claims piling up.

[giri1.8]

Hope older petrol car owners get the option of buying normal petrol, else will ditch my petrol for diesel before the next emission norm kicks in.

[SulemanP]

Flex fuel related issues are expected to crop up as soon as it is introduced in the market. I am sure manufacturers will come up with flex fuel engines very soon in the market, thanks to government initiatives.
But concern is more for the existing customers who will have to search for a solution to problems arising when they start using Ethanol blended Petrol.

[Ragul]

Originally Posted by giri1.8

Hope older petrol car owners get the option of buying normal petrol, else will ditch my petrol for diesel before the next emission norm kicks in.

Is ethanol blending only for petrol and not for diesel? Why does it pose an exaggerated risk for old petrol engines only?

[giri1.8]

Originally Posted by Ragul

Is ethanol blending only for petrol and not for diesel? Why does it pose an exaggerated risk for old petrol engines only?

Yes, blend is only for petrol, anything more than 10%, engine has to be modified to run properly.

[mytbhp_turbo]

Here is one odd case on ethanol blending gone wrong -




One response from Petrol pump

The petrol pump manager, Anmol Ghadge, however, refuted the claims. He said the petrol composition was compromised and the quantity of ethanol was higher than required. He told Mirror, “A total of 30 bikes were affected. We have assured compensa - tion to all of them and also repaired their vehicles.” He further said the problem may have occurred due to a high quantity of ethanol that imbalanced the fuel proportions and turned the composi - tion into water.

[fhdowntheline]

On this issue, a further bit of news. There seems to be some backtracking.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/88326224.cms

[sridhar-v]

I had some long chats with my routine petrol pump's manager. This was during the repair of my Grand Vitara that stalled due to a faulty feed pipe, leading from the tank to the dispenser, sucking up a lot of ground water. (They bore all the repair expenses btw).
He mentioned that the Bharat Petroleum "Speed" brand did not have any blended ethanol. And he was the opinion that the same was the case with the other premium brands.

Knowledgeable FMs please confirm!

[Born 2 Be Wild]

Originally Posted by sridhar-v

And he was the opinion that the same was the case with the other premium brands.

Knowledgeable FMs please confirm!

Premium fuels such as speed (bpcl), power (hpcl) are ethanol blend with additives.

XP95 (iocl), power 100 (hpcl), XP100 (iocl), Speed 97 (bpcl) are pure MS (motor spirit) aka petrol with additives to boost octane rating.

Parting shot of yours truly at the launch of xp100 100 octane fuel of hpcl, launched on 15/12 in Delhi