New Delhi: India's ethanol program will play an even bigger role in addressing energy security, agrarian distress and climate goals in the coming years, with E20 set to become the standard fuel compatible with all vehicles sold after April 2023, according to Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
Speaking in an exclusive conversation with ANI, Gulati said the focus now should be on clearing consumer misconceptions and scaling ethanol as a carbon-neutral fuel. "E20 is the standard fuel that will be available and it is compatible with old vehicles and new vehicles," he said, adding that all vehicles sold after 1st April 2023 are fully materially compliant with E20. He also clarified that higher blends like E85 and E100 are not meant for regular cars and will require flex-fuel vehicle technology.
Gulati traced the origins of the ethanol program to India's structural energy deficit. "India has always been energy deficient. We import huge amounts of crude, which has a very negative impact on our economy. It also has a negative impact on the environment and also we are susceptible to any disruption in supply," he said, citing the recent crisis triggered by the West Asia situation as an example.
