Nitin Gadkari states that there were no breakdowns in Maruti and Toyota cars due to E20 fuel

July 8, 18:20

Amid ongoing discussions about ethanol, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, clearly stated his position. He emphasized that his remarks pertain not only to ethanol but also to all alternative fuels. According to him, the use of ethanol will directly benefit farmers and reduce the country's dependence on imported fuel.

Fuel Policy Regulation

In an interview with Aaj Tak, Nitin Gadkari clarified that the decision on what percentage of ethanol or other fuel will be added to gasoline is made by the Ministry of Petroleum. Meanwhile, the powers related to transport decisions are under the purview of the Ministry of Transport. He also noted that oil prices are set at the cabinet level, and he does not interfere in this process.

Position on Allegations

Responding to accusations leveled against him, Gadkari reported that he did indeed start work on a sugar factory before the launch of the ethanol program, but his share in ethanol production is only 0.7 percent. He insists that the ethanol program has brought him no personal benefit; on the contrary, it has helped strengthen the economic position of the country's farmers.

No Issues with Vehicles

Regarding claims about potential negative consequences of using ethanol in vehicles, Gadkari stated that neither Maruti nor Toyota have received complaints that their cars break down due to ethanol. He suggested that some people are trying to discredit him and the ethanol program for political motives.

Testing and International Experience

The minister stressed that the ethanol program is not a pilot project. Institutions such as the Dehradun Petroleum Institute and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) tested two hundred thousand liters of fuel over approximately four years. After successfully passing the tests, the fuel was certified and became available to the general public at petrol pumps.

Gadkari urged drivers who encounter real problems or malfunctions in vehicles using E20 fuel to contact him directly. He added that ethanol is successfully used in 11 countries worldwide, and India is moving in the same direction. Commenting on recent hearings regarding E20 fuel in court, Gadkari noted that the lawyer's arguments were misinterpreted, leading to unnecessary disputes.

www.aajtak.inJuly 2, 13:10

Maruti WagonR BioFlex: Only 3 units sold despite a big launch due to E85 infrastructure issues

The first mass-market car in India with Flex-Fuel capability entered the market with grand claims, but initial data raised several questions. Approximately three weeks after the launch, only 3 units of the Maruti WagonR BioFlex were registered. While this might seem like a poor start at first glance, the real problem lies not with the car itself, but with the system, as only a small number of refueling stations across the country offer E85 fuel.

Launch and Specifications of WagonR BioFlex

Maruti Suzuki introduced the WagonR BioFlex on June 4th, with deliveries starting on June 17th. This vehicle is the first mass-market passenger car in the country capable of running on a blend of gasoline and ethanol ranging from E20 to E100. The presentation was conducted by the Minister of Central Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.

According to current regulations, this version of the WagonR was certified for E85 fuel use. Its price is set at ₹7.24 lakh (excluding taxes), which is approximately ₹74,000 more than the top gasoline variant. Sales data shows that only three units of this car were registered by June 29th.

Popularity and Sales Challenges

The Maruti WagonR traditionally enjoys great popularity in the Indian market, having first appeared in 1999 and showing excellent results over nearly 27 years. Over 3.4 million such cars have been sold so far, leading to high expectations for its Flex-Fuel version. However, the primary reason cited for low sales is the limited availability of E85 fuel.

Currently, only 48 refueling stations operate across India offering E85 fuel, with most concentrated near Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. This makes purchasing the car less attractive for customers from other states.

Economic Aspects and Information Gaps

On paper, E85 fuel looks attractive: in Delhi, it costs ₹81.12 per liter, which is about ₹20 cheaper than regular E20 gasoline (₹102.12). Nevertheless, the addition of ethanol reduces performance because ethanol contains less energy than gasoline, which could potentially decrease fuel efficiency in vehicles running on high-ethanol fuel.

Maruti Suzuki has not provided any information regarding the fuel consumption of the WagonR BioFlex on E85 fuel. This raises questions among buyers about actual running costs. The WagonR has always been a choice for middle-class families; its standard gasoline model has a claimed mileage of 24 km per liter, and the CNG version achieves 34 km per kg. The absence of public data on the fuel economy of this Flex-Fuel variant is also a significant factor contributing to low sales.

History of Flex-Fuel in India

The journey of Flex-Fuel in India began quite some time ago. As early as 2019, TVS Motors released a Flex-Fuel version of its popular Apache motorcycle, specifically designed for 100% ethanol fuel. However, this TVS project was almost unsuccessful due to the inability to expand the E100 fuel network.

On the other hand, Honda released its CB 300 F motorcycle with Flex-Fuel capability in October 2024, but barely 30 units have been sold. Furthermore, Suzuki introduced the Gixxer SF in a Flex-Fuel version in early 2025, and not a single unit of this bike has been sold yet.

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