The Centre on Wednesday ac- knowledged that some older vehicles may require minor modifications to continue operating smoothly on the fuel.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said certain rub- ber parts and gaskets in Bharat Stage (BS)-III vehicles, intro- duced from April 1, 2005, and manufactured before 2016, may need replacement when used with E20 petrol, which contains 20 per cent ethanol.
The admission comes amid persistent criticism from Op- position parties and consumer groups, who have questioned the compatibility of E20 fuel with older ve- hicles and raised con- cerns over reduced fuel efficiency, higher maintenance costs and liability for poten- tial engine damage.
Gadkari, however, main- tained that the impact on older vehicles is limited and can be addressed during routine ser- vicing.
