NEW DELHI: In a major boost to the government’s push for ethanol-blended fuel, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has revealed that it has not received a single written complaint regarding E20 petrol from its extensive dealer network across India. FADA represents nearly 30,000 automobile dealers nationwide.
According to a media report FADA President C S Vigneshwar stated that the association reached out to its General Council, which comprises about 60 to 65 dealer representatives across various states and vehicle segments, to check if customers had reported any issues linked to E20 petrol.
“We have not come across a single issue where a customer has complained about any problem due to E20 fuel. Our General Council has not provided even a single piece of feedback indicating a problem with E20,” Vigneshwar told reporters.
The statement comes amid an ongoing debate and widespread social media posts claiming that E20 fuel causes engine damage, corrosion, and reduced mileage, particularly in older petrol vehicles.
To address these customer anxieties, FADA has teamed up with automobile manufacturers to launch a nationwide awareness campaign. According to Vigneshwar, dealers have started putting up banners and informing customers based on guidelines provided by their respective Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
“Our customers are the most important stakeholders. We want to address their concerns based on factual information received from the manufacturers,” Vigneshwar added.
The central government, oil marketing companies (OMCs), and automakers have consistently maintained that E20 fuel is safe for vehicles approved to run on it. Several manufacturers have also stated that existing vehicles can operate on this fuel blend without any adverse effects.
Vigneshwar clarified that FADA does not possess the independent technical capability to verify engineering claims and relies entirely on vehicle manufacturers, oil companies, and government agencies.
“When OEMs, oil marketing companies, and government agencies all say in one voice that this fuel is safe, we accept it because we have no scientific evidence to counter it,” he said.
While acknowledging that concerns regarding E20 have spread rapidly on social media, the FADA President emphasized that most discussions lack concrete evidence. “If someone can present scientific data showing that E20 is causing these problems, it can be debated. As of now, we have found no such evidence,” Vigneshwar concluded.
