‘E20 is more a communication issue than a technology issue’: ARAI Chief Reji Mathai

In an interview with businessline, Director-General Reji Mathai explains why laboratory findings differ from consumer experience, what the data shows for older vehicles and how India will evaluate future ethanol blends.

The government has repeatedly cited ARAI’s studies to defend E20. Has the agency become the government’s scientific shield?

I would not describe this as a controversy. It is a technical issue that requires scientific understanding. The government is a much bigger institution than ARAI and does not require a shield. Our responsibility is to generate evidence through testing, analyse the results and submit recommendations. Policy decisions are taken by the government after consulting stakeholders. Our role remains that of an independent technical organisation.

ARAI says E20 reduces fuel efficiency by 3-6%, consumer surveys suggest around 10%, while social media claims losses of up to 30%. Why such a wide gap?

Our findings are based on globally accepted certification procedures carried out under controlled conditions. Under normal operating conditions, the reduction in fuel efficiency is typically 3-6%.

Everyday mileage varies with traffic, driving style, road conditions and vehicle maintenance. Differences observed in real-world use cannot automatically be attributed to E20 fuel.

These findings have also been reviewed by vehicle manufacturers. Since OEMs are the customer-facing organisations and know their products best, they should communicate the science more actively and address consumer concerns directly.

Many owners of pre-2023 vehicles are worried about mileage and long-term durability. What does ARAI’s data show?

We carried out extensive studies on older vehicles with automobile manufacturers because OEMs understand their products best. Vehicles were tested using the certification methodology applicable to their generation so comparisons remained like-for-like.

The work included accelerated durability tests, long-duration engine evaluations, field trials on six- to ten-year-old vehicles and material compatibility studies with oil marketing companies and OEMs.

The data is still evolving because older vehicles were certified under different procedures. Some may show a higher impact than the 2-6% seen under current certification conditions, but that has not been conclusively quantified.

Some experts say older vehicles may eventually require retrofits if India moves to higher ethanol blends. Is ARAI studying that?