India E20 ethanol program: Toyota exec says fuel is safe, boosts farmer income and energy security
kalingatv.comToyota Kirloskar Motor's Vikram Gulati says India's E20 ethanol program is safe for all vehicles sold after April 2023 and is key to cutting crude imports, supporting farmer incomes, and reducing carbon emissions. He cited a 2021 ARAI study showing negligible damage to older vehicles and a 2-4% mileage loss, while noting the program has saved 1.9 trillion rupees so far, with 160,000 crore rupees going directly to farmers. Gulati called ethanol a carbon neutral fuel because the CO2 released during combustion is reabsorbed by the plants used to produce it. He also addressed concerns about pollution from ethanol plants, stating they operate as zero effluent units. The article is relevant for anyone tracking India's biofuel policy, low carbon transport, and the intersection of agriculture and energy transition.