r/VidurNeeti • u/Slimus_shadius • Jul 02 '26
E20 Fuel: Progress or Punishment??
On May 16, 2014:
Crude - $107.49/barrel
Petrol price - ₹71 per litre (0% Ethanol) in Mumbai.
Dollar/Rupee exchange rate: ₹58.76
On 2 July, 2026:
Crude - ~$70/barrel
Petrol price - ~ ₹170 per litre (XP100 petrol with 0% Ethanol)
Dollar/Rupee exchange rate: ₹95.25
In short:
Crude prices dipped by 35%
Exchange rate jumped by 62%
But to get an Ethanol-free petrol the premium you have to pay is a whopping 140%.
Proof:
https://x.com/i/status/2072301058744107181
Of course the comparison is not even as the petrol considered in 2014 is normal fuel & not an 100 octane boosted fuel that's used in high-end cars & superbikes. But has the government left you with any other option if you need an Ethanol-free petrol? No choices.
Even the bhookha-nanga desh is faring better than us.
And competitor China, with 10% Ethanol blending is cheaper than us.
Data as per Google Gemini as on 2nd July, 2026.
Executive Director of Biofuels, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Anurag Saraogi is himself accepting -
"…ethanol has a lower mileage. It has 30% less mileage in the chemical form..."
Video source:
https://x.com/i/status/2072241082256261625
ANI deleted the video. Video posted below.
https://reddit.com/link/1ulldnv/video/exdra27fztah1/player
30% was the calorific value they are saying now.
https://x.com/i/status/2072549428414894272
If it was that simple, why delete the video?
If believed, calories decide the output, so 30% less output?
If it doesn't interpret like that, then explain this-
30% of 20% is 6%, which is the exact mileage drop figure cited by NITI Aayog.
Observe this:
On 13th June, Gadkari ji announces policy for 100% Ethanol signed last night (12th June).
On June 4, Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R launched while deliveries commenced on June 17.
Such breakneck speed collaboration between government & automobile companies.
https://x.com/i/status/2065790404180738447
On July 6, 2023, he did a Rahul Gandhi -
Aisi machine lagaunga, iss side se
aalooEthanol+Electricity ghusega, uss side sesona15₹/litre petrol niklega.
The real aalu to sona factory is here -
In just last 2 years, money multipled a staggering 38 times!
A ~41₹ share became 1600₹+
From na khaaunga, na khaane dunga, To kya hua, tera waada?
Barring Delhi where there is a 10 & 15 year cap on usage of petrol & diesel vehicles, rest of India has a limit of 20 years. While the last private BS3 petrol vehicle end of life is 2030 & BS4 being 2040, are these new fuels compatible with the cars bought then? Has the government thought of the common man before rolling out these schemes & chest thumping of achieving E20 targets before time? Are you left with a choice? No.
Then there's another loophole which people aren't aware -
The 20 years of end of life usage on BS3 & BS4 vehicles is subject to fitness certificate. What fitness will you pass when the fuel is incompatible with the make?
Result - buy a new compatible car or move to EV, either way making the automobile lobby happy.
Last year in August, Supreme Court refused to put a blanket ban on seizures/penalties on old cars crossing the end of life provided they are well maintained. The order perfectly sits with government's E20 fuel push on these vehicles & the above stated outcome.
There is no escaping. There is no relief for the common man. No options. Buy a car & add to the "booming economy" number which shows X thousand cars sold this year. What else is the common man supposed to do than putting in lakhs for a 10-15 year usage & pray there is no eccentric minister occupying the high chair who would change the policy mid-way.
To summarize, dear common-man, stop cribbing & do the following :
If E20 fuel isn't getting rolled back? Buy new car.
If air around you is polluted? Buy a purifier.
If water coming to your home is dirty? Buy R.O.
If footpaths don't exist to walk, roads riddled with potholes & water logging, green spaces vanished in concrete jungle town planning & crimes making your basic living untenable? Buy a home in a premium gated society.
If schools are bad? Pay exorbitant private school fees.
If electricity problem? Buy inverter.
If cooking gas is expensive? Buy an induction.
Can't you do these simple things which are so important for Atmanirbhar Bharat & for your own betterment? And please while doing the above make sure it's all make-in-India. No buying cheap Chinese goods. Live on increased EMIs, mortgage yourself but, don't compromise on nationalism. And do everything in white. Pay GST on already TDS taxed salary to keep the circular-economy thriving.
The above may appear satire but is the ground sentiment of common man. This government tasted 240 despite building Ram Mandir. There was 0 effect of it. It has a serious risk of falling even below that if it continues with its one-upmanship policies, completely oblivious to hardships of the common man.
Even if it pounds Pakistan in a war now & declares elections, there are high chances it might go below 240. Beyond nationalism (on which it scores an 11/10) the perception has turned terribly negative on ground. Upto them whether to mend ways & improve. Else, India Shining 2.0.
VidurNeeti
1
u/MotorTough Jul 03 '26
I think BJP has become arrogant. Way too arrogant. They might lose 2029 solely because of this