Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has successfully launched a pioneering pilot study of vehicles using E27 fuel and ethanol-bleached diesel. Under the auspices of MoP&NG, HPCL became the first oil marketing company in India to initiate such a comprehensive research program in line with the ‘India Ethanol Blending Plan 2025’, which aims to promote the adoption of ethanol blending in petrol.
Designed to herald a greener and more sustainable future, the plan outlines a phase-in plan to achieve 20% ethanol in the gasoline blend (E20) by April 2023 and ensure its widespread availability by April 2025. It also highlights the rollout of E20-compliant and E10-powered vehicles from April 2023, followed by production of E20-tuned vehicles from April 2025.
At HPCL’s state-of-the-art R&D center at Devanagunthi, Bengaluru, focused efforts are underway to conduct comprehensive research on biofuels. The centre’s experienced team evaluates the effects and performance of different ethanol-gasoline blends ranging from 10% to 27%, as well as different ethanol-diesel blends, on different categories of test vehicles in the Engine Research laboratory.
Preliminary studies conducted on E27 fueled vehicles have shown a remarkable reduction in emissions such as CO and THC compared to traditional gasoline. As part of the pilot launch, HPCL will also evaluate ethanol and diesel tests on passenger cars with an aim to achieve an initially targeted mileage of 20,000 km.
The E27 pilot study will focus on assessing its performance and emissions in engines and vehicles through extended mileage accumulation. For this phase, mileage accumulation of up to 10,000 km for two-wheelers and 20,000 km for passenger cars on E27 fuel is planned. Ethanol tests in accordance with IS 1460:2017 fuel specifications will also be conducted in conjunction with biodiesel and diesel.
Looking ahead, India’s next milestone in its ethanol blending program is achieving 27% ethanol blending beyond E20 fuel. With the success of the ongoing trials and the achievement of E27 fuel, India will proudly stand side by side with Brazil on the global platform in the ethanol blending program.
HPCL has successfully launched E20 fuel on February 6, 2023 at 23 Retail Outlets (ROs) across the country. The current number of E20 ROs is 350, spread across 21 states in the country. The company has already reduced approximately 3000 MT of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to date. It is estimated that by 2025, the use of E20 fuel will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200 million tons.
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