Mercedes-Benz Says BS VI Petrol Cars Are E20-Compatible After YouTuber Raises Mileage Concerns
Mercedes-Benz India says all BS VI petrol vehicles are E20-compatible after YouTuber Sourav Joshi raised concerns over reduced mileage and ethanol-blended fuel.
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Mercedes-Benz India has clarified that all its BS VI petrol vehicles are fully compatible with E20 fuel, following claims by YouTuber Sourav Joshi that ethanol-blended petrol had caused a sharp drop in the fuel efficiency of his luxury SUV.
The German automaker said in a statement posted on social media that its BS VI petrol models are "materially compatible" with E20 fuel and had been certified by the relevant authorities. The company said it is committed to customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance, and is available to address any technical issues customers may have.
The clarification comes days after Joshi, India’s most-followed daily vlogger, released a video claiming that the mileage of his Mercedes-Benz SUV had plunged dramatically—from about 17 kmpl to almost 5 kmpl in two days. He blamed the decline on ethanol-blended petrol purchased from local fuel stations.
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E20 Debate:
Joshi also said in the video that the estimated driving range of the vehicle after a full tank had dipped from about 800 km to around 480 km. “It had made him reluctant to refuel the SUV he said and he worried about the possible long-term impact of E20 fuel on the engine.
Mercedes-Benz did not name the YouTuber in a statement but said that its BS VI petrol vehicles are designed and certified to run on E20 fuel without any compromise on safety and performance.
Fuel Debate:
The incident has renewed the debate on ethanol-mixed petrol, a matter that is still debated among vehicle owners. The government’s move to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and promote use of biofuels made in the country is leading to the introduction of E20 fuel, which contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, across the country.
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Some motorists have expressed concerns about reduced fuel efficiency and the suitability of higher ethanol blends for older petrol cars that were not designed for E20 fuel in the first place.
The Centre has defended the ethanol blending programme saying it has helped strengthen the sugar industry, increased the income of farmers and has helped India save more than ₹1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15. The government has also said that automobile manufacturers have introduced E20-compatible vehicles in line with the phased rollout of the fuel.
