"Thinking of buying a new car?"
This year, you shouldn't even think about buying a new car.
Whenever we buy a new car, we expect it to last 10 to 15 years, and we pay the entire advance road tax to the government upfront for that full lifespan. People who bought cars just a few years ago—cars that aren't even E20 compliant—also paid their full taxes to the government.
Yet, the government, which was originally supposed to roll out E20 petrol everywhere by 2030, has aggressively pushed it forward by five years to 2025-26. And now, they are already talking about E22, E25, and E30 blends!
The Reality on the Ground:
Surveys show that 50% of drivers have reported a drop in their mileage.
29% of drivers have complained about experiencing engine defects due to the fuel.
In many European countries where ethanol blending takes place, people are given the choice to fill up with E0 or E5 petrol. Here, the E0 options we used to have are nowhere to be seen. Why? Because the Supreme Court has stated that the country's energy policy will not be dictated by consumer demand.
Fair enough, but what are the alternatives?
Electric Vehicles (EVs): If I decide to buy an EV instead, the infrastructure is completely inadequate. In India, there is only one public charger for every 250 cars, whereas the global standard is one charger for every 20 vehicles.
Diesel Vehicles: If you try to switch to a diesel vehicle, talks of blending are already happening there too!
The government needs to understand that this single policy is affecting 250 million vehicles. It is their duty to establish a clear policy and tell the public exactly what is going to happen over the next 15 to 20 years. When purchasing a car, a buyer deserves the peace of mind to know that the specific type of fuel their vehicle requires will actually remain available for its 15-year lifespan.
Now, the government obviously isn't going to listen to us everyday consumers. But when the big industrialists eventually go to the government, complaining that their vehicle sales are plummeting and demanding action, maybe then the government will introduce a clear, sensible policy.
Until then, share this video as much as possible. And if you have any friends who are about to buy a new car, tell them: Please stop.
