Expert Says Ethanol Is a Practical Fuel for Transport

Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashalkar, a senior scientist and former director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, addressed the viability of ethanol‑based fuels during an interview with IANS on July 14.

He pointed to Brazil’s three‑ to four‑decade history of ethanol‑powered vehicles as proof that ethanol works effectively in everyday transport.

“Ethanol has been the fuel of choice for millions of Brazilian drivers for 30‑40 years, confirming its practicality,” he noted.

Mashalkar warned that India’s reliance on imported crude oil makes the nation vulnerable to geopolitical turbulence, especially considering the current unrest in West Asia.

“Developing domestic alternative fuels is crucial for safeguarding our energy supply,” he said.

While advocating for an expanded ethanol blend, he also encouraged research into other clean energy carriers such as methanol, dimethyl ether, compressed biogas and green hydrogen produced from biomass.

“The future energy mix must be diverse; focusing only on ethanol would be short‑sighted,” he added.

He argued that sunlight‑driven biomass cultivation, especially on marginal or semi‑arid land using crops like napier grass, can generate feedstock for CBG and green hydrogen without competing with food production.