Amid criticism over the rollout of E20 petrol (20 per cent ethanol-blended fuel) and complaints that it reduces vehicle fuel efficiency, Union Minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday challenged critics to point to a single vehicle that had suffered problems because of the fuel.Addressing the Viksit Bharat Conclave, Gadkari said India's dependence on fossil fuels is both an economic burden and an environmental challenge. (Amit)Addressing the Viksit Bharat Conclave, Gadkari said India's dependence on fossil fuels is both an economic burden and an environmental challenge, noting that the country spends nearly ₹22 lakh crore annually on fuel imports.Also Read | 'Automobile manufacturers say no difficulty with E20 fuel': Hardeep Puri‘Name one car’: Gadkari's challenge on E20“There is no case of any car facing issues due to E20 petrol. Has there been any car in the country that faced issues due to the use of E20 petrol? Just name one”, he said, according to a PTI report."...false narratives are being spread about the roll-out of higher ethanol-blended petrol. These are paid campaigns," he said.India has already achieved 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol, using ethanol produced from biomass such as sugarcane, corn and rice to reduce crude oil imports and lower carbon emissionsHowever, unlike Brazil, where motorists can choose between fuels with different ethanol blends at different price points, Indian consumers do not have that option. Under Brazilian law, higher ethanol blends must be sold at a discounted price.Responding to allegations that companies owned by his family members are involved in ethanol production and that he is therefore promoting higher ethanol blending, Gadkari said his family owns sugar factories but their businesses are not dependent on ethanol production.Also Read | ‘Delhi buses will run on hydrogen produced from garbage’: Nitin GadkariGadkari makes strong case for hydrogenMaking a strong case for hydrogen as the next frontier in clean mobility, Gadkari said he personally uses multiple alternative-fuel vehicles and encouraged people to experience the technology firsthand, according to news agency ANI."I drive electric, flex-fuel and hydrogen vehicles; I have all three at home right now," he said. “I have all three cars in my house. Those who have understood, come to my house after the program, and take a ride in all three cars.”The minister recalled getting his first hydrogen-powered car after a conversation with his wife and Toyota India's Vikram Kirloskar."I travel in a hydrogen car. It is better than Mercedes," Gadkari said, adding that the experience convinced him of the technology's potential.He said the focus is now shifting from passenger vehicles to heavy commercial transport."Now, hydrogen trucks are arriving. I recently launched Tata's hydrogen-powered trucks--one running on a hydrogen fuel cell and another new one that uses an internal combustion (IC) engine modified to run on hydrogen," he said.Pilot project for hydrogen announcedGadkari also announced a pilot project for hydrogen-powered public transport in Nagpur."Now hydrogen buses are coming too. I am running a pilot project in Nagpur: hydrogen will be produced, filled into buses, and the buses will run," Gadkari said.Describing the project as a model for wider adoption, he added: "Hydrogen will be ready. We will fill it in the buses and the buses will run."Gadkari has consistently advocated reducing India's dependence on fossil fuels through alternatives such as ethanol, electric mobility and hydrogen. While acknowledging that many remain sceptical about hydrogen technology, he urged people to experience it directly.His remarks come as automakers such as Tata test both hydrogen fuel-cell and hydrogen internal-combustion engine platforms for trucks, signalling growing commercial interest in the technology.With hydrogen bus pilots underway in Nagpur and hydrogen-powered trucks beginning to roll out, the government appears to be moving the fuel from demonstration projects to deployment in heavy transport—a sector considered crucial to India's net-zero ambitions and long-term energy security.