“Yes, our vehicles are compatible with E15. We haven’t faced any challenges with our models in relation to fuel blends,” sais Quest Motors director Tarik Adam.
Quest has several vehicles franchises, including Chinese models, the Chery Tiggo, Foton and JMC.
Concerns have been raised by car manufacturers that their vehicles were not compatible with fuel blends above E10.
Quest operations manager Carl Fernandes added a word of caution to his colleague’s statement, however, saying: “Our vehicles have no problems with E15, but I have to acknowledge that some of the components will have to be changed. This will mainly be the fuel rubber components that may overheat, in the same way that VW vehicles did when they were introduced in Africa.
“But it’s a minor issue, which we can easily circumvent,” said Fernandez.
Nissan owners have raised concerns about the E15 mandatory blending, which they say is harmful to their cars.
Manufacturers and assemblers have warned that warranties could be invalid if vehicles used blends that could damage components.
Nissan Zimbabwe’s after-sales manager, Mehluli Khumalo, said: “Nissan vehicles are designed to take a maximum 10 per cent ethanol blended gasoline only. If this percentage is exceeded, Nissan products will have to have most fuel injection components changed and various rubber components installed into the fuel systems, redesigning them to cater for a higher ethanol blend.”
Government has dismissed the concerns as ridiculous and maintains that it will not backtrack from increasing fuel blending.
Post published in: News