The government has clarified misconceptions about E20 petrol.
Rejecting claims about ethanol-blended petrol (E20), the government clarified that its safety has been proven through scientific tests and experience...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
The Union Government has issued a factual clarification on the misleading claims being spread on social media and other platforms regarding the 'Ethanol Blended Petrol' (EBP) programme. The Government has clarified that the claims questioning the safety of E20 petrol are not based on scientific tests, industry experience or actual data.
According to the government, E15+ fuel has been in use for over three and a half years and E19-E20 fuel for over two and a half years. During this period, no large-scale incidents of engine failure or vehicle shutdown due to ethanol blends have been confirmed.
The government noted that India's ethanol blended petrol programme was launched on a pilot basis in 2001. Subsequently, E5 (5 percent ethanol blend) was introduced in 2006 and the blend ratio was increased in phases. During 2025-26, the average ethanol blend ratio reached 20 percent between November and June.
The government said that about 80 million vehicles come to petrol pumps in the country every day and about 80 percent of them are petrol-powered. A major vehicle manufacturer has found no problems like corrosion, abnormal wear and tear or reduced life of components due to E20 fuel in about 1.5 crore old vehicles serviced in the financial year 2025-26.
The government stressed that before implementing E20, there were in-depth discussions with vehicle manufacturers, SIAM, ARAI, spare parts manufacturers, testing institutes and oil marketing companies. It was implemented only after scientific verification of factors like fuel quality, engine compatibility, efficiency and emissions.
The government also clarified that the claim that around 300 million vehicles will be rendered unusable due to E20 is incorrect. Over 200 million two-wheelers and over 30 million petrol cars run on E15+ and E19-E20 fuel and there is no evidence of widespread failure.
Automakers have also expressed confidence in the E20 programme. Toyota Kirloskar, Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Hyundai Motor India, TVS Motor Company and Bajaj Auto have jointly said that the implementation of E20 is based on rigorous testing and international standards. The government has noted that the potential reduction in mileage due to E20 is limited and depends on various factors such as vehicle condition, driving style, traffic, tyre pressure and maintenance. On the other hand, E20 offers benefits such as higher octane rating, cleaner combustion and improved engine efficiency.
The government said that automakers are continuing to offer warranties for E20-compatible vehicles; this reflects their confidence based on extensive testing and real-world usage experience.