India Has Not Estimated Number of E20-Compatible Vehicles, Government Says

 New Delhi: The government on Monday said that the Centre has not yet estimated how many vehicles in India are fully compatible with E20 fuel. It, however, maintained that the ethanol-blending scheme is backed by scientific studies and consultations with automobile manufacturers and technical institutions.

The statement of the government comes after a new social media-led campaign by the E20 Janta Party demanded that Indian vehicle owners would be given the option to purchase ethanol-free petrol alongside E20 fuel, as well as the resignation of Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, who is the main proponent of the government’s ethanol blending policy.

Minister of state for petroleum and natural Gas Suresh Gopi, however, informed Parliament, saying that the ministry of heavy industries have no such assessment has been done by them of the percentage of vehicles currently compatible with E20 fuel (petrol doped with 20 per cent ethanol).

The minister further said that the ethanol blended petrol (EBP) programme had been implemented through a phased and scientifically validated process involving Niti Aayog, automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) and other technical institutions.

“Laboratory studies and field trials covering engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions and fuel efficiency had confirmed that E20 was safe for use. These studies also established that legacy vehicles do not exhibit any significant variation in performance or abnormal wear and tear due to E20,” he said.

The rollout of E20 petrol or 80 per cent petrol and 20 per cent ethanol has drawn criticism from opposition parties and some consumer groups, who have raised concerns about its impact on older vehicles not specifically designed for 20 per cent ethanol blends. Critics have questioned whether all vehicles are fully compatible with E20, flagged the possibility of reduced fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs, and sought clarity on liability if engine or fuel-system problems arise.

However, the government has maintained that the transition has been phased and backed by extensive testing, while automobile manufacturers have said they continue to honour warranty claims for vehicles using E20 fuel. Opposition parties have repeatedly sough greater transparency on vehicle compatibility and consumer safeguards.

Gopi further said that E15+ blended petrol (petrol containing 15 per cent ethanol) has been in widespread use for more than three-and-a-half years and E19-E20 fuel for more than two-and-a-half years, with over 20 crore two-wheelers and more than 3 crore petrol cars operating on these blends. “There is no verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending,” he said, adding that manufacturers continue to honour warranty obligations for vehicles using E20 fuel.

On fuel economy, the government also said that mileage depends on several factors, including driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle maintenance. “Any reduction in fuel economy in some vehicles originally designed for E10 petrol is generally limited to about 3-5 per cent, while E20 offers higher octane, better anti-knock characteristics, cleaner combustion and smoother engine performance,” it said.

Citing industry data, the government also said that a leading automobile manufacturer serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26, including about 1.5 crore vehicles not originally certified as E20-compatible, without reporting E20-linked corrosion, abnormal wear or reduced component life. “Another manufacturer tracked 1.4 crore vehicles operating on E20 over an extended period and found no evidence of ethanol-induced corrosion,” it said.

Gopi said the ethanol production capacity created in the country has been planned not only to meet the current requirement of E20 blending but also to cater to future growth in petrol demand, provide operational flexibility during seasonal variations in feedstock availability and support higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles and other emerging biofuel applications, as and when approved by the government.

“The government follows a diversified feedstock strategy under the national policy on biofuels. Ethanol is produced from multiple approved feedstocks, including sugarcane-based feedstocks, maize, damaged foodgrains, broken rice, foodgrains unfit for human consumption, surplus foodgrains approved by the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) and other approved agricultural feedstocks,” he said.