SRINAGAR: The Government has said it has found no widespread or substantiated evidence of engine failure, abnormal corrosion, excessive wear or reduced vehicle life attributable to E20 petrol, while acknowledging concerns raised in the media and on social media over fuel efficiency and vehicle performance.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said extensive laboratory studies, field trials and real-world operating experience had confirmed that E20 petrol was safe for use under prescribed standards.
The Government said more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars had been operating on E15+ and E19-E20 blends without any verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending.
It said E15+ blended petrol had been in widespread use for over three-and-a-half years, while E19-E20 fuel had been in use for over two-and-a-half years.
According to the reply, a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during FY 2025-26, including around 1.5 crore vehicles that were not originally certified as E20-compatible, and reported no E20-linked corrosion, abnormal wear or reduction in component life.
The Government also cited a leading two-wheeler company’s similar field experience and said one OEM had reported that data from 1.4 crore E20-operated vehicles tracked over an extended period showed no evidence of ethanol-induced corrosion.
The assessment, it said, was based on studies and field trials conducted by institutions and industry bodies including the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) and automobile manufacturers.
The studies covered engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions and fuel efficiency. The Government said these evaluations had also established that legacy vehicles did not exhibit any significant variation in performance or abnormal wear and tear due to E20.
On mileage concerns, the Government said fuel efficiency was influenced by several factors, including driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle maintenance. It said any reduction in fuel economy in certain E10-designed vehicles was generally limited to about 3-5 percent.
At the same time, the Government said E20 offered a higher octane rating, superior anti-knock characteristics, cleaner combustion and smoother engine performance. According to SIAM and ARAI, E20 also improved acceleration and ride quality while reducing carbon emissions.
The reply said the rollout of higher ethanol blends followed consultations with automobile manufacturers, component manufacturers, SIAM, ARAI, testing agencies and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), with E20 introduced only after validation of fuel systems, engine durability, drivability, reasonable material compatibility and emissions performance.
The Government said the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme had generated significant national benefits, including savings of over Rs 1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substitution of nearly 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, reduction of around 952 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions and transfer of over Rs 1.66 lakh crore to farmers.
On fuel quality and adulteration, the Government said OMCs followed stringent Standard Operating Procedures covering procurement, blending, storage, transportation and retail dispensing, with fuel quality tested at distilleries, depots and retail outlets.
It further said OMCs had conducted over 30,000 quality checks at retail outlets in the preceding 10-20 days, based on complaints received, to detect adulteration and ensure specification-compliant fuel reached consumers. State Governments had also been requested to adopt zero tolerance against fuel adulteration.
The Government said it had not received any widespread or substantiated complaints from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations or consumer organisations regarding E20’s impact on fuel efficiency, engine performance, maintenance costs or overall driving experience, although concerns raised through media and social media had been scientifically examined.
For consumer complaints and suggestions, Public Sector OMCs have established grievance redressal mechanisms through complaint and suggestion registers at retail outlets, toll-free customer care numbers, company websites and mobile applications, Customer Relationship Management systems, social media, e-mail and the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
The Government said complaints received through these channels were investigated and resolved within the stipulated timeframe, while consumer feedback was regularly monitored and corrective measures taken wherever required.
