Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has sought to allay fears around India’s new 20% ethanol-blended petrol, saying government testing has not found a single case of engine failure in vehicles using E20 fuel. He told the Lok Sabha that older vehicles were run for nearly 1 lakh kilometres on E20 by the government-run Automotive Research Association of India, with “no impact” seen on performance, startability or driveability.
His remarks come amid growing complaints from drivers that the higher ethanol blend damages engines and reduces mileage, even as the Centre pushes ahead with its Ethanol Blending Programme mandating E20 petrol sales. Gadkari said safety standards for E20 have been “well established” through Bureau of Indian Standards and Automotive Industry Standards, including checks on metal and plastic compatibility.
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However, he highlighted that certifying whether a specific model is compatible with E20 remains the manufacturer’s responsibility, to be defined in company specifications and advisories. The clarification aims to reassure consumers while reinforcing the government’s intent to cut oil imports and emissions through higher ethanol use in transport fuel.
