No assessment of E20-compatible vehicles conducted, government informs Parliament

The government on Monday said it has not assessed what proportion of vehicles in the country are fully compatible with E20 petrol but maintained that extensive scientific studies and field trials have established the fuel's safety under prescribed standards. 

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had not conducted any assessment of the percentage of vehicles currently compatible with E20 fuel, which contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. "The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has informed that no such assessment has been done by them," Gopi said. 

The minister said the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme has been implemented through a phased and scientifically validated process involving NITI Aayog, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), oil marketing companies, automobile manufacturers, and other technical institutions. 

According to the government, laboratory studies and field trials evaluating engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions, and fuel efficiency have confirmed that E20 fuel is safe for use. The studies also found that legacy vehicles do not exhibit any significant deterioration in performance or abnormal wear and tear when operated on E20 fuel. 

The government's clarification comes amid criticism from opposition parties and consumer groups, which have questioned the impact of E20 petrol on older vehicles not specifically designed for higher ethanol blends. Concerns have centred on vehicle compatibility, possible reductions in fuel efficiency, increased maintenance costs and liability in case of engine or fuel-system damage. 

Responding to these concerns, Gopi said E15+ petrol has been in widespread use for over three-and-a-half years, while E19-E20 blends have been available for more than two-and-a-half years. More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars are currently operating on these fuel blends, he added. 

"There is no verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending," the minister said, adding that automobile manufacturers continue to honour warranty obligations for vehicles using E20 fuel. 

On concerns over mileage, the government said fuel economy depends on several factors, including driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle maintenance. It acknowledged that vehicles originally designed for E10 petrol may experience a 3-5% reduction in fuel economy with E20, but said the blend offers higher octane, better anti-knock properties, cleaner combustion and smoother engine performance. 

The minister further claimed that E20 delivers improved acceleration, better ride quality and around 30% lower carbon emissions than E10 petrol. Higher ethanol blends also contribute to cleaner combustion and near-zero particulate matter emissions, he said. 

Citing industry data, the government said one leading automobile manufacturer serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26, including around 1.5 crore vehicles not originally certified as E20-compatible, without reporting E20-related corrosion, abnormal wear or reduced component life. Another manufacturer tracked 1.4 crore vehicles using E20 over an extended period and similarly found no evidence of ethanol-induced corrosion. 

On ethanol availability, Gopi said the country's production capacity has been planned not only to meet current E20 blending requirements but also to accommodate future growth in petrol demand, seasonal variations in feedstock availability, higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles and other emerging biofuel applications, subject to government approval. 

He added that the government follows a diversified feedstock strategy under the National Policy on Biofuels, with ethanol produced from multiple approved sources, 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. 

The diversion of foodgrains for ethanol production is undertaken only after consultations with the Department of Food and Public Distribution and other ministries, Gopi said. He stressed that food security, Public Distribution System (PDS) requirements, obligations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), other welfare schemes, and prescribed buffer stock norms remain the government's top priority. 

"Only surplus foodgrains, after meeting these requirements, are permitted for ethanol production," the minister added.